Grey County Council is postponing a decision on municipal road transfers to allow more municipal engagement and consideration of local concerns.
At its March 26 meeting, Council voted to indefinitely defer a proposed road transfer motion and directed staff to prepare a comprehensive new report for the Road Exchange Task Force.
The report will incorporate feedback received from local municipalities and will include options and recommendations on how and when road transfers could proceed later this year, or next year, with Council’s endorsement.
Grey County is exploring road exchanges as a long-term strategy. The initiative was first identified in the Transportation Master Plan, and the Road Exchange Task Force was established this term of council to review potential enhancements and provide recommendations.
On February 12, County Council received the task force’s initial recommendations, which proposed transferring a total of approximately 82.5 kilometres of rural and urban roads to member municipalities in exchange for about 35.5 kilometres of rural roads uploaded to the County. The proposal also included a 10-year funding model, the County says was intended to help local municipalities transition to their new road responsibilities.
Common themes raised during staff presentations to municipalities included the proposed funding formula, asset values, public engagement, equity of transfers, development charges, timing of planned construction projects, and other local considerations.
Staff reported back to County Council with a summary of the municipal feedback on March 26. Council then voted to indefinitely defer the original road transfer motion and directed staff to prepare a new report for the Road Exchange Task Force later this year. Each member municipality will be encouraged to appoint two non-voting staff representatives to participate in meetings and provide additional local perspective.
The County says, “Grey County roads and local municipal roads are critical to the movement of people, goods, and services across the region. As communities evolve, the County is reviewing how road ownership and responsibility can best support safe, efficient travel and reduce public confusion around road jurisdiction. The goal of urban road transfers is to provide municipalities with greater control over roads within their urban areas while supporting effective regional traffic flow.”
More information about the Road Exchange project is available at www.grey.ca/ under Special Projects.