Meaford council has adopted a new transportation master plan to use as a guiding document.
During a council meeting on July 26, a report from Meaford Director of Infrastructure Services Tori Perejmybida notes the plan was put together by IBI Consulting to establish a guide for transportation services, assess existing transportation system performances, estimate the future travel demand in the area, and define any actions and policies needed for transportation within Meaford.
The master plan is established to mark projects and goals the municipality could achieve between 2021 to 2045.
Several traffic needs were identified in the community in the new plan; Some of those include: managing truck movements, develop a traffic calming process, improve intersection safety, and expand the sidewalk network.
The master plan features four goals and various directions to help achieve them.
The first would see transportation meet the needs of present and future urban and rural residents and businesses.
The second would be to deliver and maintain the plan in a fiscally responsible fashion.
Third would enhance the safety, accessibility, equity and inclusively to support active and health lifestyles.
Lastly, to support environmental sustainability and climate change objectives.
To meet the requirements for the funding of the master plan, $346,000 per year will be needed in the short term, a 2.4 per cent increase on the previously approved 2021 tax supported budget. In the medium and long-term basis, funding requirements will need to grow to over $1 million and $840,000 respectively, annually.
To help assist with the funding requirements, the municipality will be looking at alternative funding options.
Such projects could see and upgrade and paving to Sideroad 8 and 2nd Concession North. Other projects could occur over several years, like a Sykes St. Traffic Operations Study, requiring $50,000 between 2021 and 2025, and an additional $200,000 between 2026 and 2030.
Perejmybida confirms with adopting the master plan, no official projects have been confirmed as the document only acts as a guide for what can be done.
