2.             Hunt Club Extension – Phase II

Prolongement du chemin Hunt Club – Mise à jour sur la phase II

 

 

 

Committee Recommendations

 

That Council approves the following:

 

1.         Direct staff to not award the contract for Phase I, pending receipt of the Minister's confirmation; and

 

2.         that if the Minister does not provide this confirmation by October 1, 2009 that this issue be brought back to Transportation Committee for consideration.

 

 

Recommandations du comité

 

Que le Conseil approuve ce qui suit:

 

1.         De donner instruction au personnel de ne pas attribuer le contrat pour la phase 1 avant d’avoir reçu la confirmation du Ministre;

 

2.         D’exiger que cette question soit soumise de nouveau à l’étude du Comité du transport si, au 1er octobre 2009, le Ministre n’a pas donné cette confirmation.

 

Documentation

 

1.         Transportation Committee report, dated 27 August 2009 (ACS2009-CCS-TRC-0015).

 

 

Report to/Rapport au :

 

Transportation Committee

Comité des transports

 

and Council / et au Conseil

 

27 August 2009 / le 27 août 2009

 

Submitted by/Soumis par : Councillor Rainer Bloess

 

Contact / Personne-ressource : Councillor R. Bloess
(613) 580-2472, Rainer.Bloess@ottawa.ca

 

Gloucester-Southgate (10)

Ref N°: ACS2009-CCS-TRC-0015

 

 

SUBJECT:

Hunt Club Extension – Phase II

 

 

OBJET :

Prolongement du chemin Hunt Club – Mise à jour sur la phase II

 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

 

That the Transportation Committee recommend to Council :

 

1.         That staff be directed to not award the contract for Phase I, pending receipt of the Minister's confirmation; and

 

2.         that if the Minister does not provide this confirmation by October 1, 2009 that this issue be brought back to Transportation Committee for consideration.

 

 

RECOMMANDATIONS DU RAPPORT

 

Que le Comité du transport recommande au Conseil :

 

1.         De donner instruction au personnel de ne pas attribuer le contrat pour la phase 1 avant d’avoir reçu la confirmation du Ministre;

 

2.         D’exiger que cette question soit soumise de nouveau à l’étude du Comité du transport si, au 1er octobre 2009, le Ministre n’a pas donné cette confirmation.

 

 

BACKGROUND

 

On 26 August 2009, the Transportation Committee had listed on its agenda as “Information Previously Distributed”, a memo dated 13 August 2009 from the Deputy City Manager of Infrastructure Services and Community Sustainability (ACS2009-ICS-DCM-0004 IPD).

 

At the meeting, the Committee agreed to move this item onto the agenda for consideration as it was determined that a Motion would be appropriate to come forward with regards to the status of Phase II as it relates to the funding expectation from senior levels of government.  The Committee subsequently approved the aforementioned Motion.

 

 

DISCUSSION

 

The Hunt Club Extension is a priority in the City’s Transportation Master Plan and has been contemplated in the former Region's Official Plan since 1983.  The Ontario Minister of Transportation has agreed to communicate with the City regarding his position about funding 50% of construction of the 417 interchange by early October 2009.

 

Phase I (Hawthorne to Russell) of the project will be materially complete by March 31, 2011 and will be placed into service upon completion of Phase II (Russell to Highway 417 including the interchange).  Funding for the latter is subject to a cost sharing agreement between the City and the MTO.

 

 

CONSULTATION

 

Infrastructure and Community Services

 

Staff will implement Council’s direction accordingly.

 

 

LEGAL/RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS

 

There are no legal/risk management impediments to implementing the recommendations in this report. 

 

 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

 

Council has approved the City share for both Phase 1 and 2 for this project and is subject to partnership funding.

 

 

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

 

Document 1 – Deputy City Manager’s memo dated 13 August 2009

 

 

DISPOSITION

 

City staff to write a letter to the Minister advising of Council’s decision.

Document 1

M E M O   /   N O T E   D E   S E R V I C E

 

 

 

To / Destinataire

Mayor and Members of Council

File/N° de fichier:

ACS2009-ICS-DCM-0004 IPD

From / Expéditeur

Deputy City Manager
Infrastructure Services and Community Sustainability

 

Subject / Objet

Hunt Club Extension – Phase II Update / Prolongement du chemin Hunt Club – Mise à jour sur la phase II

Date : 13 August 2009

 

 

Pursuant to the email sent on Friday July 24, 2009, I have received the attached correspondence from the Ministry of Transportation.

 

As you know, the Hunt Club Road extension will provide arterial access to the provincial highway system in an area of potential industrial growth and address congestion and delay in the Walkley/Hawthorne corridor. It is identified in the Transportation Master Plan and addresses Council’s direction to ensure that City infrastructure is built or improved as needed to serve new growth.

 

As per the Provincial Stimulus Funding timeframe, the project required a two-phase approach to qualify for funding. Phase I of the project is comprised of a new four-lane road between Hawthorne Road and Russell Road. Phase II would see completion of the roadway by providing an interchange link to the 417.

 

The Infrastructure Stimulus Fund application was specific in its request for early funding to ensure the completion of Phase I by March 31, 2011 and timely transition of Phase II. The following excerpt is extracted from the project description in our application:

 

“Phase I will be materially complete by March 31, 2011 and will be placed into service upon completion of Phase II of the project between Russell Road and Highway 417. Phase II is subject to a cost sharing agreement between the City and MTO.”

 

The Provincial and Federal Governments approved this project as described, recognizing the need to complete both Phases to achieve its full functionality. In our most recent letters to the Province you were sent on July 24, 2009, we requested matching funding support to align with the Phase I timetable and move ahead with Phase II as planned.

 

In the attached letter, the Province did not provide a financial commitment for the Phase II construction. The Province did however re-confirm it’s verbal commitment for the $1.4M needed for the design and property acquisition elements. In response to our request for a firm commitment we received the following:

 

“As you know, the province’s capital budget is approved on an annual basis. Future funding for the ministry’s share of the construction of the Hunt Club interchange will be pursued through the budgetary process.”

 

Given the lack of firm commitment to cost share Phase II beyond the design and property acquisition, staff do not have authority to proceed to construction for Phase I. While the timing for future Provincial funding for Phase II is unknown, Phase I still remains shovel ready. Tender for Phase I construction had been anticipated for fall in order to have advanced on the Federal and Provincial Stimulus Funding support.

 

It is hoped the Province will recognize the need to contribute to this project in its ensuing capital budget and commit to its remaining share for the conclusion of this important link. I will be following up with the Province to provide any information that supports the Provincial interest in this project.

 

As always, should you have any questions on this please do not hesitate to contact my office. For inquiries on the design and delivery of the project, please contact Wayne Newell.

 

Thank you,

 

 

Original signed by:

 

 

Nancy Schepers

Deputy City Manager

Infrastructure Services and Community Sustainability