BRAMPTON – There were a lot of cooks in the kitchen at Spot One Grill Tuesday night for a transit debate between Peel candidates.

About 14 at last count, and they were all running for mayor or city council in Brampton and Mississauga as well as Regional Council.

Following an introduction session, which may have been the first time the some 20 spectators heard from the participants, each candidate shared their ideas on transportation.

Out of the many opinions expressed – more residential bus routes, roundabouts, expanded roads, bus and taxi dedicated lanes during rush hour, all-day, two-way GO service, timed street lights, to name a few – the proposed Hurontario-Main light rail transit line (LRT) appeared to be one of the most divisive issues among candidates.

Though in favour of the project, Brampton mayoral hopeful Donald McLeod would rather not have the line pass through downtown Brampton, instead stopping at Steeles Ave. and re-routed up to McLaughlin Rd. before heading north.

"I'd rather run it up to Sheridan College because you're going to have more people to Sheridan. If they want to run it to a GO Station, they can always run it east," McLeod said, noting that more Zum buses heading into the downtown from Steeles Ave. and Main St. could be added.

"To run the LRT all the way through probably the prettiest section of downtown Brampton, it doesn't make any sense to me. You have so many things in the way there; you have two bridges before you even get to the downtown main core … you'd have to have two environmental assessments."

Not entirely swayed by how the LRT could possibly "affect the heritage of downtown Brampton," Wards 3 & 4 regional council candidate Kevin Montgomery is in favour of running the line right up Main to the downtown GO Station.

"With few opportunities to widen (Main) street any further, we have to look at high capacity vehicles, which is really what we're talking about here," said Montgomery, whose bike helmet rested on the table in front of him.

"It's just a vehicle; it runs on rails (and) it's going to carry a lot more people than...buses can do and it's that kind of thinking that we need to increasingly look at as we expand our rapid transit system through Brampton."