Grey and Bruce communities hope to see provincial support for pandemic aid and some highway improvements after talks with Provincial government officials at the ROMA conference this week.
The Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference was held Monday and Tuesday (Jan 25-26) with local municipal and County representatives among the roughly 11 hundred people in attendance virtually this year.
Bruce Grey Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker, who tries to accompany and support the bulk of local municipalities at ROMA, says “There’s certainly concerns about social services and those types of things and what’s going to happen after the pandemic.” He adds, a lot more people may be in more challenging situations, so how to we address this?”
Walker says local reps brought a number of other concerns to the province this week including issues like shoreline erosion, “It’s a wide gamut, from infrastructure challenges that people are facing, obviously COVID-19 being a big issue in the past year, things like broadband internet so that again, more people working at home, more businesses want to be able to do that,” says Walker.
Grey County spoke to the MTO about creating long-term vision and short-term improvements for traffic issues on Provincial Highways 6, 10 and 26.
The County and the Town of Blue Mountains want solutions for Hwy 26, including speed limit changes.
West Grey and Chatsworth would like to see Highway 6 improvements in Durham coordinate with municipal infrastructure improvements.
Grey County would also like the MTO to consider future construction of lay-bys (space off the road where vehicles can stop) in key locations to facilitate bus passenger pick up and drop off.
The County also told the Province, passing lanes on Highways 6 and 10 would reduce risky passing behaviour and traffic fatalities.
Other traffic calming and safety measures Grey County would like to see include:
A roundabout at Grey Road 2 and Highway 26
Intersection improvements at Grey Road 40 and Highway 26
Intersection improvements at Grey Road 19 and Highway 26
Selected intersection closures on Highway 26
A roundabout at Grey Road 21/Simcoe Road 34 at Highway 26
The County adds, Highways 6 and 10 are also seeing increased traffic volumes and safety concerns and the County wants to make sure an, “Adequate and appropriate road network is maintained for the future.”
Meanwhile, Bruce County reps talked about an Integrated Regional Transportation Strategy with the Ministry of Transportation.
They told Ministry officials that growing populations, commercial growth (nuclear power generation and greenhouse agriculture) and tourism are increasing the needs on the region’s transportation system, and active transportation system.
The County also wants an emphasis on clean energy transportation.
Walker explains Bruce County’s intent as trying to ensure the County and the Province are on the same track in terms of planning to avoid having regional plans that function like silos.
Walker explains, “If there’s a way to share. So really the intent was to go to the Ministry of Transportation and say, Do you have an overall plan? There are definitely different needs in certain areas and regions, but is there a way to integrate more so we’re more efficient, we’re not kind of two, if you will, buses travelling past each other on a highway because we get in to jurisdiction or geographic challenges.”
Bruce County says the Province is conducting planning for the three provincial highways in Bruce County (6, 21 & 9), but the Draft Transportation Plan for Southwestern Ontario does not provide details about plans for integrated transportation enhancements.
The County says it has also been active with the Western Ontario Wardens Caucus (WOWC), which talked to the Province about support and collaboration on Broadband Infrastructure, Long-term Financial Sustainability, Affordable Housing in Rural Areas, and Long-term Care and Seniors Funding.
Excited for day two of #ROMA2021. This morning, my team and I will be meeting with @GreyHighlands1, @GreyCounty & other municipalities before I join @ROMA_Ont’s Ministers’ Forum.
These meetings lead to action. Action leads to improved transportation across the province. pic.twitter.com/D7qiqrOfar
— Caroline Mulroney (@C_Mulroney) January 26, 2021
Happy to join my provincial colleagues at this morning’s #ROMA2021 Ministers Forum hosted by @jm_mcgrath to discuss rural economic resilience, infrastructure + resource development. pic.twitter.com/GuIN8apevK
— Bill Walker, MPP (@billwalkermpp) January 26, 2021