The LRT has been delayed so long, there's some minor tweaks that could be done to the resurrected LRT:
Just like technology changed so quickly, that Eglinton Crosstown LRT recently cancelled a peaker gas plant to build the Metrolinx battery farm (
article) like a UPS for the Crosstown LRT. A Metrolinx mid-construction plan change! And we're a bit earlier (pre-bid).
In our case, Alstom just
added a battery option to Flexity LRV vehicles.
There are some massive trees along International Village that are going to be cut down, for a very sun-scorched brick expanse. At summer it's going to be nasty with the lack of shade in International Village with all those trees cut down because of the Hamilton LRT catenary. Even worse with global warming effects. Now, the battery permits elimination of catenary would save the Hamilton downtown trees.
And the cost savings of lack of downtown catenary might be almost enough to add onboard batteries to all Hamilton LRVs. So a budget-wash.
The battery would recharge outside downtown (catenary), to allow the downtown core to be catenary-free and save the nice shade in International Village, to avoid ruining summertime comfort -- you know how hot unshaded downtown streets can become. The current Metrolinx plan to cut down all those massive majestic sumach trees and others that are providing excellent shade/vibe to Hamilton's International Village. Even though they'll plant 3 new trees for every 1 cut down.
Possible win-win-win thanks to real-time technology changes (like the Eglinton Crosstown battery farm surprise)?