Many of us agree, Hamilton's future relies on transit. A great transit system is an enabler of a clean and healthy environment, a prosperous economy. As the CEO of the city's largest employer, I'm a big supporter of it. Hamilton has a very vibrant post-secondary education sector. About 40% of our students are frequent users of public transit in Hamilton.
It takes many years to build a very progressive transportation corridor. And we have to start. We have to move along that path for the future. Strong transit will become even more important as Hamilton rapidly grows in the years ahead. By 2041, 780,000 people will call Hamilton home. That means more jobs and more opportunity.
It means a more robust economy. And it means more arts and entertainment venues. As a city, we have to be able to handle the needs of this larger population. We're a growing community, which we're lucky to be. The question, though, is how are we going to accommodate all these people, given that a lot of this growth is going to have to occur in existing urban areas.
And so the answer that we've been working on for the last 10 years certainly involves a lot of transit. Through a series of plans approved over the past 10 years, we've developed a strategy to connect growing parts of our city together with rapid and reliable transit. It's called the BLAST Network, and it will connect the east and west ends of the city, downtown and the Waterdown Commercial District, the waterfront to the airport, Ancaster Meadowlands to the centre on Barton, the Ancaster Business Park to growing areas in Elfrida, and upper Stoney Creek down to East Gate Square.
These five routes will provide the economic stimulus and infrastructure Hamilton needs for its bright future, connect residents with key destinations across Hamilton, be great for the environment in reducing emissions, and promote healthier lifestyles. But it all begins with the B Line and the A Line Spur. These light rail trains will connect East Hamilton to downtown through to McMaster University, as well as Hamilton's West Harbour to the new West Harbour GO Station.
They'll provide smooth, quiet, swift transportation that integrates with our bike-sharing program. Getting the resources to build the BLAST Network is a critical piece of the puzzle. Fortunately, the construction of the first two routes is being covered by the provincial government. With this funding, Hamilton can start building the transit network our vibrant city is going to need.
And these routes are just the beginning. Our full plan includes LRT, buses, bikes, and connections to GO trains ranging far across the city. This will be the backbone of Hamilton's future. All vibrant cities have dynamic transit programs. We need to continue to invest in transit. The BLAST Network is a great plan. Hamilton is on the cusp of a renaissance.
You know, there's so many signs of important new growth and prosperity here in the city. And start thinking about what positives can come out of this wonderful opportunity that we've been given to build a community that we're proud of for the future.
