On October 22, 2018, Eisenberger was re-elected to a second consecutive term (and third overall) receiving 54% of votes and claimed that the results indicated a "strong mandate on LRT to move forward." Mayoral challenger Vito Sgro campaigned primarily on a platform of cancelling the B-Line project while incumbent mayor Fred Eisenberger was pro-LRT. Light rail was a key issue in the 2018 Hamilton municipal election. About 50 percent of the properties still needed to be purchased before completing the light rail line. On August 30, 2018, property acquisitions and other spending related to the project were put on hold by the newly elected provincial government. However, Metrolinx continued to show the cost as $1 billion until late 2019. In 2018, before its election defeat, the previous Liberal government knew that the project cost had increased from $1 billion (established in 2014) to $2.85 billion, according to the Progressive Conservative government that succeeded it. Preparations and cancellation (2018–2019) On August 4, 2017, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change approved the Environmental Project Report (EPR) Addendum for Hamilton's Light Rail Transit (LRT) plan. The motion passed 10–5, with Councillor Robert Pasuta absent. The motion to submit the original Environmental Assessment was by Terry Whitehead, who was one of the project's harshest critics. Later that evening City Council voted to submit the original Environmental Assessment from October 2011 which covers the original route from McMaster University to Eastgate Square. On April 26, 2017, the province announced with the money saved from removing the spur line from King and James to the West Harbour GO Station, they would work with the City to get the 3 km Eastgate Square extension included in the capital funding. On April 19, 2017, City Council voted again to delay the Environmental Assessment, this time to April 26, 2017, claiming the plan at that stage (which was to build Phase 1 from McMaster University to Queenston traffic circle) was indefensible and unfit as it did not go from a destination location to a destination location. On March 28, 2017, Hamilton City Council chose to delay the crucial Environmental Assessment vote to April 19, 2017, citing they needed more time to read it for themselves. On February 2, 2017, the province scrapped the A-Line spur altogether, announcing it would opt for bus rapid transit along the entire A-Line corridor from Hamilton's waterfront to the airport. The transit line was scheduled to open to the public in 2024. For the B-Line LRT, procurement was expected to begin in 2017 and line construction in 2019. The capital costs for the project would be $1 billion, funded entirely by the province. On May 26, 2015, the Government of Ontario announced a shorter route between McMaster University and Queenston Circle, but also including a segment of the A-Line to provide a direct connection to West Harbour GO Station, as well as a pedestrian corridor to the Hamilton GO Centre. An environmental project report was completed in October 2011. History Planning and funding (2011–2017) Ī benefits case analysis was conducted, showing a net benefit for implementing LRT, and that it would be adequate dealing with long-term travel demand growth.