A new Transportation Master Plan has been brought to Meaford council during a meeting on Monday.
The delegation was presented by Scott Johnston, a representative of IBI Group, a Canadian-based consulting company that assists in architecture, engineering, planning, landscape architecture, transportation, and technology.
IBI identified the goals of its master plan will aim to meet the needs of current and future urban and rural residents and businesses, deliver and maintain in a fiscally responsible and sustainable fashion, enhance the safety, accessibility, equity and inclusively to support various life styles, and support environmental sustainability and climate change objectives.
During the first round of consultations held between May 7 and June 10, 2020, over 300 responses were received and key transportation topics like the delays of turning onto Sykes Street, the unsafe experiences and poor condition of Miller Street, and supporting new sidewalks and cycling infrastructure were discussed.
From this, IBI identified several needs and opportunities including supporting regional transit initiatives, prioritizing bridge and structure renewal and ensuring maintenance needs are being met.
In following the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Master Plan process, four other alternative solutions were considered:
-maintain existing infrastructure
-improve roads
-focus on active transportation
-taking a combined approach
In accordance with a five phase plan, in which the first two have already been completed that identified alternative solutions, the next phase will look at alternative design concepts, then an environmental study report, finally moving to implementation.
Following the second round of consultations and feedback in January, a plan for several road improvements was created:
-Sideroad 8 and Concession Road 2 North, corridor upgrade and paving
-Sideroad 22 and Concession Road 6, intersection maintenance
-Sykes Street, Traffic Operations Study
-Miller Street, a study for a potential cul-de-sac
-Pearson Street/ Ridge Road, traffic study and new pedestrian and cycling facilities, and interim traffic calming
-Sykes Street & St. Vincent Street, Intersection study with Grey County
-Sykes St & Ford Avenue, safety assessment
-Parking Study and Bylaw Review
-Aiken Street/ Grant Avenue, traffic calming
-Grandview Drive/ Lakeshore Road, traffic calming
IBI acknowledges in the master plan the challenges faced while maintaining bridges and proposes a new prioritization method. It details that when a bridge might need to be closed, have a detour available that looks at both distance and time, have them be suitable for heavy vehicles with machinery, and analyze the impacts it would have on residents.
As part of the plan, 5.3 kilometres of sidewalk corridors will be constructed over the first 10 years as well as new cycling routes to improve options for cyclists.
IBI identified the needed costs to pursue this plan, requiring 2.4 per cent tax increase supported budget for 2021 to 2025. The projects running between 2026 and 2030 may need to be adjusted, IBI notes, depending on the funding from from other levels of government. With needs and justifications indicated for the possibility of applying for grants, like Canada National Active Transportation Strategy.
The grant is in the late stages of development, but once the national grant is live, it is capable of providing $400 million over a five year term, according to Meaford Treasurer and Director, Corporate Services Darcy Chapman
The total costs of the long term project are divided into three parts, between 2021 to 2025, the total amount needed is over, $1.3 million, split into playing just under $350,000 per year. For between 2026 to 2030, the total amount needed is over $5.5 million, playing just over $1.1 million each year. Between 2031 and 2045, the total comes in at just under $12.6 million, paying $840,000 per year.
Currently, the next steps for the master plan are to enter a statutory 30-day period for public review, finalize the master plan and lastly, receive council endorsement.
During the question and answer period, several councillors voiced their thoughts on the master plan.
Coun. Steve Bartley made clear he was not in favour of certain aspects of the plan, especially the intention of putting a cul-de-sac on Miller Street.
“I have no intention of putting a cul-de-sac at Miller Street as long as I am in this chair, I have no intention of paving more roads down Concession Road 2 or any other roads until we can keep the road we have in place now,” says Bartley. “I have no intentions of putting paved shoulders as long as we are still talking about closing bridges.”
Deputy Mayor Shirley Keaveney, on the other hand, proposed an extension of another month to the 30-day comment review period.
“I feel this is a really important plan for our residents,” says Keaveney. “I feel that 30 days perhaps just isn’t enough, and I would suggest we add another month until our second meeting in July.”
Keaveney added this plan is for the next 25 years, and thinks residents should be given ample amount of time to look at the plan.
