WHEREAS the Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program provides support for municipal capital transportation infrastructure projects including the construction and reconstruction of local rural road bridges and culvert structures and key roadway links and bridges that are impacted by resource or industry related traffic; and
WHEREAS the 2013 Provincial budget did not include funding for the Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program; and
WHEREAS there are 8500 local road bridges with an estimated replacement value of $3.5 billion; and
WHEREAS further delays in maintenance and replacement of aging bridge infrastructure will impact the transportation of farm, oil and gas and industrial manufacturing within rural Alberta;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties call upon the Government of Alberta to restore funding to the Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program in the 2014 budget.
The Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program provides support for municipal capital transportation infrastructure projects.
Project-specific capital grant funding is provided for strategic or major municipal transportation projects, based on highest project ranking. Examples of eligible capital projects include the development and construction of major local and regional roads, construction/reconstruction of local rural road bridges and culvert structures, key roadway links and bridges that are adversely impacted by resource or industry related truck traffic, as well as community airports.
The Minister of Transportation approves individual projects. Budget allocation for 2012/13 was $85.1 million.
The Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program was not funded in the 2013 budget.
4-13S: Local Road Bridge Program:
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties call upon the Government of Alberta to ensure a second round of consultation is held after hearing data from the Committee.
Transportation: The Government of Alberta (GOA) is committed to supporting Alberta’s municipalities. The Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program (STIP) typically includes funding for the Community Airport Program, Local Road Bridge Program, Resource Road Program and Local Municipal Initiatives. STIP was not funded in Budget 2013. Municipalities still have access to the Municipal Sustainability Initiative and the Basic Municipal Infrastructure Program to fund their infrastructure needs.
The GOA will consider comments from the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties as part of its future budget deliberations.
Treasury Board and Finance: Treasury Board and Finance remains committed to supporting municipalities and not?for-profit organizations in co-operation with other GOA ministries. However, Transportation is the appropriate ministry to contact regarding this resolution.
As the Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program (STIP), which includes the Local Road Bridge Program and the Resource Road Program, was zero-funded in the 2014-15 budget, the government response to this resolution is deemed Intent Not Met. Due to the specific nature of this resolution, the AAMDC cannot amend the resolution status in relation to the $100 million committed to STIP in the 2015-15 Government of Alberta Capital Plan. Despite this, the AAMDC is pleased with the return of this funding for upcoming years.