What Cities Do……

Building and maintaining a city’s infrastructure is fundamental to the role of a city government – in fact, according to the law, it is our sole purpose. Now, of course that is not all we do…..we are involved in housing, service delivery, arts and culture, and so much more….but we can’t forget just how important our infrastructure is.

I really like going to speak with school kids – you ask them how many of them brushed their teeth that morning, or flushed a toilet, or road a bus, bike or in a car, or maybe walked on a sidewalk having to watch for the traffic signals. All that is the city – the things you take for granted. Until something goes wrong; you flush the toilet and it doesn’t go away…..

All that infrastructure is key to our health and success – water, sewage, roads, bridges, traffic signs, parks and public spaces, and so much more.

In the last three years we have invested a lot in the infrastructure of our city

Roads and boulevards are key to our transportation network – they are how we get around, but also are visible gateways into our neighbourhoods and downtown core.

There have been many projects over the last three years – ranging from large to small.

• Craigflower Road bike lane project - $700,000
• 1700 Block of Bay Street, between Shelbourne and Richmond – road and boulevard reconstruction - $850,000
• Pandora Street – road and boulevard reconstruction - $500,000
• St. Lawrence Street – road reconstruction - $270,000
• Fairfield Road – sidewalk in front of Ross Bay cemetery - $300,000

But we have also been actively investing in our parks and public spaces to make sure they are inviting spaces for all members of our community to use

• Cridge Park revitalization - $115,000
• Fisherman’s Wharf Park - $300,000
• Laurel Point - $100,000
• Creation of Balfour tot-lot - $80,000
• Restoration of the Bandstand in Beacon Hill Park - $100,000
• Cecelia Ravine sports court - $140,000
• Playground upgrades at Blackwood and Highview Parks - $80,000 each

As part of our yearly budget we make sure we are setting aside the funds needed to maintain our infrastructure. Not every project is big – like the replacement of the Johnson Street Bridge – but every project is important to the overall livability of our city.

Every neighbourhood deserves investment. Every part of our community is worth the effort. And just as housing is important, economic development is important, arts and culture is important…so is the look, feel and functionality of our streets, boulevards and parks.