Advocating Federal Support for Yellowhead Trail 4
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6. Advocating Federal Support for Yellowhead Trail 4 Recommendation: That the June 5, 2014, Transportation Services report CR_1111, be received for information. Report Summary This report provides an update on the advocacy with external partners and other levels of government relating to Yellowhead Freeway enhancements and associated funding. Previous Council/Committee Action At the March 5, 2014, Transportation Committee meeting, the following motion was passed: That Administration work with the TransCanada Yellowhead Association to advocate for federal support for the operation of Yellowhead Trail, and provide a report back to Committee. Report History Yellowhead Trail has had varying degrees of focus and investment since it was first considered as an “outer regional road” in the mid-1960s. In 1975, a functional planning study for Yellowhead was completed through a Provincial fund entitled “Policy for Major Continuous Corridors through Cities”. This is generally considered the first planning of this roadway as a provincial and federal highway. Since then the City has accomplished what it can within existing available funding constraints often against other priorities to protect and acquire land as well as secure capital investments in road and interchange projects. A timeline of the major improvements along Yellowhead corridor are summarized in Attachment 1. The City of Edmonton has repeatedly looked to other levels of government to champion this investment. A general observation is that provinces invest more strategically north- south, whereas Federal investment is typically brought forward for inter-provincial east- west highways. The City of Edmonton has often considered to be at a competitive disadvantage when compared to the City of Calgary because of the municipal responsibility to fund improvements on Yellowhead Trail when compared to the provincial responsibility to fund improvements on Deerfoot Trail. The Yellowhead Highway is considered by Transport Canada to be a “Core” route in the National Highway System. ROUTING – Transportation Committee | DELEGATION - D. Wandzura/R. Toohey June 05, 2014 – Transportation Services CR_1111 Page 1 of 3 Advocating Federal Support for Yellowhead Trail Yellowhead Trail / Freeway Yellowhead Freeway is a priority roadway today and is projected in the future to be a critical goods movement corridor in the City of Edmonton. There has been speculation that the north Anthony Henday Drive once complete in 2016 will reduce the demand on Yellowhead Trail. This was not the experience with Whitemud Drive/Terwillegar in the south, and it is not anticipated based on an analysis completed with Yellowhead Trail in the north. Yellowhead truck traffic comprises of inter-provincial, inter-regional, and inter- city trips. Of the 12,000 trucks (44,000 vehicles/day total) that use Yellowhead Trail on any given day about 92% stop in Edmonton. Edmonton is considered a business destination and its business vitality is impacted by the operation of Yellowhead Trail. The completion of the 2009 Yellowhead Trail Strategic Plan defined the future classification of this roadway as a freeway and subsequently approved with the Transportation Systems Bylaw in 2011. Further operational measures and analytics will be provided with a subsequent committee report coordinated together with the ongoing Concept Planning Study for Yellowhead Trail/149 Street Freeway project. Staging Past progress on Yellowhead Trail had been mostly determined based on available funding in terms of setting priorities for investment. Following the recent completion of the Yellowhead Trail Strategic Plan, Administration set out to complete an analysis based on quantifiable criteria to determine the best sequence from a cost/benefit perspective for staging improvements. The Stages and their respective status are included in Attachment 2. Status of Advocacy The TransCanada Yellowhead Highway Association has been a long time partner and stakeholder working collaboratively with administration in the planning for the Yellowhead Trail Freeway. Their Managing Director, Don Grimble, has attended many of the open houses as well as being a participant in specific stakeholder input group sessions. The TransCanada Yellowhead Highway Association mandate encompasses the full length of the national highway and there are many priority locations, but it has been confirmed that none are as busy, or experience such high demand, as the Yellowhead Trail corridor within the City of Edmonton. Following the motion by Transportation Committee on March 5, 2014, City staff arranged a meeting to discuss how this relationship could expand to include advocacy for funding for improvements on Yellowhead Trail. The Association is prepared to advocate for federal and provincial funding for the Yellowhead Highway, and specifically Yellowhead Trail through the City of Edmonton, following a broader association discussion at an Annual General Meeting on May 17, 2014, in Valemont, BC. It was Page 2 of 3 Advocating Federal Support for Yellowhead Trail agreed that a resolution be drafted, with help from City staff, to be discussed and adopted at this Annual General Meeting. At the time of writing this report, there is no information to provide on the outcome of the Annual General Meeting resolution. A verbal report will be provided at the Transportation Committee meeting. Policy • The Way We Prosper • The Way We Move Corporate Outcomes • Goods and services move efficiently. • Edmonton has a globally competitive and entrepreneurial business climate. • Edmonton Region is a catalyst for industry and business growth. Budget/Financial Implications The Capital Investment Agenda (2015 - 2024) presented to Council provided an overview of the City’s position with respect to 10-year growth and renewal capital projects. Stages 1, 2, and 3 of Yellowhead Freeway have been included as three of the many growth projects in the “Existing Reinvestment” category. However, these projects have not been assessed against similar work or against other corporate projects to determine relative priority. Upgrading Yellowhead Trail is one of a limited number of projects that could be eligible for the Building Canada Fund, National Infrastructure Component. This fund is distinct from the Provincial/Territorial program in that projects compete entirely on a merit basis without a predetermined amount assigned to the provinces or territories. Based on a preliminary assessment of the selection criteria, it is believed that a strong business case could be made to support some or all of the stages required to upgrade Yellowhead Trail. Should the project be selected for this program, the City would need to allocate matching funds ranging from $10 million to $80 million per stage, depending on provincial participation. Attachments 1. Yellowhead Trail Development Timeline 2. Yellowhead Freeway Status Matrix Others Reviewing this Report • L. Rosen, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Page 3 of 3 .