Posted with permission from the Hamilton Spectator
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Local politicians say cities can't take on the cost
By Matthew Van Dongen
The federal government wants to off-load the half-century-old Burlington Canal Lift Bridge onto the cities of Hamilton and Burlington.
But outraged local politicians say cash-strapped cities can't afford to take on responsibility for more aging infrastructure — especially a bridge that controls commercial ship traffic and acts as a critical emergency detour for the QEW.
"It's a real jaw-dropper," said Councillor Chad Collins, who has been pushing the federal government to add a safe, multi-use pathway to the bridge that connects the Hamilton and Burlington sections of the beach strip.
"There is no financial reason — and no capability — for us to take on something like that," he said, pointing to the city's estimated $200-million infrastructure deficit.
His cross-bridge colleague in Burlington, Rick Craven, was even more blunt in his dismissal of the idea.
"For them to abandon their responsibilities and dump on the municipalities, that is not acceptable … they are not going to get away with it," said the Ward 1 councillor.
Craven called the bridge an "absolutely critical piece of infrastructure" because of its twin service to 10,000 vehicles and 6,500 vessels each year.
The bridge serves local motorists and the HSR, but also acts as an emergency route for the QEW when the skyway bridge is blocked. The lift bridge also rises and falls about 4,000 times a year to allow vessels into Hamilton Harbour.
Council received a letter Wednesday from Diane Finley, the minister of public works and government services, responding to the request for a safe trail across the bridge. Finley wrote the ministry has been "directed to divest of the bridge" and, therefore, can't spend money on non-essential improvements.
"In my view, the best and perhaps only way to improve the services the bridge provides is for a local stakeholder to assume ownership of the asset," she said.
The letter says the federal government would be "willing to negotiate a fair funds transfer" to cover costs associated with the bridge, but it doesn't specify a dollar figure.
A ministry spokesperson couldn't immediately give the replacement value of the bridge Wednesday afternoon or provide information on its state of repair.
But the federal government has spent at least $6 million since 2009 repainting the bridge and preparing to replace failing drives and controls for the lift mechanism. The latter work isn't expected to be completed until 2015. In between, the bridge has periodically closed for repairs.
Finley's letter says local officials will soon be asked to participate in "divestiture discussions."
The Spectator was unable to reach a Hamilton Port Authority spokesperson Wednesday to see if the agency has been involved in those discussions.
Local officials will discuss the letter at a March 3 meeting of the Greater Bay Area subcommittee.
mvandongen@thespec.com
905-526-3241 | @Mattatthespec
___________________________________________________
Local politicians say cities can't take on the cost
By Matthew Van Dongen
The federal government wants to off-load the half-century-old Burlington Canal Lift Bridge onto the cities of Hamilton and Burlington.
But outraged local politicians say cash-strapped cities can't afford to take on responsibility for more aging infrastructure — especially a bridge that controls commercial ship traffic and acts as a critical emergency detour for the QEW.
"It's a real jaw-dropper," said Councillor Chad Collins, who has been pushing the federal government to add a safe, multi-use pathway to the bridge that connects the Hamilton and Burlington sections of the beach strip.
"There is no financial reason — and no capability — for us to take on something like that," he said, pointing to the city's estimated $200-million infrastructure deficit.
His cross-bridge colleague in Burlington, Rick Craven, was even more blunt in his dismissal of the idea.
"For them to abandon their responsibilities and dump on the municipalities, that is not acceptable … they are not going to get away with it," said the Ward 1 councillor.
Craven called the bridge an "absolutely critical piece of infrastructure" because of its twin service to 10,000 vehicles and 6,500 vessels each year.
The bridge serves local motorists and the HSR, but also acts as an emergency route for the QEW when the skyway bridge is blocked. The lift bridge also rises and falls about 4,000 times a year to allow vessels into Hamilton Harbour.
Council received a letter Wednesday from Diane Finley, the minister of public works and government services, responding to the request for a safe trail across the bridge. Finley wrote the ministry has been "directed to divest of the bridge" and, therefore, can't spend money on non-essential improvements.
"In my view, the best and perhaps only way to improve the services the bridge provides is for a local stakeholder to assume ownership of the asset," she said.
The letter says the federal government would be "willing to negotiate a fair funds transfer" to cover costs associated with the bridge, but it doesn't specify a dollar figure.
A ministry spokesperson couldn't immediately give the replacement value of the bridge Wednesday afternoon or provide information on its state of repair.
But the federal government has spent at least $6 million since 2009 repainting the bridge and preparing to replace failing drives and controls for the lift mechanism. The latter work isn't expected to be completed until 2015. In between, the bridge has periodically closed for repairs.
Finley's letter says local officials will soon be asked to participate in "divestiture discussions."
The Spectator was unable to reach a Hamilton Port Authority spokesperson Wednesday to see if the agency has been involved in those discussions.
Local officials will discuss the letter at a March 3 meeting of the Greater Bay Area subcommittee.
mvandongen@thespec.com
905-526-3241 | @Mattatthespec