Staff Report to Special Council: BC Active Transportation Infrastructure Grant

BACKGROUND

The City of Langford, through the Engineering Department, routinely applies for infrastructure grants to extend sidewalks or multi-use trails. The purpose of this report is to gain Council approval for the City to submit a grant application to the current intake of the BC Active Transportation Infrastructure Grant.

COMMENTARY

The BC Active Transportation Infrastructure fund is for “shovel ready” projects. In general terms, a shovel ready project is one where the vast majority of the detailed design is complete, and the project is ready to tender.

In 2020, the City applied to the BC Active Transportation Infrastructure grant for the Bellamy Road Multi-Use path but was unsuccessful obtaining a grant that year. With the designs for the Bellamy Road Multi-Use path already in-house, staff chose to apply for this grant again with revised pricing on the estimates. The grant was submitted in October 2022.

A project location diagram is provided on the following page.

Staff are looking for a resolution from Council in support of the BC Active Transportation Infrastructure grant for the Bellamy Road Multi-Use path. A formal resolution supporting this application is due by mid-December 2022.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The estimated cost of the project is $880,680.00 plus GST and includes a 20% contingency (the maximum allowable contingency for the application).

If successful, the grant provides 50% funding for the project. Staff are suggesting the remaining 50% matching funds be provided through the City’s Gas Tax funding. Each year staff allocate gas tax to provide for a matching grant. This is money allocated through the Engineering Department budget as the “multi use trail” budget.

Gas Tax funds are generally delivered to communities twice a year by upper levels of government, late July and early December and can be invested across prescribed project categories to address local priorities.

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

None noted.

OPTIONS

Option 1

THAT Council direct staff to apply to the BC Active Transportation Infrastructure Application for 2022/2023 for the Bellamy Road Multi-Use Path at an estimated cost of $880,680.00 plus GST; and
THAT Council direct staff to include this project in the 2023 Capital Plan, pending approval of the grant, and fund the City’s 50% share of the estimated project cost using Gas Tax funds.

OR

Option 2

THAT Council not apply for a BC Active Transportation Infrastructure grant at this time.

SUBMITTED BY

Michelle Mahovlich, P.Eng, P.Geo, Director of Engineering and Public Works

Concurrence:
Donna Petrie, Senior Manager of Business Development and Events

Concurrence:
Will Ying-udomrat, Manager of Legislative Services

Concurrence:
Matthew Baldwin, MCIP, RPP, Director of Planning and Subdivision

Concurrence:
Michael Dillabaugh, CPA, CA, Director of Finance

Concurrence:
Marie Watmough, Deputy Director of Corporate Services

Concurrence: Braden Hutchins, Director of Corporate Services

Concurrence:
Darren Kiedyk, Chief Administrative Officer