When will the Hamilton LRT be finished? No completion date has been published

The short answer

No completion date has been published. As of October 11, 2026, Metrolinx, which owns and is delivering the project, says the project has entered an alliance development phase to progress designs, costs and the construction schedule, that the phase will last 18 to 24 months, and that construction timelines and final costs will be finalized during it. The Province's April 30, 2026 announcement and the City of Hamilton's LRT page also give no construction start, completion or opening date.

The April 30 contract

On April 30, 2026, the Province announced that Hamilton Transit Alliance, led by Aecon Infrastructure Inc., had been awarded the Hamilton LRT Civil and Utilities contract, the first major package of work. Metrolinx says Hatch, Egis and Systra are the alliance's designers. The contract covers preparatory work along the route, including utility relocations, grade separations, road reconstruction and upgraded sidewalks and traffic control systems. The Province says it will also advance design work to replace the bridge over Highway 403, build a new LRT underpass beneath the CPKC rail line near Gage Avenue and improve the Queenston Road bridge over the Red Hill Valley Parkway.

In an alliance, Metrolinx partners directly with the private companies rather than administering a third-party consortium. The City's Communication Update to Council the same day said the alliance partner will work with the Province over 18 to 24 months during the Development Phase to advance the design and construction planning of the first package, followed by major construction, including developing construction schedules and finalizing a target price. Metrolinx says a second procurement will cover the stops, rail and LRT systems.

Route and stops

The line will run on its own dedicated tracks, separate from regular traffic, from McMaster University in the west to Eastgate Square in the east, according to the City. Metrolinx describes a 14-kilometre corridor with 17 stops along Main Street, King Street and Queenston Road, with connections to GO Transit and HSR buses. The Province and Metrolinx name stops at McMaster University, Hamilton Stadium, Eastgate Square, Ottawa Street, Gage Park and downtown Hamilton, among other destinations.

Metrolinx's conceptual design booklet from spring 2025, which it says is a snapshot in time that is subject to change, routes the line along Main Street West, Dundurn Street, King Street, Main Street East and Queenston Road, ending at Centennial Parkway, and includes renderings of stops at Queen Street, Wellington Street and Parkdale Avenue. The City says LRT fares will be set by the City and integrated with HSR service.

What is already under way

Metrolinx says utility relocations, property acquisitions, demolitions and archaeological work have been completed as advance enabling works and will continue during the development phase. The City's own pre-LRT work includes the full closure of the Main Street East and Ottawa Street North intersection, which began on August 17, 2026.

• Metrolinx project questions: Hamilton@metrolinx.com or 905-521-1003.
• City LRT page, with Council reports and closure updates: hamilton.ca, Light Rail Transit (LRT).
• This page will be updated when a construction schedule is published.