North Westside Road Data
Road costs are the number one killer for communities with aspirations of incorporation. This is the story I have heard time and again from small rural communities during my search for Governance options for the North Westside. I have put together a list of North Westside Roads – Kilometers with individual road lengths, subdivision and community totals. This information is critical to the understanding of road costs that will be down loaded to any community that incorporates.
We are fortunate in the compact layout of our communities and their road networks. We have good parcel density which will make these costs more affordable under our current tax requisition.
Road Cost Estimates are based upon the highest per kilometer cost I could find in fact these cost are for a Class A road which is a major divided highway not the Class D roads in front of most of your homes. I did this to make the point … Roads are costly and in Governance changes they will become our roads and therefore our cost. Considerable cost savings upon this highball estimate ($7500. per Kilometer) should be easily achieved if we all join in a mutually beneficial contract for service.
Westside Road is a Class C road as it is a school bus route but it also will remain a Provincial Roadway and all maintenance and snow removal costs stay with the Province.
The time frame for this acquired asset (roads) is part of the negotiations that happen with the Province after a community referendum that approves the move to incorporation. These negotiations may include resurfacing or pavement in some areas of the Community with gravel roads. Once the roads are brought up to a new standard, by the Province we would take them over at that time and that would allow us the opportunity to build reserves to help offset these new costs.