No money for third crossing
The Whig-Standard
Local News - Tuesday, March 06, 2007 Updated @ 11:27:51 PM
By Jordan Press
Whig-Standard Staff Writer
Residents in the east end will have to wait a little longer for a third crossing of the Cataraqui River after councillors voted down providing money for the project in this year’s budget.
However, the move didn’t come until after one councillor gave fellow politicians a verbal lashing about their unwillingness to spend $750,000 this year and next.
“If anything says that we should have elections at large, then this is it,” said Councillor Leonore Foster, who represents Pittsburgh district.
“I have never been on a city council that is so parochial and so narrowly focused in its approach to this city as a whole.”
In the end, council voted 7-5 to not commit money from this year’s budget.
Last night, the normally cool Foster was emotional during the hour-long debate about spending $300,000 this year and $450,000 in 2008 to conduct an environmental assessment for a third crossing.
At one point, Mayor Harvey Rosen mouthed the words, “calm down,” when Foster tried to get his attention to express her wish to speak.
“Keeping the money in the capital budget to start moving on this project is absolutely essential and will not impact on the tax rate,” Foster said.
Foster said the crossing was also a health and safety issue for residents in the east end and across the city.
“Do we consider lives in the central and west as more important than lives in the east?” Foster said.
She said she felt if the city didn’t show commitment to the project now, that council wouldn’t do anything in the future.
Councillor Vicki Schmolka said she didn’t want to see the city spend the money until after the official plan was adopted. It will outline where growth should take place – spending the money would indicate the city was committed to growth in Pittsburgh district when that may not be the case, Schmolka said.
“In my mind, that has to be resolved before we commit to the third crossing,” she said. “I really think it would be much wiser to wait.”
Some councillors were concerned about overburdening staff with too many large capital projects. Others were concerned that they didn’t have enough information.
An environmental assessment must be done before the project can start. Once done, assessments are good for five years before they have to be redone.
The city’s transportation master plan, released in July 2004, said a third crossing was “the most important roadway issue addressed” in the plan.
Last night, council approved spending $250,000 on a redevelopment strategy for the North Block. Councillor Rob Hutchison said residents wanted input into the plan.
“Listening to Councillor Hutchison,” Foster said. “I will support that. I just wish you would have listened to my residents, too.”
The capital budget passed last night. Council approved changes decreased the proposed $43.3 million capital budget by $886,000. Debate on the city’s operating budget went beyond press time last night. Council was considering additions to the operating budget that would have added about $1.5 million to the proposed $250.9 million budget.
The increase amounts to about a one per cent tax increase. Staff have proposed a tax increase this year of 3.75 per cent.
jpress@thewhig.com