Program Description (fiscal years 1999/00 to 2002/03)
Overview
The Resource Road/New Industry Program (RR/NI) was announced on August 24, 1998, as part of the Premier’s Task Force on Infrastructure. The RR/NI commenced April 1, 1999.
Benefits of Program
The RR/NI is intended to provide funding assistance to local authorities for the movement of goods and people associated with new or expanded, value-added processing facilities, resource and other industries, intensified farming operations or high through-put grain elevators.
The program will apply to local roads and bridges, including intersection improvements with primary and secondary highways. Roads must be open for use by all publicly-licensed vehicles and not be subject to any municipal general user fees.
Funding Policy
Municipal Districts, Counties, Metis settlements, special areas, towns, villages, summer villages, and any area of a specialized municipality outside the defined urban service area are eligible for assistance under this program. The program will provide 75 percent cost-shared funding to a maximum of $2,250,000 per project.
Eligible projects will be prioritized on a provincial basis, with the highest-priority projects covered by the assigned budget undertaken in any given year. Approved projects may be eligible for funding to be advanced in trust, with interest earned to be put towards the project. Transportation of goods and people must relate to new value-added processing facilities, intensified farming operations, resource-based industrial development or high through-put grain elevators which began operation or were expanded in 1997 or later. The road must be used by at least 25 trucks per day on average during any three-month period of the year. Paving may be cost-shared if total traffic volumes exceed 400 vehicles per day.
Any jurisdiction can negotiate with industry for a contribution toward any or their entire share; however, no stacking of provincial or federal funding is permitted. Private sector contractors and suppliers must be used to carry out all work claimed under the program.
The program will operate with an approximate annual budget of $24 million for each fiscal year from 1999/2000 to 2002/03. The annual funding amounts are subject to the approval of Alberta Transportation's business plan. The RR/NI will be terminated at the end of March, 2003. 2002/03 program funds are committed to projects already approved.
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