BLAST network


The BLAST network is a plan for a frequent rapid transit system in the city of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It was conceived as part of the city's 2007 transportation master plan. It was later incorporated by Metrolinx as part of its regional transportation plan, The Big Move. The B-Line LRT and A-Line are among the plan's prioritized transit expansion projects and were funding by the Government of Ontario in May 2015.
The system is planned to include five routes, and includes two light rail transit lines, and three bus rapid transit lines. On December 16, 2019, the Government of Ontario announced it was cancelling its funding for the BLAST system's B-Line LRT, due to cost overruns. The provincial Ministry of Infrastructure noted that provincial funds originally planned for the Hamilton LRT project would be redistributed to other transportation infrastructure projects, with consultation with a newly formed Hamilton Transportation Task Force and Hamilton's city council. On April 9, 2020, the Hamilton Transportation Task Force released the report, suggested that the city need a "higher order transit project", could be either LRT or BRT.

Proposed lines

The B-Line LRT and A-Line BRT are the top transit priorities for the City of Hamilton and were originally scheduled for completion in 2024. As of April 2020, the Hamilton Transportation Task Force determined the funding could be either on LRT on B-Line or BRT on both B-Line and A-Line, construction will schedule to begin no later than March 16, 2022.
The 2017 Metrolinx Regional Transportation Plan outlines a proposed regional transportation network for service by 2041. It includes four priority bus routes and an LRT to run on the north portion of the A-Line. BRT and LRT transit lines included in Metrolinx's 2017 Regional Transportation Plan includes: