Ontario pledges $1 billion for new light-rail line in Hamilton

Ontario plans to provide up to $1 billion (in Canadian dollars) to build a new light-rail transit line in Hamilton, the province's Premier Kathleen Wynne announced today.

The province will cover all capital costs of construction of the line, which will travel east from McMaster University through downtown Hamilton to Queenston Circle.

It will provide a direct route to the new West Harbour GO station, which is under construction.

"We are making record investments across Ontario in infrastructure projects like this to strengthen our economy and quality of life — and lay the groundwork for future prosperity," Wynne said in a prepared statement.

Procurement is expected to begin in 2017, with construction following in 2019.

Along with the new light-rail line, Wynne also announced that GO Transit rail service will be extended along the Lakeshore West Line to a new station at Centennial Parkway in eastern Hamilton.

Construction for that project will begin in 2017, and is slated for completion in 2019.

Both projects are part of the Moving Ontario Forward plan, which calls for investing $31.5 billion in public transit, transportation and other infrastructure projects over the next 10 years.