CPR bridge repair and Centennial Plaza Park redevelopment among proposed in Red Deer’s capital budget

For 2023 and 2024, respectively 87 and 93 per cent of the proposed budget is geared towards infrastructure, including maintenance of water and wastewater infrastructure to reduce environmental impact, upgrades to utility cables, transformers and more.

Within this category is the major rehabilitation and replacement project for the CPR pedestrian bridge beginning in 2024, budgeted at $5.6 million.

Originally constructed in 1908 by the Canadian Pacific Railway, the rail line was relocated in 1990 and the bridge was donated to the City, now a registered municipal historic resource. According to recent bridge inspections, the City says it is in poor structural condition and will be forced to shut down if not fixed.

An $11.088 million grant through the Federal Public Transit – Active Transportation Fund initiative was given to the City to complete the work by March 2026. As preliminary design began this November, the City says this phase should be complete by the end of 2023, with construction in 2024 and full completion in 2025. A previous approval by council of $3.7 million to paint the bridge in 2016 left $3 million unspent.

AMBULANCES

At 13 and six per cent of the capital budgets for 2023 and 2024 respectively, the “current growth” projects relate to utilities, traffic safety initiatives including improvements at problematic intersections, and fleet growth.

The City’s fleet contains 700 units of vehicles and attachments that deliver operational services, including graders, pickup trucks, ambulances, buses, Zambonis and more.

The 2023 budget includes seven additional ambulances, five main and two backup, at a cost of $2,450,000 making up the majority of the fleet growth budget of $3,529,000. Red Deer Emergency Services confirmed they currently have five main ambulances and four backup.

While fleet replacement comes from the Fleet Replacement Reserve, the City is soon entering into new contract negotiations with Alberta Health Services, who normally cover a portion of the costs.

READ: Red Deer Emergency Services requests more staff than budgeted

CENTENNIAL PLAZA PARK

With “community amenities” occupying less than one percent of the annual budgets combined, the main focus is on the redevelopment of the Centennial Plaza Park.

The downtown outdoor space at Alexander Way contains a decommissioned wading pool, public washrooms, arches, an art installation and the historic Michener Fountain. A redevelopment plan made in 2016 by a consultant was not shared with the public due to budgetary constraints at the time. Capital funds are being proposed for 2024 to look back into the plan and reengage with the public.

Funding would come from the Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) of $206,000 in 2024 and $794,000 in 2025.

However, the provincial MSI will be replaced in 2024 with a new grant called the Local Government Fiscal Fund. The City says that while they currently receive $10.5 million from the MSI, the new grant is expected to be 35 per cent less at $6.6 million, impacting maintenance of pavement, sidewalks and recreation facilities.

Other sources of funding include borrowing, reserves, transfers from operating and customer/developer contributions.

RED DEER REGIONAL AIRPORT AND INDIGENOUS CULTURE CENTRE

The City transfers funds from capital to operating as grants to organizations for their own capital projects.

The proposed projects include:

Red Deer Airport Authority capital request: $1,370,000 in 2023 and $1,300,000 in 2024
Provincial Highway Maintenance: $273,000 in 2023 and 2024
Tree Replacement: roughly $155,000 in 2023 and 2024
Indigenous Culture Centre: $100,000 in 2023 and $150,000 in 2025

The Airport also requested operating funding of $371,000 each in 2023 and 2024 to sustain ongoing operations until revenues increase, according to the City. They say the capital funding is to rehabilitate Apron 2 which has fallen into a state of disrepair, causing safety concerns. Airport officials say the rehabilitation will take three years with additional funding to be requested in 2025. The capital and operating budgets are to be matched by Red Deer County.

The Airport is currently in phase one of their overall rehabilitation project, consisting of widening the existing runway and strengthening the taxiway and main apron. Although budgeted at $15 million, funded by the City, County and provincial government, the City agreed to provide a necessary additional $955,000. That contract is several months behind, however, due to a wet spring, and is expected to be completed by Spring 2023.

READ: First phase of Red Deer Regional Airport expansion almost complete; welcoming chartered planes

The Indigenous Culture Centre is meant to action the City’s local commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, says City Manager Tara Lodewyk. With the funds expected to be sourced by the Operating Reserve Tax Supported, they say the 2023 funds will be used for bringing the community together and 2024 will be dedicated to defining a concept for the centre. While no location is determined, they anticipate a budget of $4.5 million for the project in 2025.

Councillor Lawrence Lee expressed while he agreed with the centre, he questioned if it could be expanded to include other cultures prominent in Red Deer such as the Pilipino, Ukrainian and Syrian communities.

10-YEAR CAPITAL PLAN

The plan following the capital budget from 2025-32 is proposed at $1,180 million.

Although not currently in the capital plan, the City said the following projects could be added if funding becomes available:

Multi-Use Aquatics Centre
Northland Drive components
Downtown CCTV & other related security components
Downtown Washroom facilities
Road weather information systems
Zero Emission transit bus replacements and infrastructure
Projects moved out of the capital plan in prior years

G.H. DAWE CENTRE EXPANSION UPDATE

The project was intended to ensure the City can meet community recreation and fitness needs with additional spaces, capacity to host sports tournaments with two NHL-sized ice surfaces, running track, changing room, outdoor spray park and more. The Kinex Arena will also soon be demolished with activities moving to the Dawe Centre. Completion of the expansion is expected for early 2023.

The City currently has roughly $3.4 billion in assets which they say grows each year by $100 million.

by Alessia Proietti

CPR bridge repair and Centennial Plaza Park redevelopment among proposed in Red Deer’s capital budget

What's Trending