The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury had a windfall – a one-time gas tax “top up” from the federal government of $894,279.27.
On Tuesday night, council sitting as Committee of the Whole, debated where the money should be spent.
A report from staff suggested directing the funds towards the Southwest Urban Roads rehabilitation project – and redirecting funding now in the Capital Replacement Reserve, initially earmarked for infrastructure.
Three projects were proposed: $154,096 to meet the town’s share of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) for public transit, $200,000 to hire a consultant for the Town’s Asset Management Plan, and $198,000 to install flashing stop signs at 33 rural intersections, where town roads cross a county road.
Coun. Gary Baynes pointed out that the proposed expenditures came to about $552,000, leaving another $342,000 of the gas tax funding. He suggested using the additional funds to also replace crumbling sidewalks in the downtown core of Bradford, improve accessibility at the town’s treasury building by constructing a ramp, and enhancing the co-ordination of traffic signals on Holland Street.
“In my humble opinion, we have a shot at completing all six (projects),” Baynes said, asking for a staff report on the costs. “Maybe we can do five out of six” – giving residents something tangible.
Deputy Mayor James Leduc questioned spending the $198,000 to install flashing stop signs at the intersection with Simcoe County roads, “when they (the county) wouldn’t even give us $50,000 for that.”
Coun. Gary Lamb pointed out that the flashing stop signs would be installed on “our roads that cross county Roads,” but suggested looking at accident reports before approving the expenditure.
“I want to put them where they’re needed, as opposed to just throwing them out there, helter-skelter,” Lamb said. He also questioned spending money on the co-ordination of traffic signals on Holland, when new technology is being developed.
“Still, it’s no good in the bank,” he said. “We might as well use it.”
Mayor Rob Keffer agreed. “Let’s have something out there that people can see,” he said of the flashing lights on stop signs, “and even put it out there that the county is not helping us out.”
Keffer pointed out that last winter, there were two fatal collisions at municipal-county crossroads.
“I'm not saying it would have made any difference, but it certainly would make people more aware of the crossroads,” he said.
Coun. Peter Ferragine, who represents Ward 5, suggested that illuminating some of the intersections would contribute more to safety than a flashing stop sign.
In the end, council voted to refer the report and the vote to the next meeting of council in two weeks' time, and ask staff to provide more financial details of all of the proposals.
