All aboard? Not quite — not yet, anyway.

Amid some political dissent, city hall’s $880-million plan for a hybrid light rail/bus rapid transit system left the station Monday with London politicians voting unanimously to endorse it.

That staff-recommended option — light rail between downtown and the north and east ends; bus-only rapid transit to the south and west — was OK’d as the “preliminary preferred” choice as council met Monday as the strategic priorities and policy committee.

This was only an endorsement, not a final council decision. The light rail/bus hybrid option will now go out for public feedback before council makes an official decision, likely in January.

But Monday’s 15-0 vote, while masking some clear concerns from council members, suggests plenty of support for what would be the biggest infrastructure project in city history.

“This (the hybrid) is the way to go forward,” said Coun. Tanya Park. “We’re here to build a city of tomorrow, not the city of last year.”

Mayor Matt Brown was outspoken in urging his colleagues to back the proposal — if only to get the attention of Ottawa and Queen’s Park, which will both be asked to contribute huge sums to the project.

“If I have heard one message from (the province and Ottawa), it’s this: Council needs to identify a single option,” Mayor Matt Brown said. “So we can focus, so we can move this conversation forward with them.”

London’s share of construction costs will be capped at $125 million that will come from development charges tacked onto new construction over the next 20 years. The rest — more than $750 million — would have to come from the provincial and federal governments.

It’s possible. Ontario has earmarked $15 billion for infrastructure outside the Greater Toronto-Hamilton Area and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed support for London rapid transit while campaigning.

The price, though, is one part of the concerns expressed by some councillors Monday. Coun. Phil Squire argued London’s proposed $125-million share may not be big enough and Coun. Stephen Turner raised questions about annual operation costs.

Councillors Bill Armstrong and Michael van Holst argued rail is an old-world technology. Coun. Anna Hopkins expressed concern on behalf of her west-end constituents.

But those who were supportive are already backing light rail without reservation.

Councillors Jesse Helmer and Mo Salih pushed to scrap the hybrid option to go with a light-rail-everywhere option that would cost up to $1.2 billion to build.

“I see (light rail) as a no-brainer,” Helmer said.

That $1.2-billion option was rejected as council’s preferred choice, in favour of the hybrid.

Rapid transit, especially with light rail, isn’t just about moving passengers more quickly, experts say — it can also spark infill development along the routes. That would help London grow “inwards and upwards,” as called for in city hall’s blueprint for growth, the London Plan.

“It can serve as a very effective catalyst for development,” said city planning boss John Fleming. “That opportunity to develop along the rapid-transit routes really makes all the difference.”

London is the largest Canadian city with no form of rapid transit.

Patrick.maloney@sunmedia.ca

Twitter.com/patatLFPress

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CITY HALL’S PREFERRED RAPID TRANSIT OPTION: