Province restores rural road funding

by Morinville News Staff

The province says its new Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program (STIP) program better meets municipality’s needs. The Government of Alberta has restored funding to STIP as part of its $34.8-billion Capital Plan.

$35 million in funding for local road bridges, resource roads, and community airports will be available to smaller towns, municipal districts and counties in 2017-2018.

The government anticipates the investment will support more than 200 jobs across the province as approved projects are rolled out.

“Restoring this funding means Alberta’s towns and counties will have the roads and bridges they need to grow sustainably, said Minister of Transportation and Minister of Infrastructure Brian Mason, “These investments will also create jobs for construction and engineering firms and workers involved in capital projects. Through our recent engagement, we heard from rural communities and worked to revise the program to better meet their needs.”

Al Kemmere, President of Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties (AAMDC) said his organization was pleased to see the return of STIP.

[It] is a good first step in getting our infrastructure deficit in hand,” Kemmere said. “AAMDC rural municipal members manage the majority of Alberta’s roads (77 per cent), most of the resource roads and 61 per cent of the bridges in our province. Our roads, bridges and small airports not only provide critical industry access to the province’s natural resources but also link rural residents and businesses to one another and to community services.”

The deadline for STIP applications for the 2017-2018 year is Feb. 3, 2017. STIP’s new guidelines are on Alberta Transportation’s website.

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