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Home My WebLink AboutEGD-44-06 C!iJlil1gron REPORT ENGINEERING SERVICES Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE Date: Tuesday, September 5, 2006 Report #: EGD-44-06 File#: By-law #: 6PA ' 5;)0 ,00 Subject: CANADA-ONTARIO MUNICIPAL RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUND INTAKE THREE - PORT DARLINGTON NEIGHBOURHOOD, SECONDARY ACCESS ROUTE Recommendations: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administrative Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report EGD-44-06 be received by Council; 2. THAT the Municipality submit an application for funding to the Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund - Intake 3; 3. THAT the works listed in the Port Darlington Neighbourhood, Secondary Access Route contained in Report EGD-44-06 continue to be endorsed as the Municipality's highest priority project per COMRIF Intake 2 , however modified to identify additional benefits, and included in the application; 4. THAT this report be forwarded to the Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund Joint Secretariat; and 5. THAT the Engineering Services Department proceed with the preparation and submission of the Canada-Ontario Rural Infrastructure Fund application, including all supporting documentation. CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON 40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L 1C 3A6 T 905-623-3379 F 905-623-9282 REPORT NO.: EDG-44-06 PAGE 2 Respectfully by, ~ !)~~~J'k Reviewed by: Franklin Wu Chief Administrative Officer Submitted by: A.S. Cannella, CET. Director of Engineering Services ASC/BMB/dv August 28, 2006 REPORT NO.: EDG-44-06 PAGE 3 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 The third and final intake for the Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF) program was announced late June of 2006. The total funding amount for Intake 3 has been reduced by more than 50% of that provided with Intake 1 and 2. The Municipality has also contacted the Joint Secretariat for additional information before applying in order to receive feedback on the previous Intake application. Following discussion with the COMRIF officials and the office of our regional member of parliament, our department is proposing a resubmission of the COMRIF Intake 2 application. The information provided allows the Municipality to focus on areas that did not score well with the Intake 2 application hence providing an advantage over a new project application. 2.0 BACKGROUND 2.1 The Engineering Services Department has reviewed the Guidelines and Technical Schedules for Intake 3 of the COMRIF program, specifically the sections dealing with Municipal Roads and Bridges and Related Structures. The focus of the program is to ensure that Ontarians in small urban and rural communities enjoy a quality of life that's second to none through infrastructure investments which: . enhance and renew Ontario's aging public infrastructure . improve the quality of the environment . protect the health and safety of citizens . support long-term economic growth . build strong, sustainable communities by giving municipalities the tools they need The funding formula for the program would see the three levels of government, local municipality, Ontario and Canada, each paying one third of the eligible project costs. The COMRIF program also states that the priorities for project selection are: water, wastewater, local bridges and roads and solid waste management. REPORT NO.: EDG-44-06 PAGE 4 Municipalities may only submit one project for each intake, but similar projects can be grouped together and submitted as one. Applications, supported by a municipal council resolution, must be submitted to the COMRIF Joint Secretariat on or before 5:00 p.m. EST on September 13, 2006. Upon review of the Application Guidebook - Intake 3, the criteria for projects eligible for funding under the program, and the input provided subsequent to the Intake 2 application, it was evident that for the roads and bridges sections that protection of public health and safety, transportation efficiency, and economic development were weighted heavily in the evaluation criteria. Projects that are considered routine maintenance or repair are not eligible for funding. Projects that are required as a result of residential development are not eligible for funding. Purchase of land for road construction is also not eligible. As a result of these factors it limited the eligible projects significantly. Through a review of the existing road inventory information and the advantage of our Intake 2 debrief, it was determined that the Municipal Roads section of the Intake 3 application would provide the Municipality with the best opportunity to submit a successful application for funding from the COMRIF program. The criteria under "Municipal Roads" for Intake 3 apply, essentially, to the reconstruction of an existing road which is deficient. The criteria calls for the calculation of a "Road Sufficiency Index" within which a series of factors are established related to horizontal and vertical alignment, traffic level of service, roadside safety, drainage, etc. A "Road Sufficiency Index" greater than 75 will disqualify the project from COMRIF funding. The Municipality scored very well in this area through Intake 2 however improvements are required with Public Policy Criteria and Project Cost. 3.0 MUNICIPAL ROADS 3.1 The road pattern in the Port Darlington Neighbourhood presently identifies only one road, Port Darlington Road, which is capable of handling normal traffic operations and providing emergency access. In the interests of public safety, a second access is essential. This was highlighted by the incident of November 10, 2004 during the REPORT NO.: EDG-44-06 PAGE 5 explosion and fire at the Caledon Propane Storage Yard. East Beach Road was used to evacuate approximately 500 people from the area. Should the emergency situation have occurred under other circumstances, such as during severe snow or rainstorm conditions, it is possible that East Beach Road would have been blocked or may even have experienced washout from flooding of Bennett Creek. Similarly, Port Darlington Road being in proximity to the Soper Creek flood plain could experience flooding. It also has a level crossing with CN Rail which could be blocked by a stopped or disabled train. In addition the road intersects a hydro corridor with twin tower transmission lines which could create problems if damaged by heavy ice, for example. From an economic development perspective, this road facilitates the Port Darlington Waterfront Park and the Village Commercial components thereof. It will also attract additional use of the waterfront trail to this area with the possible construction of the 'missing link' which currently exists. The transportation efficiency for the expansion and ultimate use of the water pollution control plant, currently approved to proceed, will also benefit from the reconstruction proposed. It is estimated that the cost to provide this secondary access route is approximately $635,000 of which the Municipality would be responsible for $225,000 to be provided for under the Engineering Services 2007 Capital Budget process. These are compelling reasons to revisit the opportunity to improve public safety through the provision of an improved secure two-way access and support economic development in the area. REPORT NO.: EDG-44-06 PAGE 6 Attachments: Attachment 1 - Project Identification Map "U o ;:\. o '" :1- S' '" 6" ::J ;0 0. ~ en o c: ~ ::T en CD ~ ". CD ;0 0. Proposed Port Darlington Secondary Access Road (-'....... " l~ Existing East Beach Road W~E s ____.__s DRAWN BY: B.M.B. DATE: Aug. 2006 BOWMANVILLE KEY MAP REPORT EGD-44-06 ATTACHMENT NO.1 G:\CapilaJProjectsICOMRIFlnlaI<e3\Raport