Hamilton will ask province to take over its highways, prompted by Toronto deal

Following Toronto's success uploading the oversight and costs of two major highways to the province, cash-strapped Hamilton is looking to do the same. 

Council unanimously voted Wednesday to urge Ontario's Ministry of Transportation to take over Hamilton's two city-run highways — the Red Hill Valley Parkway (RHVP) and Lincoln M. Alexander Parkway, known as the Linc.

"The assistance is absolutely necessary," said Mayor Andrea Horwath. "It's something that's been on my mind since the City of Toronto was able to successfully cut [its] deal."

Coun. Maureen Wilson was behind the motion and said it's one of many ways the city can push the government to improve municipal finances, which she described as "untenable" and "unsustainable," and not just in Toronto.

"If this is the 'get 'er done government,' let's start where their interest lies and that's the roads," Wilson told council. 

Hamilton's already looking at a double-digit tax increase in 2024 to maintain services, adapt to provincial changes to municipal funding and respond to opioid, homelessness and mental health crises. 

In the coming years, the parkways will need to be expanded to handle population growth, costing upwards of $61 million, according to a 2016 estimate. The city also paid for a $28-million judicial inquiry into the RHVP's safety, and $15 million to resurface it. 

Last month, Premier Doug Ford agreed to upload oversight of the Gardiner and Don Valley Parkway, freeing up $1.2 billion for Toronto over the next three years. In exchange, Toronto is allowing the province to also take responsibility for Ontario Place and its controversial redevelopment. 

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe told CBC in late November that a similar agreement may be possible for his city.

On Wednesday, Hamilton Coun. John-Paul Danko joked about what his city could offer Ford as part of a deal.

"A waterfront casino theme park with a hydrofoil right across the lake? We could work that in," Danko said, sarcastically.

Both parkways see traffic of close to 100,000 vehicles a day and are direct links to the provincially-run Queen Elizabeth Highway and Highway 403, according to the motion. 

Coun. Brad Clark, who in a 2014 mayoral run pledged to upload the parkways to the province, said the challenge for the city has always been the routes are used by large transport trucks passing through, rather than only residents travelling within Hamilton. 

The mayor and city staff will request a meeting with the province to discuss the possibility of uploading the parkways.