All city funding lead to downtown streets
Kevin Werner Jun 06, 2008 Dundas Star News
Hamilton councillors ignored the crumbling conditions of suburban roads, and instead approved spending nearly $9 million in provincial funding to fix up the city’s downtown streets instead.
“We all have roads that need to be done,” said Ward 7 councillor Scott Duvall, who was one of only a handful of councillors who opposed the recommendation. “I thought there would be a sharing option. There are roads (identified) as hot spots in the 1980s that are still not done.”
A fiery Stoney Creek councillor Brad Clark blasted city staff during last week’s council meeting for directing the provincial funding to roads in the downtown area without providing a proper criteria as to why the decision was made.
“If we don’t do something about (the suburban roads) they will become like moon scapes,” he said. “They are 60 to 70 years old. I swear the (Battle of Stoney Creek) battlefield was fought there.”
Hamilton is expecting to receive by the end of June $8.8 million from the provincial government’s $400 million one-time capital investment to fix up roads and bridges in municipalities located outside the Greater Toronto Area. The announcement was made in the province’s March 2008 budget announcement.
City staff determined the best way to use the extra money was to upgrade 12 roads in the city’s downtown core. They include Aberdeen Avenue from Longwood Road to Studholme Road, Barton Street from Ferguson to James Street, Bay Street from Bridge to Cannon street, Hunter Street from John to Wellington Street south, King Street from Bay Street to James Street, Main Street from Dundurn to Hess Street and Wellington Street from King Street to Main Street.
City staff provided an alternative option for council’s consideration that identified eight streets for needed upgrades located in wards 4, 7 and 9. They were East 38th Street from Fennell to Queensdale, West 27th Street from Sanatorium to Price, West 35th Street from Scenic Drive all the way to the end, and Lake Avenue Drive in Stoney Creek from Queenston to King Street.
Even though city public works staff characterized these road as in dire need of improvements, they argued against councillors selecting the alternative option because the improvements would also include an extra (unfunded) $7 million in sewer upgrades.
“We are $100 million short (in infrastructure funding),” said Public Works General Manager Scott Stewart. “We could spend this money any where.”
Mr. Stewart and Corporate Services General Manager Joe Rinaldo said the funding needed to be used up within a year on projects that would be easily completed.
City staff argued it could take up to two years before the suburban road upgrades would be completed compared to one year for the downtown road projects.
But under intense questioning from Mr. Clark, city staff backtracked, acknowledging the province would not take back any of its funding.
Transportation Ministry spokesperson Bob Nichols said there is no criteria, nor deadline requirements for how municipalities use the funding.
Mr. Clark, who represents residents along Lake Avenue, said the city is spending less money this year on road repair than in 2007.
“I can’t support this,” he said. “We should deal with the dire roads first.”
Mr. Clark also questioned what criteria city staff used to select the downtown roads, but he came away unsatisfied with their answers.
Mountain councillor Terry Whitehead said he was “holding my nose” and voting for the downtown roads project. He pointed out over the last four months there have been four water main breaks along Upper James.
“Instead of fixing the roads, they are bursting and popping all over the place,” he said.
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