REQUEST FOR DECISION
DATE: April 24, 2017 Report No. EPW-17-011
TO: Laurie Hurst, Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Jeff Miller, Director of Engineering and Public Works
SUBJECT:
Title
One time modification of spending restrictions on funding associated with Road Infrastructure Repairs and Maintenance budget line item
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RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That Council approve the release of $10,000 from the Road Infrastructure Repair and Maintenance budget line item to be utilized for the implementation of the Traffic Orders from the Traffic Control Review Report and updating of the Streets and Traffic Regulation Bylaw.
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RELEVANT POLICY:
Streets and Traffic Regulation Bylaw, 2005, No. 2607, as amended
STRATEGIC RELEVANCE:
Well Managed and Maintained Infrastructure - identify infrastructure repair and proactive plan for replacement needs
BACKGROUND:
The Road Infrastructure Repairs and Maintenance line item in the budget was created to provide funding for minor capital work. It was later modified to include major maintenance activities several years ago. The funding associated with the line item is intended to be spent on the asphalt portion of the road corridor. This item is allocated $25,000 each year in the budget.
In 2017, Engineering and Public works is in the process of implementing the recommendations from the Traffic Control Review Report (see Staff Report EPW-16-001). As well, it is anticipated that an updated Streets and Traffic Bylaw will be presented to Council for approval. One of the clauses to be included in order to provide increased road safety is the addition of no parking zones on curbs of each leg of an intersection.
ISSUES:
1. Rationale for Selected Option
As the recommendations from the Traffic Control Review Report are approved for the Traffic Orders, new signage and curb painting will be required. Normally Traffic Orders can be accommodated within the operational budget. However, due to the number of anticipated Traffic Orders (approximately 50) that would be approved, this would put a strain on the operational budget. By utilizing funding from the Road Infrastructure line item, this strain would be removed.
The revision of the Streets and Traffic Regulation Bylaw will include the requirement to paint the curbs of the legs of the intersection and make them into no parking zones. This scope of work would see the painting of approximately 500 linear metres of curb. The scope of work would exceed the capacity of Public Works but could be accomplished by contracting out. By doing the painting in this manner, the Bylaw requirements would be fulfilled and would eliminate a number of concerns that have been raised by staff and residents with respect to providing space at intersections.
It is staff’s recommendation that Council allow funding from the Road Infrastructure Repairs & Maintenance line item be applicable to the proposed scope of work.
2. Organizational Implications
The implementation of the Traffic Orders can be accomplished with existing capacity of Engineering and Public Works as the program will only issue approximately five traffic orders per month.
The painting of the curbs at intersections would exceed the capacity of Public Works. This work would be contracted out by Engineering. The maintenance of the newly painted curbs would be on a rotational basis with a minor increase in the operational budget to included additional paint for this work.
3. Financial Implications
The cost for doing the proposed work would total approximately $8,000 to $10,000 (dependent on bid prices). This would leave approximately $15,000 for road work for 2017. Based on the projects scheduled for 2017, this amount will be sufficient to carry out a small amount of road surface repair.
4. Sustainability & Environmental Implications
There are no sustainability or environmental implications but the addition of signage and no parking zones will create a driving environment that will increase the safety of road corridor users.
5. Communication & Engagement
The Township will be in communication with neighbourhoods and the Township as a whole as traffic orders are approved. Further information on the Streets and Traffic Bylaw update will occur through a report to Council.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. That Council approve the release of $10,000 from the Road Infrastructure Repair and Maintenance budget line item to be utilized for the implementation of the Traffic Orders from the Traffic Control Review Report and updating of the Streets and Traffic Regulation Bylaw.
2. That Council does not approve the release of $10,000 from the Road Infrastructure Repair and Maintenance budget line item to be utilized for the implementation of the Traffic Orders from the Traffic Control Review Report and updating of the Streets and Traffic Regulation Bylaw.