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Town roads may get over $27 million in repairs Over 90 road and infrastructure projects could be taking place throughout Innisfil over the next five years, according to a town staff report released last week. Town council will consider the approval of a five-year $27.3 million road and related infrastructure capital plan next Wednesday. If approved, the list of repairs would include the reconstruction and urbanization improvements of several roads, bridges, culverts, sidewalks and street lights. Among the projects, Innisfil Beach Road will be the most expensive. Crews would reconstruct the road between Lake Simcoe and the Canadian National railway tracks for about $17.4 million. The South Innisfil Drain would also receive $3 million in repairs, Cookstown's Hamilton and William streets would receive $880,000 in construction, and Willard Avenue would be rebuilt for $830,000. Gilford's Everton Bridge would receive $645,000 in funding, a bridge on the 9th Line would get $500,000, and the 4th Line between County Road 4 and the 20th Sideroad would receive $495,125. The 2nd Line between County Road 4 and the 10th Sideroad, and the 3rd Line between the same two roads, would receive $455,209 and $454,959 for repairs and reconstruction respectively. The 3rd Line between the 10th Sideroad and Reive Boulevard would get $372,252 in reconstruction and repairs. The plan comes months ahead of the scheduled approval of the town's annual operating and capital budgets. However a decision is necessary now, to allow these projects to begin next year, said town treasurer Ian Goodfellow. "The purpose of the accelerated approval is to provide sufficient time for the arrangement of essential activities related to the projects. These activities include engineering designs, public input, agency approvals and utility coordination," he said. If projects are not initiated until a formal budget approval is granted, there would most likely be insufficient lead time to obtain the various agency approvals, tendering and construction in the same year." While ambitious, the plan may also lead to a rise in development charges. By 2012, the town's development charge reserve fund is expected to run a $4.1 million deficit, said Goodfellow. "With the current development charge rate and estimated future building permit activity levels, the reserve fund is forecast to be in a deficit," he said. "The current rates are under review, and combined with a mandatory review in 2009 could result in a higher rate being imposed, which could assist in mitigating this significant financial matter. "If these additional revenues are not realized in a timely manner, staff may need to alter the timing of future growth related projects to match the available cash flow." Innisfil has one of the lowest development charge rates in the region, receiving $2,988, on average, per unit. The average local municipality - including Barrie, Midland, Collingwood and Bradford West Gwillimbury - charges $3,802 per unit. Staff may investigate the feasibility of implementing prepayment development charge agreements, as part of the funding solution, said Goodfellow. Under the plan, $5 million would be spent in 2008, $8.2 million in 2009, $4.4 million in 2010, $6.4 million in 2011, and $3 million in 2012. "This program is intended to act as a planning tool for the town, and provide foresight needed to establish an acceptable road rehabilitation and reconstruction program," he said. "It does not necessarily commit the town to a future year's program ... due to extenuating circumstances that may arise ... prior to annual budget deliberations." However, some councillors warn the projects could be significantly altered or cancelled, once the town's Road Needs Study is released early next year. "We commit to some roads now, then this road study comes out and everything is all shifted around," said councillor Lynn Dollin. "Council (should) be cognizant of that, this could dramatically change when this new study comes out." Projects were selected using the McCormick Rankin Road, and Culverts and Bridge Needs assessments, and the town's development charges background study. But not every project will likely receive funding. Work on the 25th Sideroad, between the 8th and 9th lines, has been taken off the capital budget plan, pending the Ontario Municipal Board's decision regarding the Big Bay Point Resort project, said councillor Dan Davidson.
"That stretch of road is not that bad at this time," he said. "With the Big Bay Point project coming later on stream, that would have to be all torn up again. It just seems like a waste of money for something that's going to be ripped up three years from now. We should wait until we see how things go at the OMB." Here's a list of some of the major projects being proposed in Innisfil's fiveyear Roads and Related Infrastructure capital budget: |
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