Major Transit Station Areas

Background

In June 2022, Council approved a Municipal Comprehensive Review (MCR) for the City which, among other changes, added an interim policy framework for Major Transit Station Areas (MTSAs) to the Urban Hamilton Official Plan (UHOP) through OPA 167. OPA 167 was approved, with modifications, by the Province on November 4, 2022.

MTSAs are generally defined as the area within a 500 to 800 metre radius of a higher order transit station representing about a 10-minute walk. The City of Hamilton is currently planning for MTSAs in the lower city, including 17 LRT stations and 3 GO stations as shown in Volume 1, Appendix B – Major Transportation Facilities and Routes of the UHOP.

The Provincial Planning Statement, 2024 has established minimum density targets for MTSAs. In Hamilton, these densities are 160 people and jobs per hectare (pjh) for MTSAs serviced by the LRT and 150 people and jobs per hectare for MTSAs serviced by the GO transit rail network.

Project Purpose

The City is required to delineate the boundary of each Major Transit Station Area and analyze the potential densities at full build-out to ensure conformity with the Provincial Planning Statement, 2024.

The findings of the Major Transit Station Areas Report Addendum (February 2026) prepared by Dillon Consulting demonstrate the in-effect land use permissions within the City’s MTSAs allow for sufficient intensification to meet the minimum density targets prescribed by the Province. The study also recommended all MTSAs be identified as Protected Major Transit Station Areas which must be approved by the Province.