34 replies to this topic

[Ms. B. Havin]

Read this billion-dollar infrastructure BC wish list. No mention of Victoria.

Too bad the Globe & Mail didn't include a link (if there is one) to its source for that list ("Source: Federation of Canadian Municipalities," see bottom of article). I honestly can't imagine that this is a complete list - aside from 2 projects, each one was in the Lower Mainland, which makes me think that the journalist (Patrick Brethour) is based in Vancouver and has a touch of myopia. (His Facebook page indicates he was educated "back East," but is now part of the Vancouver network and he's a BC editor for G&M.)

In other infrastructure news: To its credit, the Tech Park (out in Saanich) has emphasized on its blog that not just roads & bridges & trains, but that IT, too, is infrastructure. See Infrastructure Investment and Economic Stimulus - Thinking outside the Bricks and Mortar Box and AURP Canada President Applauds Infrastructure Funding (the current Association of University Research Parks - AURP - president is Victoria-based Dale Gann).

[Sue Woods]

Actually Victori's serious infrastructure problems would be looked at if we all voted Liberal in the next provincial election, in other words since we mostly voted for NDP on the island, we will continue to be ignored.

On the other hand - does anyone know if Dean and Co. put in any proposals? I have not read any releases over recent weeks that state they submitted a wish list on Victoria's behalf.

[Ms. B. Havin]

On the other hand - does anyone know if Dean and Co. put in any proposals? I have not read any releases over recent weeks that state they submitted a wish list on Victoria's behalf.

Good question, Sue.

[Jacques Cadé]

You can get the complete list of shovel-ready projects from the FCM website, here. Saanich and City of Victoria projects are listed in Backgrounder #1; Saanich's are on page 1 and 2, and Victoria's on page 28.

Victoria's biggest request is $80 million for "Centennial Square Revitalization", potentially employing 913 people.

[Ms. B. Havin]

^ Thanks! :-)

[Sue Woods]

You can get the complete list of shovel-ready projects from the FCM website, here. Saanich and City of Victoria projects are listed in Backgrounder #1; Saanich's are on page 1 and 2, and Victoria's on page 28.

Great info. Thx!

[Rob Randall]

It probably doesn't help that Victoria's population ranks between Nanaimo and Prince George.

I wrote a blog post:

Infrastructure Inferno!

Or: Why is it when other cities roll up their sleeves, Victoria wrings its hands?

Yesterday, the Federal Government said it would open the vault and fund infrastructure projects in an effort to boost the faltering economy. In the hours that followed, every mayor from Medicine Hat to Montreal boasted that their community had a list of “shovel ready” projects ready to go–-all that was needed was that government handout.

From the Globe:

Then there are the big centres, such as Montreal, where a spokesperson for Mayor Gérald Tremblay said the city has $1.2-billion in “shovel-ready” infrastructure projects, roughly $270-million of which would be earmarked for sports, recreational and cultural facilities and another $500-million for parks.

“We have the projects identified, we have a list of priorities, and we are ready to go,” said Renée Sauriol, who added all the projects await only the official go-ahead and could easily be launched in the 2009-10 fiscal year.

Alas, will Victoria be overlooked at the feeding trough? We too, have a list; ranging from the minor (new bus shelters) to the major: a new Centennial Square library complex, a new Belleville terminal, a rehabilitated Johnson Street Bridge, new recreation facilities to name but a few.

But can we really call any of those big ticket items “shovel ready”? Premier Harper’s offer will have an expiry date and since even the most minor initiative requires endless report-writing and community consultation is there any hope that any of these projects can be fast-tracked to take advantage of this rare instance of Federal gift giving?

Co-incidentally (or not) the big news out of City Hall this week was that our infrastructure was “close to collapse”. Keith Vass lists them for the Vic News and follows up here.

Project sampler

• Centennial Square revitalization (new downtown library/parkade) : $80 million

• New civic pool: $58 million

• Stormwater mains: $58 million

• Sewage main rehab: $57 million

• Water mains: $39 million

• Repairs and upgrades to city hall: $17.5 million

• Fire hall #1 rehab/replacement: $15 million

• Bike lanes on Point Ellice bridge: $3 million

• Roads and sidewalks: $1.4 million

One of the only sure bets is Federal funding for sewage treatment. Ironically, this is one project not everyone agrees is necessary now.

