The Urban Highway Connector Program is been altered by the provincial government, and that will change how some roads in the city are funded.
In 2011, the City of Yorkton entered into an agreement with the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure (Ministry) and joined the Urban Highway Connector Program (UHCP), said Rene Richard 鈥� Director of Engineering & Asset Management with the City at the regular meeting of Yorkton Council Monday.
This was first brought to Council in a report on March 22, 2011, and the original agreement was signed by the City on March 29, 2011.
鈥淭he UHCP is the way the Ministry establishes responsibilities and provides funding for maintenance and capital projects on the highway connectors through the City,鈥� said Richard.
鈥淣ow Municipalities are being asked to sign a new and updated agreement. There are program changes that the Ministry has included in the new agreement. The most notable changes are revisionsto the Provincial Interest Levels and which municipalities will be eligible for funding under the UHCP,鈥� he continued.
The amount of funding available for each specific road segment depends on which 鈥淧rovincial Interest Level (PIL)鈥� it has been assigned.
In the new agreement, Yorkton鈥檚 average funding per kilometer increases from 78 percent to 85 percent.
This is because a greater portion of the connectors in Yorkton have been moved to PIL 1 which the Ministry is 100 percent responsible for, said Richard. This will affect (lower) ourannual operation and maintenance grant due to the increase in the amount of Level 1, however in theory though, there will be a reduction in operational costs to match as the City will no longer be required to perform any maintenance on those segments.
In the past, the UHCP program has had limited funding available for capital projects.
鈥淏asically, there hasn鈥檛 been enough funding to go around. All cities and towns were in competition for these limited funds,鈥� said Richard.
Under the new agreements, there are two changes with respect to the number of eligible municipalities. Firstly, the Province鈥檚 two largest cities will have separate agreements/grants with the Ministry. Secondly, all highway segments through towns will now be considered PIL 1.
鈥淭hat leaves just the 12 small to medium cities as being eligible for capital project funding,鈥� said Richard.
Council was unanimous in authorizing executing the new Urban Highway Connector Agreement between the City of Yorkton, and the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure.
