On Aug. 12 Centre Wellington council passed a bylaw authorizing the mayor and clerk to execute an amended and restated municipality contribution agreement – asking the province to reinstate provincial funding of highways within urban areas.
The resolution recognizes the province cancelled the Connecting Link program which funds capital maintenance costs of provincial highways through urban municipalities.
Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj explained that passage of the resolution is in preparation for township meetings with provincial representatives this week at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference.
“In this particular case, we would like to give the connecting link back to the province – since they gave it to use in a two-paragragh email.”
She explained that cancellation of the program will have significant impact to Centre Wellington capital projects both now and in the future.
She added the township already has significant capital obligations for existing road and bridge infrastructure, including seven bridges which remain closed and another expected to close this fall.
The St. David Street Bridge (Highway 6) in Fergus, which had previously been covered through the Connecting Link network within Fergus will require significant upgrades and repairs within the next one to two years.
She said Centre Wellington is asking the province to restore the Connecting Link program “to sustain the Ontario Provincial Highway network which provides vital transportation routes for businesses and supports the Ontario economy.”
In January, Minister of Transportation Bob Chiarelli informed several municipalities, including Centre Wellington, that the province had eliminated the Connecting Link program.
The program provided a 90 per cent subsidy which municipalities used to fund construction, maintenance and repairs to roads the province designated as connecting the provincial highway network through communities, but not owned by the province.
Work on the St. David Street bridge is pegged at $1.6 million while additional work from the bridge to Edinburgh Road costing another $1.2 million.
Under the program, the province would have covered 90% of the capital cost for the bridge, $1.5 million and provided $400,000 for the road portion of the St. David Street reconstruction project.
The resolution was quickly endorsed.
Councillor Fred Morris remained puzzled as to how the province can download this work and not provide any logical explanation to municipalities being affected by their decisions.
“I don’t think they can just shrug their shoulders and say they can’t afford it. What makes them think we can afford it?”
“Exactly,” agreed Ross-Zuj.
Morris contended that there needs to be a reason.
Ross-Zuj anticipated a lively discussion with provincial representatives on this topic at the AMO conference.
“Highway 6 is a major transportation network in this province. It is vital.”
Councillor Walt Visser recommended making it a toll road.
Ross-Zuj asked council to remember other municipalities are affected as well.
“Highway 6 doesn’t just start and stop in Centre Wellington.”
She pointed to the bridge in Mount Forest which is also being considered for replacement.
“But for us, this is just a download of millions of dollars.”
As council approved the resolution Ross-Zuj said, “OK, we’re giving it back … let’s see what happens.”
