York Region’s Pedestrian and Cycling Municipal Partnership Program

Presentation to 2014 Sustainable Mobility and Healthy Communities Summit

ACT Canada

Richard HuiDecember 2, 2014

Presentation Outline

1. Overview of Program and Purpose

2. Program Delivery and Process

3. Successes and Example Projects

4. Challenges and Lessons Learned

5. Program Opportunities and Knowledge Transfer

Slide 2

Municipal Partnership ProgramOverview and Purpose

Policy adopted by Regional Council in 2007

Annual budget total of $500,000/year

Contributes up to 50% of the capital costs of an eligible project

Policy updated in 2012 and delegated authority to Commissioner of Transportation Services for funding approval

Slide 3

To support local municipalities/agencies in the implementation of pedestrian and cycling infrastructure

Project Eligibility Criteria

Supports the policies and objectives of the Region

Slide 4

Pedestrian and CyclingMaster Plan (2008)

TransportationMaster Plan (2009)

York Region Official Plan (2010)

Project Eligibility Criteria

Supports a Regional scale network

Slide 5

Other Eligibility Criteria

Supported by a resolution of local Council or Board

Supported by local master plan studies, guidelines, or design studies

Commitment by local municipality and/or agency for:

50% or more of the capital cost of construction

All maintenance and rehabilitation responsibilities

Slide 6

Slide 7

Eligible proposals include, but NOT limited to, projects that:

Are supportive for commuter walking and cyclingAre on- & off-road facilities for public use Provide linkages to multi-modal facilitiesHelp reduce traffic congestion on Regional roadsConnect neighbouring municipalitiesProvide a safe walking and cycling environmentAre new projects and ready for construction

Project Qualifications

Eligible Costs include labour and material costs for:

Pavement

Signage

Safety Barriers

Hard Landscaping

Lighting (as per Regional policy)

Bridge Structures

Utility Relocation

Traffic Control Project Management

Partnership Program Eligible Items

Slide 8

Slide 9

Application Timelines and Phases

Evaluate,Recommend,

andApprove

Slide 10

$4 million as Regional share$13 million total capital costs

2007 – 2014 Committed Funding

Examples of Funded Projects

Slide 11

Tom Taylor Trail Mulock Drive Underpass (Newmarket)

Nokiidda Trail Newmarket – Aurora connection

Nokiidda Trail East Gwillimbury

Oak Ridges Corridor Park, Richmond HillToronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA)

Partnership funding:

Phase 1 = $248,000Phase 2 = $166,667

Slide 12

Total Project Cost:

Phase 1 = $676,600Phase 2 = $605,100

Rouge River Valley System, City of Markham

Partnership funding:

Phase 1 = $212,676Phase 2 = $166,667

Slide 13

Total Project Cost:

Phase 1 = $1.45MPhase 2 = $2.92M

Major Mackenzie Drive Boulevard Path, City of Markham

Partnership funding for Major Mackenzie Boulevard Path

Segment 1: Woodbine to Prospector’s Drive = $184,000 (50% of $368,000)Segment 2: Prospector’s Drive to Hwy 48 = $113,920 (32% of $356,000)

Slide 14

Challenges with Program Delivery

Oversubscription of $500,000 per year

Late submissions for applications

Delays in project implementation

Additional permits and approvals required from agencies

Parallel budget cycle timelines for local municipalities and the Region

Slide 15

Funding Formula Approaches to Address Oversubscription

Approach 1: Proportionally weighted to funding request

Reasonable only if project costs and requested funding are similar in order of magnitude

Never been applied in practice

Slide 16

Total Weighted Potential % of TotalApplicant Project Requested % of Regional $ Project

Cost Funding Requested Contribution CostA 2,920,000$ 500,000$ 44% 220,556$ 7.6%B 663,000$ 331,500$ 29% 146,228$ 22.1%C 605,000$ 302,000$ 27% 133,216$ 22.0%

Total 1,133,500$ 500,000$

Funding Formula Approaches to Address Oversubscription

Approach 2: Split all applications evenly

For example, $500,000 / 3 = $166,667 each

Slide 17

Total Potential % of TotalApplicant Project Requested Regional $ Project

Cost Funding Contribution CostA 2,920,000$ 500,000$ 166,667$ 5.7%B 663,000$ 331,500$ 166,667$ 25.1%C 605,000$ 302,000$ 166,667$ 27.5%

Total 1,133,500$ 500,000$

Funding Formula Approaches to Address Oversubscription

Approach 3: Provide full 50% to smaller projects and proportion remaining either evenly or weighted

Slide 18

Total Potential % of TotalApplicant Project Requested Regional $ Project

Cost Funding Contribution CostA 110,000$ 55,000$ 55,000$ 50.0%B 4,900,000$ 500,000$ 184,000$ 3.8%C 450,000$ 225,000$ 184,000$ 40.9%D 154,000$ 77,000$ 77,000$ 50.0%

Total 857,000$ 500,000$

Key Considerations and Lessons Learned

Work with applicants to ensure that reduced funding does not jeopardize the project

Look for opportunities to phase projects over several years

Defer projects until 50% funding is available during less competitive years

Get regular updates on projects and completion status from proponents

Be flexible and reasonable in the process, this is all about collaboration and partnership!

Slide 19

Opportunities for Enhancements

Hold regular workshops with local representatives

Review policy and guidelines based on feedback

Provide annual reporting to update Council on project status and funding awards

Slide 20

Applicability to Other Jurisdictions

An infrastructure funding program applicable to multi-tier agencies

Requires established and coordinated plans for pedestrian/cycling network and common objectives

Needs leadership and Council support

Encourages municipalities/agencies to fill in the network gaps at jurisdictional boundaries

Slide 21

A partnership program to help accelerate pedestrian and cycling project implementation

Slide 22

Thank You

Richard Hui, P.Eng.Manager, Transportation Planning The Regional Municipality of YorkNewmarket, ON L3Y 6Z1

Tel: 1-877-464-9675 x 71578Email: richard.hui@york.ca