Funding for major new road included in Summerside 2023 budget
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SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — Summerside will begin a serious new infrastructure undertaking this 12 months that might change the face of the town.
Metropolis council launched the town’s draft 2023/2024 price range on March 13, and the only costliest standalone infrastructure undertaking in it’s the development of the primary section of the east-west connector street. The price range has earmarked $5.5 million for work this 12 months.
The east-west connector street is a undertaking that has been talked about for greater than 20 years however has solely began to realize ahead momentum lately, as Summerside has entered a wave of growth.
The undertaking is meant to ease site visitors coming into the town from Reads Nook, and open greater than 300 acres of what’s presently agricultural land for growth. The street will ultimately stretch from the intersection of MacEwen Highway and Ryan Avenue to Water Avenue east.
Town has break up the undertaking into two phases, every representing about half of the proposed street. It has but to be decided which half shall be constructed this 12 months, however the cash within the price range is meant to get considered one of them achieved this 12 months.
#Summerside launched its ’23 price range at this time. It consists of $5.5 million to construct the primary part of the east-west connector street. It is supposed to assist ease site visitors on MacEwen Highway and open up 300 acres for growth. Right here is finance chair Coun. Bruce MacDougall speaking about it. pic.twitter.com/YPqiWcXH5J
— Colin Roger MacLean (@JournalPMacLean) March 13, 2023
“In time, (this undertaking) will open up a big quantity of constructing tons … which can ship housing for our neighborhood which we all know is so desperately wanted,” stated Mayor Dan Kutcher.
“We have now a big provide challenge for housing that’s contributing partly to excessive housing prices. We have now very low rental unit availability. The quickest and only factor that we are able to do is enhance provide. We have to enhance our constructing tons and locations for our metropolis to develop.”
General, council described this price range as a troublesome one. This follows a pattern from the previous a number of metropolis council budgets.
Inflation, pure disasters like post-tropical storm Fiona and a normal unwillingness to additional burden a public going through extra monetary pressures than ever, all made for some troublesome dialogue main as much as the price range, stated Coun. Bruce MacDougall, chair of the finance committee.
“I believe all of us knew once we walked into the room to do the price range this 12 months it was going to be a more durable one. I believe there’s gotta be a whole lot of give and take,” stated MacDougall.
“Some individuals are available, even myself, with a need record. However I believe we needed to park a whole lot of these issues this 12 months to make sure we did a price range that was truthful to the residents of Summerside.”
Residents have two weeks to supply suggestions earlier than council makes a closing resolution on whether or not to undertake it. A vote shall be taken on the March 29 assembly.
Different highlights from the 2023/2024 Summerside municipal price range embrace:
– No change to property tax charges
– Summerside Electrical will match Maritime Electrical charges once more this 12 months
– Water and sewer charges shall be going up a median of 35 cents per day for residents
– Credit score Union Place’s consumer charges will go up 5 per cent for the pool and three per cent for the sector
– $2.4 million to assemble the primary constructing within the Summerside Enterprise Commons (Greenwood Drive eco-business park)
– $5.2 million in debt servicing prices
– $755,000 for avenue resurfacing
– $602,000 for remediation of storm sewer
– $600,000 to complete the design of and doubtlessly purchase the land for the brand new hearth corridor
– $500,000 for structural repairs to metropolis corridor
– $460,000 for downtown infrastructure
– $385,000 for lively transportation infrastructure (a big portion of which is for repairs to the town’s waterfront boardwalk)
– An additional $50,000 to the neighborhood grant program
– $271,000 for the alternative of sidewalks
– $220,000 for public works gear
– $200,000 for hearth and police gear
– $192,500 for the ditch infilling program
