Sarnia's mayor is frustrated by a new Ministry of Transportation study required in Development Area 2, a large greenspace intended to accommodate future growth.
The city has been planning to build east, in the area bound by London Line, Blackwell Sideroad, the CN Rail yard (south of Confederation Line), and Modeland Road.
The Environmental Assessment was completed earlier this year, which included a traffic study. However, the MTO has imposed a new condition, requiring a Highway Access Management Plan (HAMP) study.
The MTO did not provide the exact cost of the study but will pay 50 per cent of the anticipated cost.
City staff will ask council for approval during the July 20 meeting to use up to $300,000 from the Building Faster Fund for the study.
Mayor Mike Bradley said essentially, the province is giving with one hand and taking with the other, considering the city recently received $400,000 from Ontario's Building Faster Fund for meeting its 2025 housing targets.
"I personally don't believe the study is necessary," Bradley said. "It's ironic the province is really delaying economic development housing starts, because this road, when it goes through to Blackwell, will have an impact on the creation of about 3,000 homes."
The mayor claims the biggest obstacle to economic development and housing starts in Ontario is the MTO.
"This is ridiculous," Bradley said, estimating the study will take more than a year to complete.
General Manager of Engineering and Operations David Jackson said at this time, staff don't anticipate the study to delay the Wellington Street extension, however, there is the risk.
"The ministry has said we cannot open up Wellington Street until the HAMP study is complete, but it's going to take us at least a year and a half to construct Wellington, so right now, we believe we can complete the HAMP study before the construction's completed," Jackson said.
Meanwhile, city council will also be asked on Monday to award a $9.4 million contract to Henry Heyink Construction Inc. for the Wellington Street extension.
The project will extend underground infrastructure from Wellington Street to Blackwell Sideroad, and include new road, sidewalk, multi-use pathway, and two new roundabout intersections.
The project is expected to begin in the fall and has a target completion date of the fall of 2027.
