Mountain View County councillors have OK'd a number of recommendations regarding proposed changes to the provincial local road bridge program (LRBP).
The LRBP had been used to help cover the cost of constructing, upgrades and maintenance on Mountain View and Red Deer county bridges and culverts.
During the recent regularly scheduled council meeting, CAO Tony Martens outlined developments since the province cut funding to the program in its 2013 budget.
"The effect of the province zero funding on Mountain View County is that had the county proceeded with its proposed bridge program in 2013 the cost to the county would have been $1.7 million instead of $400,000 which typically would have been our share under this program,î said Martens.
Although the LRBP is currently zero funded, it remains a line item in the provincial budget, meaning it could be funded again at some future time.
Prior to the province zero funding the program for 2013, the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties (AAMDC) struck a committee to examine the LRBP and make recommended changes.
The committee has now come out with 10 recommendations:
ï That municipalities take full control of all local bridges. Under that recommendation, municipalities would manage inspections and deliver maintenance, rehabilitation, replacement and construction projects, and would have the discretion to hire consultants, contractors or use their own forces to conduct bridge work.
ï That the provincial ministry of transportation discontinue the practice of prioritizing funding, reviewing engineering designs and approving tender costs for local bridge projects. In turn, the ministry would transform to a training and advisory support function for municipalities.
ï That the ministry should continue to manage Level 1 and Level 2 inspections for major bridges on local roads.
ï That municipalities continue to update inventory data and inspect local bridges using Alberta Transportation's bridge inspection and maintenance system.
ï That municipalities be given the ability to develop alternative engineering standards for bridge structures on local volume roads.
ï That funding for the LRBP transition from a project-based funding program to an annual formula-based allocation.
"The intent of the formula-based funding program is to give discretion to municipalities on whether funds are used immediately for maintenance and replacement projects or if they are saved in reserves for future scheduled projects,î the committee said.
ï That the allocation-based funding formula be based upon the total replacement value of local bridge infrastructure managed by the municipality.
ï That the funds distributed through the annual allocation be reserved solely for bridge structure related projects.
ï That municipalities have no restrictions on timelines for how long LRBP funds can be accumulated and held in reserve.
ï That the transition from the current project-based funding program to an allocation-based funding program be phased in over a five-year period.
Coun. Angela Aalbers put forward the motion supporting the 10 recommendations. It passed unanimously.
Once input is gathered from all AADMC member municipalities, the recommendations will be forwarded to the provincial government.
