THUNDER BAY — A new municipal infrastructure priority list puts projects like a multi-use turf facility, traffic light synchronization, an expanded Port Arthur recreation hub, green bin program, and new cycling infrastructure at the top of the city’s wish list.
The list, released Thursday evening in response to a city council request made in March, lays out administration’s recommended top 25 priorities for new infrastructure work to be completed by 2030.
The total estimated cost to complete all of that work — something city staff acknowledge is unlikely to happen due to budget constraints — is a whopping $266 to $280 million.
“The City of Thunder Bay does not have enough money to fund every single project on that list, and that list is but our 25 top infrastructure priorities — there are other infrastructure and capital projects that are not included on that list," said city manager Norm Gale in an interview. "So council will be thoughtful and careful in what they say yes to.”
Administration will present the document to council on Monday.
Gale also cautioned the financial estimates are made with “low confidence” and subject to change.
“We have low confidence because of worldwide instability in supply chains, the labour market, inflation — there’s a number of factors. So those numbers will likely change, and when they change, it probably will increase as time passes.”
The list also leaves out projects led by outside organizations, representing what could be well over $100 million in costs for the city. Those include a proposed new police headquarters and retrofits at library facilities including a potential new central branch.
Undertaking the projects could further widen the city’s infrastructure gap — the annual shortfall between what the city spends on infrastructure, and what is needed to fully maintain its assets and plan for replacement — which staff estimate currently stands at a staggering $30 million a year.
Without increases to future capital budgets or successful external funding applications, staff warned they expect the new projects could drive that figure even higher, to around $40 million a year.
Along with recommended priority level for each project, the list provides estimated costs, timelines, and potential funding sources.
It assigns a priority level of between one and three to each project, with one being highest priority.
While the list numbers the projects from 1 through 25, those numbers are for reference and do not constitute a ranking.
The list could influence which projects are emphasized in applications for provincial and federal funding, and which could get put on the back-burner.
Staff used criteria including health and safety, critical infrastructure, council priorities, accessibility, opportunities for external funding and for operational savings, and contribution to climate goals to determine priority.
An indoor turf facility for soccer and other sports including cricket, lacrosse, and baseball — a project that foundered despite years of examination under the previous council — is still identified as a top priority.
While city council has shifted its focus to a cheaper option proposed by Soccer Northwest Ontario next to the Canada Games Complex, the project on the priority list remains the earlier concept at Chapples Park.
Gale said that simply reflects the fact that previous direction from council to pursue a turf facility at Chapples remains on the books.
“That’s why it’s listed that way in the document,” he said. “It doesn’t mean it can’t change — it absolutely can. If city council makes further decisions, we’ll adjust as we go.”
The city has applied again for federal funding to cover half of what is now an estimated $51.8 million project at Chapples.
Also listed at priority level one is an expanded “recreation hub” including a new twin pad Port Arthur Arena and expanded amenities at the adjacent Port Arthur Stadium.
The city included a $28.5 million estimate for that project, along with a 2024-2030 timeline.
“We’re looking at a hub or a campus in that area — you’ll have the Canada Games Complex, a twin pad for Port Arthur Arena, also Port Arthur Stadium,” said Gale. “So it’s a really nice convergence of athletic and recreational opportunities.”
“Add in potentially a multi-use indoor turf facility, and we see great potential.”
Traffic light synchronization, meanwhile, is expected to be completed in 2025 with an estimated $4.5 million price tag.
In addition to allowing remote timing adjustments and syncing of the lights, that work will allow the city to give priority to public transit buses.
Establishing a green bin program is expected to be an expensive proposition, costing the city an estimated $20 million by 2027 for infrastructure like carts and kitchen catchers provided to residents and a processing facility.
A move to auto-cart technology across all waste collection services is expected to cost another $4.5 million.
Close to $9 million in transit hub and bus stop improvements are envisioned as a top priority. That would establish a new transfer hub at a location the city has not yet announced, and provide for upgrades like heated shelters at four existing hub, along with a number of new bus shelters and upgrades to bus stops.
While cyclists may not find what they’re hoping for on the list — it makes no mention of a protected bike lane along Memorial Avenue, and deems a north-south route a level two priority — it envisions building three active transportation bridges by 2026 at an estimated cost of $4.5 million.
Mobility coordinator Darrik Smith.Smith expects that could support bridges in the Marina Park, George Burke, and Lakehead University areas, for which the city is in the midst of pursuing external funding.
The projects would help make cycling a more attractive option by connecting existing trails, Smith said.
“One of the things to make active transportation a competitive mode is to provide shortcuts. They cut down travel time … and improve the overall equity of the transportation network.”
A “Port to Fort” cycling corridor largely along Carrick and Vickers streets is listed as a level two priority, with a completion target of 2025.
The list identifies six priorities for waterfront development, including:
- Extending Sleeping Giant Parkway to Pool 6 (priority level one)
- Acquiring land for an eventual further extension of Sleeping Giant Parkway south from Pool 6 to Maureen Street and the Central Avenue overpass (level three)
- Completing a master plan for the Pool 6 lands (level two)
- Extending the waterfront trail (level two)
- Pool 6 dock improvements to allow small watercraft (level three)
At level one, the list includes $5.8 million for the demolition of the Victoriaville mall and another $8 million for the reconstruction of Victoria Avenue.
Both projects are already set to go ahead, though a final design and costing for the reconstruction of Victoria Avenue and a new pedestrian boulevard along the Syndicate Avenue right-of-way still need to be approved by council.
Other top priority items include building an estimated $20 million secondary access bridge to fuel storage on McKellar Island that would double as an active transportation corridor and secondary vehicle route in emergencies.
Staff called the existing wooden bridge owned by CP Rail a "high risk structure as a single point of failure for fuel deliveries to the city and region."
The redevelopment of Dease Park to add a skate park, enhanced playground, potential traffic calming and other features is pegged at level two priority and set for completion between 2024 and 2030, with a total cost of $2.5 million.
Also at priority level two is a revamp of city-owned community centres, with the plan identifying $4.5 to $7 million in renovations by 2026 at multiple centres.
At priority level three, the city identified the long-envisioned Northwest Arterial project, which would remove traffic lights and add overpasses along the Thunder Bay Expressway.
Staff put its cost at $25.3 million, with a tentative 2025 completion date. The project will rely on Ministry of Transportation funding.
Elsewhere, the city sketched over $10 million in possible drainage and surface improvements to its outdoor fields by 2026.
