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Council allocates gas tax funding for downtown and rural areas

Council decides how to spend its one-time windfall in gas tax funding.
TreasuryBldgMK
Gas tax 'top up' will be used to complete handicapped-accessible modifications to the Treasury building on Holland St. East. Miriam King/Bradford Today

The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury received a one-time “top up” of its federal gas tax funding, and on Tuesday night, council allocated the money to a number of projects, ranging from Asset Management Plan to improved safety on rural roads.

The discussion began two weeks ago. Councillors received a report, proposing that the $894,279.27 in one-time 'top up' funding be set aside for southwest urban roads rehabilitation projects, and an equivalent amount be taken out of the Capital Replacement Reserve - $154,096 earmarked for the town’s share of a possible Infrastructure public transit grant, $200,000 for Asset Management Plan consulting services, and $198,000 to install large stop signs fitted with flashing lights at 33 rural intersections.

It left a total of $342,000 still available, and Coun. Gary Baynes suggested that the additional funds could go towards sidewalk repairs, an accessibility project at the treasury building, and co-ordination of traffic lights along Holland Street.

A final decision was deferred to the next meeting of council, and staff was asked for a report on the actual costs for the additional work.

On Tuesday night, councillors received the report, and good news. Recalculated, the gas tax funding “top up” came to $910,934 – more than initially expected.

Staff still recommended setting aside $154,096 as the town’s share of an Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) public transit grant, and $200,000 for consulting on the Asset Management Plan.

But instead of $198,000 to install flashing stop signs on municipal concession roads, where they cross County of Simcoe roads, staff suggested an alternative expenditure of $120,000, to provide illumination at 46 unlit intersections.

The report noted that county staff “did not support” the flashing stop signs, but appeared to be in support of the illumination project.

Ward 5 Coun. Peter Ferragine immediately responded.

He agreed with setting aside $120,000 for lighting at the intersections, but suggested “the stop signs and the flashing lights are important as well,” for safety on rural roads.

“It’s pitch black out there at night time. It’s terrible in winter time,” Ferragine said, asking that the remaining $78,000 initially proposed be allocated to install oversized stop signs with flashing lights at the most dangerous intersections, where well-used concession roads cross Yonge St., 10 Sideroad, 5 Sideroad and County Rd. 27.

And both he and Coun. Raj Sandhu asked for clarification of the county’s position.

“Are they supporting, just saying ‘good job,’ or are they putting some money into it?” demanded Coun. Sandhu. He suggested that the town was doing the county’s work, but still supported the expenditure. “It’s our residents’ safety,” Sandhu said.

Coun. Gary Lamb, Chair of the Traffic Committee, agreed with the need for oversized stop signs with flashing lights on some concession roads – in particular, Line 11. “There’s three county roads that it’s crossing, and they’re all 80 kmph,” he said, noting that the signs would at least provide warning to residents, at night or in poor weather.  

The staff report provided two estimates for sidewalk repairs: $20,000 to deal with the immediate replacement of five “priority” areas of damaged sidewalk identified by the Downtown Revitalization Committee; and another $203,000 to replace all of the current interlocking sidewalk pavers on Holland St. which have heaved or broken, creating an uneven surface.

Coun. Baynes urged immediate action on the five priority areas – “We want those fixed in the fall of 2019,” he said – but suggested delaying the remainder of the repairs, and the expenditure of $203,000, until 2020.

“I would suggest we earmark the money now,” Baynes said. “Of course, the money doesn’t come out of the reserve fund until the work is done.”

Staff also recommended using $103,000 from the gas tax money to add to the $61,000 already set aside in 2018 to construct a handicapped-accessible ramp at the treasury building on Holland Street East.

The ramp was never built, CAO Geoff McKnight explained, because it was realized that modifications to the entry and the doorway, and new electrical work, were also needed – bringing the total estimated cost to $164,000. The project has been on hold.

Councillors agreed to use $83,000 from the gas tax funding, and another $20,000 from the Town’s Accessibility Reserve Fund, to finally move forward with work to make the treasury building accessible.

“We tell people to go there, and it’s not accessible,” said Coun. Baynes.

“It’s unacceptable. We have to have this ramp,” said Coun. Ferragine. 

Council also approved an expenditure of $50,000, for the John-Moore St. Parking Lot Improvements, now underway – but there was no money set aside at this time for the co-ordination of traffic signals on Holland Street, a project that came with a $667,000 price tag.

Instead, councillors voted to defer the signal discussion to the 2020 budget talks, and ask staff to look at changing some of the timing of the lights.

“There can be tweaking of some of the traffic signals we have now,” said Mayor Rob Keffer. “We don’t have enough information now to go ahead with the big expenditure. It certainly is something we have to look at to move forward with the flow of traffic.”

Of particular concern was the length of the red light at Langford Blvd., especially when there is often no north-south traffic waiting. Coun. Gary Lamb pointed out, “Langford isn’t finished yet,” with many new homes still being built, but agreed there could be some “tweaking.” 

“This is a lot of money. It’s not to be taken lightly,” said Coun. Mark Contois, noting that red lights can be a “traffic calming” strategy. “People coming from the 400 into the downtown core will be speeding. They already do.”

Co-ordinating the signals might make it easier for speeders, he warned. “The major concern in this town is speeding. We can’t just open it up and allow it,” Contois said.

The signalization question was referred to the budget, but the other expenditures were approved – totalling $908,258 of the $910,934 available. Coun. Peter Dykie Jr., who has a downtown business, declared a conflict of interest and did not vote; the approval was otherwise unanimous.

“It’s for the downtown, for the rural areas… and it’s actually saving us money, for the asset management plan,” said Mayor Keffer. “It’s accomplishing quite a bit around our town.”

 


Miriam King

About the Author: Miriam King

Miriam King is a journalist and photographer with Bradford Today, covering news and events in Bradford West Gwillimbury and Innisfil.
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