Region tells province Hwy. 7 downloading must come with cash

Halton is delivering a strong message to the Province-- don't give us authority over any more of your roads unless you plan to send money to look after them. Regional council approved a resolution enunciating that sentiment at its meeting Wednesday. The issue came up because the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has put forward a proposal to transfer the jurisdiction of Hwy. 7 in the towns of Milton and Halton Hills to the Region. A report from Halton Commissioner of Planning and Public Works Peter Crockett explains the MTO suggested the idea because it has concluded the major road no longer serves a provincial transportation function. But council directed Regional Chairman Joyce Savoline to write to the Minister of Transportation to advise that Halton won't accept the downloading on any provincial highway infrastructure without provision for appropriate and sustainable capital and operating funding. Crockett's report notes the MTO previously transferred provincial Highways 5 and 25 to the Region. Along with the transfers came one-time grants of $122,500 and $10 million. But a study the Region undertook in 1999 showed $23 million would be needed over a five to 10-year period to bring the two highways into a good state of repair and an additional $88 million would be required to widen them. Staff plans to evaluate the MTO's proposal and report back to council down the road.