Edmonton projects could be jumpstarted by leaked budget changes

[Daveography]

Some big things could come off the Edmonton's wish list if the federal government loosens its rules around major infrastructure spending.

Metro has learned the Trudeau government will likely announce in next Tuesday's budget that it will fund a higher percentage of individual projects than its current contributions, which have been capped at a third of funding.

It will also likely be open to paying for upfront design and engineering costs, which it currently does not.

Bradley Leeman, the city’s director of infrastructure and funding strategies, said this could be significant for Edmonton's bottom line.

Full Story (Metro Edmonton)

 

[Daveography]

Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson excited for new LRT cash
Mayor Don Iveson said the new transit funding the federal government announced Tuesday could help move many different projects ahead.

The Liberals announced $3.4 billion over the next two years for transit, which will be allocated in proportion to a city’s share of national transit ridership. Edmonton is still checking the numbers, but early estimates indicate it will mean $135 million to $150 million for the city.

Mayor Don Iveson said the money could be used to design the next section of the LRT, to rehabilitate stations on the existing line or to small extensions of the LRT system, such as onto the Blatchford lands.

“Council will have to determine what we do with the new transit funding, but we have options we didn’t have before,” he said.

Full Story (Metro Edmonton)

 

[Marcanadian]

Seems like all the Canadian mayors are giddy with excitement following the budget. They've been asking for an influx in transit cash for years so hopefully it'll be spent wisely!

 

[Daveography]

Transit, water infrastructure funding agreement for Alberta two weeks away, Amarjeet Sohi says
Federal Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi said Wednesday he expects a long-awaited agreement to begin flowing project funding to Alberta could be signed by the end of the month.

Sohi said his department has been ready to move ahead with the money since early July but is waiting on Alberta Infrastructure to finalize a list of projects.

“Minister (Brian) Mason is working with Calgary and Edmonton and other cities to compile a list of projects,” Sohi said. “And within the next couple of weeks we will be able to sign an agreement to get the money flowing all throughout the province, as well as going retroactively to April 2016 to support projects that are already underway.”

The agreement in question focuses on public transit and water infrastructure. Alberta’s share is expected to be about $347 million for transit and $197 million for water.

Full Story (Edmonton Journal)

 

[Daveography]

Edmonton faces $23-million shortfall on transit funding after province fails to match grant
Edmonton will face a $23-million shortfall on transit funding after the province decided not to contribute its traditional one-third share to match a federal stimulus grant.

It has promised 25 per cent of the total transit cash instead.

That’s a disappointment, Mayor Don Iveson said Thursday. The city will find a way to make up the difference this time, but it’s worrying because other, larger transit grants are coming.

This is Phase 1 — $3.4 billion — of the $20-billion transit stimulus promised during the last federal election. Phase 2 is worth $16.6 billion nationally. That’s what Edmonton is counting on to actually get LRT lines built.

“If the funding arrangements there are 50/25/25, then quite frankly, we won’t be able to keep up,” said Iveson. “That would be a huge lost opportunity.”

Full Story (Edmonton Journal)

 

[Daveography]

Provincial transit funding shortfall ‘sideswipes’ infrastructure agenda: Edmonton mayor
The province is contributing $23 million less for public transit than the City of Edmonton expected, but the Alberta government says the city made an assumption and an exact amount wasn’t promised.

Alberta will cover 25 per cent of Phase 1 of transit projects funding, instead of the one-third share the city was banking on.

“The future of transit funding in this country can’t be the feds stepping up and the provinces stepping back,” Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson said.

“The future of transit funding in this country has to recognize, as the federal government has – and we applaud them for it – that municipalities, with maybe eight cents of your tax dollar, take on 100 per cent of the operating and maintenance costs for these systems, which are enormous and that the old formula – of a third, a third, a third – just was too much of a burden on municipalities.”

Full Story (Global Edmonton)

 

[Daveography]

Edmonton LRT projects, transit stations, to share $144M in funding
The federal government has agreed to put $143.9 million toward 46 Edmonton transit projects, federal Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi announced today.

With matching funds split between the city and the province, the projects will see total funding of $287.8 million.

Full Story (CBC Edmonton)

 

[Daveography]

$1.08B federal-provincial transit deal will help build south Edmonton park & ride
A new transit agreement between all three levels of government will help fund a badly-needed new park and ride lot in southwest Edmonton, along with 45 other transit projects in the city.

Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson, along with provincial and federal ministers Brian Mason and Amarjeet Sohi, announced a new $1.08 billion provincial transit and wastewater funding agreement Thursday in the Legislature Rotunda.

In Edmonton, 46 transit projects will be funded, including planning for the city’s next LRT expansion; upgrades to existing buses, LRT cars and infrastructure; and building a much-needed new park and ride lot on the south side.

Full Story (Global Edmonton)

 

[chrisvazquez7]

I wish they would list the projects. I believe Preliminary Engineering for South, Northwest, West LRT lines plus concept planning for an LRT line down Whyte Ave

 

[Daveography]

New Ottawa fund could eliminate 50 Street, 75 Street traffic logjams caused by trains
Promised federal dollars are aimed at eliminating traffic logjams like the rail tracks on 50 and 75 Street, Communities and Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi said Thursday.

Thousands of commuters and truckers are trapped regularly behind slow-moving trains on these key north-south connections. The new $10-billion, 12-year funding program was announced in an economic update this week.

“The goal is to … deal with some of the bottle necks,” said Sohi, who is also MP for Edmonton Mill Woods. “The rail crossings at 50 Street and 75 Street are two major irritants for a lot of people, not only for people but also for moving goods and services.”

Full Story (Edmonton Journal)

 

[Daveography]

David Staples: Trudeau Liberals hit right note in ambitious Edmonton
...
“Everything we’re talking about from (women’s) shelters, to things like the Yellowhead (upgrade), to mass transit, to social housing, are critical to the success of our economy … The high-level point I want to make is gratitude to the federal government for recognizing that cities are the drivers of the economy and the future of this country.”

The commitment of federal dollars likely means we now have the funds to either go underground or use overpasses with the West LRT at 149, 170 and 178 Streets, instead of blocking traffic, Iveson said. “We can keep goods and tourists and labour and everyday Edmontonians moving, whether they are on the trains or whether they’re in their cars.

Full Story (Edmonton Journal)

 

[chrisvazquez7]

I don't get it? 170 and 178 Streets were always to have overpasses... Why would Iveson say this?

 

[Daveography]

@chrisvazquez7 I think the plans have always been in a bit of a flux since funding the west portion has always been completely up in the air.

 

[chrisvazquez7]

That could be the case. I also looked back at earlier plans, and 178 Street did not have an overpass, only 170 Street. So it's good that they will include 178 Street in there as well.

 

[Daveography]

Edmonton mayor doesn’t expect transit funding fix in budget
Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson doesn’t expect budget day in Alberta to solve the city’s transit funding woes but he believes it will offer a tantalizing taste of things to come.

In his submissions to Finance Minister Joe Ceci earlier this year, Iveson ask the province to revamp its funding formula for major transit infrastructure so that Alberta and the federal government combined fund 90 per cent of up-front costs.

Leaving Edmonton with the remaining 10 per cent would allow the city “to keep up with the investments of other order of government over the long term,” Iveson’s letter read.

On the eve of the budget, Iveson told media he’s not expecting that ask to be fulfilled just yet.

“Realistically, we know we’re not likely to get all of the details on the province’s approach to transit funding because we’re still waiting for the federal government to announce what they’re going to be doing,” Iveson said Wednesday.

http://www.metronews.ca/news/edmont...snt-expect-transit-funding-fix-in-budget.html