CCC presentation to transportation committee re. 2013 budget

[John Verbaas]

 

This week I attended the Transportation committee meeting and gave a short 4-point presentation on the topic. Pls find attached my speaking points.

 

In general I did not get any comments from the committee on any of these points other than Peter Clark commenting on my last point basically to dismiss the suggestion that we should consider other options for funding the transportation budget over and above the current property tax base.

 

My item #1 was asking why the 4 yr capital spending plan displayed no investment in walking or cycling for 2015 and 2016  and why there was no forecast spending towards construction for either the Rideau R. footbridge or the Rideau canal footbridge anywhere over the next 4 years.  No response.

 

My item #2 was seeking to clarify why only 11.8m$ of the 43m$ project to widen Greenbank road was coming from development charges. The remaining 30m$ is to come from debt...but it does not clarify what future revenue streams are expected to pay the principal and interest on that debt.    No response.

My item #3 was pointing out that in the next 4yr capital forecast approx 100m$ per yr is anticipated to be spent on GROWTH of new roads (virtually all of which is outside the Greenbelt).  As far as I can tell, the collection of DC's for funding roads growth averages about 30-40m$ per yr.  I was asking them, that given that so much growth was needed in the future, and since not enough DC funding seems to be coming to match it, that would they consider re-examining the 62.8m$ already earmarked (but not yet spent) for the 1.2km AVC Hospital Link in case perhaps there were future projects that might provide a higher level of benefit with this money than the AVC....No response.

 

In case you didn't see the Citizen's report on the meeting (and if you have access behind their new paywall)...

 

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/More+roads+city+transportation+committee+approves+budget/7514005/story.html

 

John