A $24-million plan for a cross-county active transportation network got a rough ride from several councillors on Jan.31.
Ward 3 councillor Gary Williamson raised the issue after council was told $225,000 was set aside for the plan in this year’s planning budget.
The $24-million plan would see the county pay about $9.4 million and its lower tier municipalities pay $14.6 million for a series of new and upgraded trails throughout Wellington, including adding bicycle lanes to county roads when they are upgraded.
Williamson was concerned that including $225,000 in the budget means the county was supporting the plan and establishing similar funding annually for the next 10 years.
Councillor John Green, head of the Administration, Finance and Personnel (AFP) committee said the budgeted item would not necessarily be spent or commit council to long-term financing.
“The money we are budgeting for this year we can only budget for this year and that’s $225,000. The money that’s recommended in the future we can’t budget,” said Green.
Warden Chris White noted more discussion at the council level is needed to determine whether there is support to proceed with the plan.
The plan was already circulated to councils at the seven lower tier municipalities and has received in principle support from all of them except Guelph-Eramosa council, which cited issues with logistics and costs in its rejection of the plan.
County councillor Shawn Watters was leery about putting money aside for the plan without more discussion.
“I’m not sure whether we’re continuing to navel gaze. We’ve got to have some decision on this,” he said.
Ward 9 councillor Ken Chapman was also critical of the $225,000 budget inclusion.
“Quite a few county councillors are not comfortable with the plan, we’re not comfortable putting money aside to make county roads accessible for bicycles, that’s not what county roads are for,” said Chapman.
Williamson estimated 70 per cent of the plan involves county roads and the funding portion allocated to some municipalities was unacceptable. The councillor represents a portion of Wellington North that, under plan, would see a price tag of $3 million over 20 years.
In the case of Centre Wellington, the price tag is $3.1 million and in the Town of Minto, where less work is needed, the estimated cost could be $43,620.
“At the end of the day it’s going to cost $24 million with $15 million from the lower tiers who cannot afford to fix roads and highways,” Williamson said.
Councillor Ray Tout said no formal consensus on approving the plan has been reached at either level of government.
“We in Wellington North approved it in principle,” Tout said. “We need to take a more serious look at it and be more informed.”
Council decided more information, more discussion and a formal funding plan were needed before any decision is made on the plan.
That process could be completed by June.
