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September council meetings focus on transit and affordable housing.

The summer is behind us and council has returned to its regular schedule of meeting on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Council watchers will know that our meetings tend to be much shorter than they were in the last council. That does not mean that important things do not happen.

Transit remains one of my priorities; three new express routes coming.

At our meeting on September 6, council approved the recommendation from the Environment Infrastructure and Transportation Policies (EITP) Committee that staff be directed to include operating and capital costs for three new express routes for Kingston Transit in future budgets.

As this was a direct consequence of my transit motion in the last council, (March, 2008), needless to say I am very pleased. Before we see the routes operating, the first step is the capital budget approval for 14 new buses, at approximately $500,000 each. As council has been directed to set aside days for budget deliberations at the end of November, I would expect the approval prior to Christmas. That will enable staff to place the purchase order in the new year. In order to get the best price, we participate in a group purchase with other communities. I do not know when the order will be placed, but the delivery time is normally fourteen months after the order date.

The introduction of an express route will also allow for the redesign of connecting local routes that they can better act as collectors. The new express routes and their introduction dates are:

Express Route 1 (September 2013): Will operate in a loop in both directions (clockwise and counter-clockwise) connecting our west end to the downtown via Princess Street, Front/King, and Bayridge Drive. Will provide direct connections between Downtown, Queen’s/KGH, St. Lawrence College, Cataraqui Town Centre, and Kingston Centre.

Express Route 2 (January, 2015): Will operate in a loop in both directions (clockwise and counter-clockwise) connecting the east end, St. Lawrence Business Park (Hwy. 15), CFB Kingston, RMC, Montreal Street, Division Street, KGH/Queen’s, and downtown.

Express Route 3 (January, 2015): Will provide bi-directional service from the INVISTA Centre (Gardiners Road) to downtown via Bath Road, Johnson Street / Brock Street.

Express routes will be the highest-profile, highest performance (frequency, speed, and comfort) in our Kingston Transit system. The function of these routes is to serve passengers with fast, direct service between major destinations.

All routes will operate on a 15-minute frequency during peaks hours (6 am – 9:30 am and 4 pm – 7:30 pm). Routes will operate on a 30-minute frequency at all other times, including evenings and Sundays, representing a significant service increase over our 60-minute service currently offered on evenings and Sundays.

That same council meeting also gave direction for a closer examination of a traffic circle at the intersection of highways 2 and 15. This will come back to the EITP committee for consideration. Those who are interested should watch the city’s newspaper notice of meetings and agenda items so they can attend. (EITP meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 6 pm in the council chamber at city hall.)

New affordable housing fund; $6.3 million over three years.

Our second September council meeting was on the 20th. The most important matter to come before us was an incentive program for affordable housing. We have given direction (on the recommendation of staff) to amend the capital reserves policy to create a fund for housing projects. Capital reserve funds are maintained indirectly from the tax base. Surpluses from the annual operating budget (and revenues such as parking) are allocated to a reserve fund for use in future years. Over the next three years we will allocate a total of $6.3 million for home ownership programs, capital funding for projects, and acquiring land for affordable housing projects. Council voted not to expand a rent supplement program.

I welcome your views and ideas on these matters.



613.549.1900
www.billglover.org
bglover@cityofkingston.ca


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