THUNDER BAY — The province needs to undertake a $183-million analysis, and in some cases an overhaul, of "dangerous" rural roads in order to prevent a disproportionate number of fatal crashes from occurring on those routes.
So says the Ontario Good Roads Association (Good Roads), which is asking more than 440 municipalities across the province to press the Conservative government into putting its plan into action by way of a formal resolution.
In the resolution it drafted, the association cites Ministry of Transportation statistics from 2021 that showed that just over half of road fatalities occurred on rural routes, "while rural Ontario only represents 17 per cent of the province's population."
"By any measure, Ontario's rural roads are disproportionately more dangerous," the resolution says.
It adds: "At the same time, municipal insurance premiums continue to increase."
So far, nearly 25 municipalities have endorsed the Good Roads resolution, its executive director, Scott Butler, said on Thursday.
Butler said he received support for the idea last year when it was presented to the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association.
The proposed $183 million in provincial funds, to be spread over five years, would be used for trouble-shooting dangerous road sections as well as physical improvements.
In some cases, said Butler, all that might be required is an addition of line paint or guard-rails.
Meanwhile, the fallout from preventable road crashes is a burden on the province's over-taxed health-care system, the association notes.
NDP MPP Lise Vaugeois, who has driven her share of hair-raising roads in her rural riding, said the association's proposed funding allotment seems reasonable when compared to other expenditures approved at Queen's Park.
In Northwestern Ontario, "there are long stretches of the Trans-Canada Highway that don't have (road) shoulders," noted Vaugeois (Thunder Bay- Superior North).
She cited Ontario Provincial Police statistics showing that fatal crashes have steadily increased in the region over the last few years to nearly 35 in 2023.
Based in Toronto, Good Roads was created 130 years ago.
It currently counts as members 428 municipalities and 21 First Nations.
Local Journalism Initiative / The Chronicle Journal
