Hamilton’s Public Works Department budget presentation highlights
HAMILTON, ON - Earlier today, Hamilton City Council’s General Issues Committee (GIC) considered the 2018 budget from the Public Works department. General Manager, Dan McKinnon, outlined how Public Works provides services that bring Hamilton to life – by moving people or goods comfortably and predictably along city roads, ensuring roads are clear and in good repair, making drinking water safe and reliable, keeping waste out of the environment and recovering resources for sustainability, and more. The presentation also included a summary of 2017 accomplishments, measures of success, and a look ahead at major initiatives in 2018.
The preliminary 2018 operating budget request showed an increase of 3.4 per cent or $7.6 million, which includes an increase of $6.2 million for Transit.
Highlights of major initiatives in Public Works in 2018 include implementing year three of the 10 Year Transit Strategy, which is a continuation of the extraordinary commitment Hamilton City Council has made to transit in Hamilton. Over the past eight years, Council has supported more than $219 million in capital and operating investments in transit. This has translated into almost 150,000 additional service hours, 110 more staff, and 46 additional buses.
Also in 2018, Public Works will implement year six of the 10 Year Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan; continue with escarpment maintenance and an associated asset management strategy for the city’s escarpment roadways; complete construction at the Gage Park Tropical Greenhouse, Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre, and the Provincial Offences Administration Office; and initiate a corporate-wide security office.
Quick facts about Public Works in 2017
- Completed renovations at Beverley and Carlisle Arenas, Waterdown and Binbrook Memorial Halls, Ancaster Aquatic Centre, and Montgomery Field House.
- Started construction at William Connell City-Wide Park.
- Prepared and constructed stage three at the Glanbrook Landfill.
- Converted 10,072 high pressure sodium street lights to LED.
- Planted 11,279 trees under the City-Wide Tree Planting Program.
- Beautified 314 floral traffic islands, 72 roundabouts, 113 perennial medians, 78 civic buildings, 701 hanging baskets, and grew 246,000 plants.
- 1.9 per cent reduction in energy.
- Replaced 19 diesel buses with new compressed natural gas (CNG) buses.
- Diverted 42.4 per cent of waste away from the landfill.
- Installed 2,100 security cameras on 219 buses.
- Installed 50 new traffic monitoring cameras as part of the Advanced Traffic Management System.
- Upgraded 20 small drinking water systems (wells).
Council is expected to consider approval for the final operating budget in March.
Additional Resources