Other cities are revving up the bulldozers in anticipation but I fear that Victoria’s big effort will be to create more stacks of three-ring binders, workshops and PowerPoint presentations.

[UrbanRail]

You can get the complete list of shovel-ready projects from the FCM website, here. Saanich and City of Victoria projects are listed in Backgrounder #1; Saanich's are on page 1 and 2, and Victoria's on page 28.

Victoria's biggest request is $80 million for "Centennial Square Revitalization", potentially employing 913 people.

Wow, $80mil for Centennial Square? I would like to see the details of that project.

[UrbanRail]

$15mil for commuter rail on the E&N was also mentioned in the Vic News.

For the Johnson St Bridge Project. It will cost $15mil to rehabilitate the bridge to make it last another 40years or spend $30mil for a completely new bridge to last 100years.

[amor de cosmos]

If the Johnson St bridge needs fixing up maybe the Bay St bridge does also

[Holden West]

Fortin was on CBC discussing the infrastructure seismic report Focus Magazine says was withheld from Council. He said it was justified to hold back the information listing what City-owned properties were most at risk, how many people they contained, and how much it would cost to seismically enhance them. Basic points were:

• The report was always available--technically. It just had to be requested (if the Councillor knew it existed that is.
• The City creates hundreds of reports annually for things ranging from trees to pipes. It's impractical for them to read them all.
• This wasn't meant for Council anyway, it was intended for staff to be used in more comprehensive report for later delivery to Council.

The interview should be a podcast soon.

Helps, Young and Alto have been critical of this, I know Gudgeon is concerned, don't know how the others feel. Fortin did a good job of evading Gregor's questions about if the report was truly important for making infrastructure decisions.

[VicHockeyFan]

They put a high hazard rating on RAP because there could be 1400 people under the stands.

Now, I know some will say, "ya, that's important with that many people!"

BUT, the place maybe has less than 300 people a month under that roof, and then only for a few hours total. I mean, it's hardly used. YES, if the big one hits when people are under it, it's bad, but the chances are very, very, very, very slim - say as compared to a building with daily 9-5 workers in it.

[Holden West]

I guess the report's job is just to produce the raw numbers, the possibilities. Later evaluations would then balance these numbers with reality--like schools are closed one-third of the year and no-one would drive on the JSB during a quake but most could drive off, meaning actual deaths on the bridge would be far less than the four dozen or so people the bridge normally carries at a a time. But you do need a base number to start that discussion.

I recall the '89 World Series game that was about to begin when the San Francisco quake happened. Sometimes flukey things do happen.

[Bob Fugger]

Fortin did a good job of evading Gregor's questions about if the report was truly important for making infrastructure decisions.

Gregor is a good host, but he's not a good interviewer - as in he's far too polite and for the most part, just lobs softballs at his guests. Maybe he's afraid that guests won't come back? Gregor needs to remember that politicians - especially municipal politicians - need him and the CBC more than he needs them.

I remember when David Lennam took over for him one summer and he had Mayor McCheese on the show just at the beginning of the JSB debacle, he tore him a new asshole right on the air. Dean-o had no idea it was coming and was taken aback to the point that he started getting pissed off that this replacement dare question him?

Stephen Andrew did the same thing, too, recently on CFAX. I think it was also about the JSB.

[Nparker]

Snakes in a drain...

...City staff were looking into a report of a possible sink hole on Quadra near Mason Street when they spotted something unexpected...

"Our camera technician started his camera at Balmoral and Quadra in the storm drain, and, about four metres into the run, encountered a live snake. It's amazing how instantly the crew became experts on the type of snake. They figure it's either a boa constrictor or a python. It's probably about four to six feet long."

Ippon says the public is not at risk.

http://www.cfax1070....torm-drain-pipe

Edited by Nparker, 18 August 2016 - 09:28 AM.