Public Works - Levy - Quarter 2 Financial Update (2017) (in thousands of dollars)

Variance Analysis (in thousands of dollars)

Public Works Levy is operating at a year-to-date surplus before indirect allocations of $376 and is forecasting an overall deficit of $52 at the end of the year. The following factors have contributed to these variances:

Compensation

The favourable year-to-date and forecasted variances of $766 and $913 is primarily due to: lower than anticipated usage of winter seasonal staff due to the mild winter conditions that were experienced; decreased overtime costs; and delays in filling vacant positions.

Administrative

The favourable year-to-date and forecasted variances of $486 and $186 is primarily due to a $452 year-to-date and $266 forecasted decrease in consulting work concentrated in Transportation Planning due to staffing shortages.

Operational & Supply

The unfavourable year-to-date and forecasted variances of $286 and $1,037 is primarily due to: increased signal and sign maintenance material costs of $918 and higher than budgeted costs for Niagara Specialized Transit (NST) and Inter-Municipal Transit (IMT) services due to increased ridership of $489; offset by lower than anticipated usage of winter sand, winter salt and organic de-icing material totalling $186 due to the mild winter conditions experienced; and a decrease of $184 in other program specific supplies and material.

Occupancy & Infrastructure

The favourable year-to-date and forecasted variances of $170 is primarily due to lower than expected electricity costs related to timing difference in rollout of the Street Lighting program.

Equipment, Vehicles, Technology

The favourable year-to-date and forecasted variances of $146 and $29 is primarily due to lower than expected fuel costs and vehicle repairs due to the mild winter conditions that were experienced.

Partnership, Rebate, Exemption

The favourable year-to-date variance of $1,370 is due to timing difference associated with the economic promotion grant to the city of Welland for the General Electric (GE) plant intersection upgrades on Hwy 140. These funds are expected to be processed in latter half of 2017.

Federal & Provincial Grants

The unfavourable year-to-date variance of $179 is due to timing difference associated with the remaining funds from the Ontario Municipal Cycling Infrastructure Program related to the Merrittville multi-use path. These funds are expected to be received in latter half of 2017, resulting in a forecasted variance of $0.

By-Law Charges & Sales Revenue

The unfavourable year-to-date variance of $136 is due to timing differences associated with various by-law charges and other sales. The favourable forecasted annual variance of $56 is primarily due to: increased ridership for both IMT and NST services resulting in higher fare revenues of $122; offset by lower than anticipated by-law charges and other sales totalling $66.

Other Revenue

The unfavourable year-to-date and forecasted variances of $97 and $50 is primarily due to a decrease in development charges related to reduced consulting work concentrated in Transportation Planning due to staffing shortages.

Transfers

The unfavourable year-to-date variance of $1,740 is mainly due to timing difference associated with the $1,500 funding for the GE plant intersection upgrades on Hwy 140. These funds are expected to be processed in latter half of 2017.

Community Impacts & Achievements

The Regional Road Network consists of a total of 1,659 lane kms of road. As part of the Region's Transportation Engineering Capital Program, 66 lane kms of roadways were resurfaced or reconstructed in 2016. 52 lane kms were resurfaced as part of the annual roads resurfacing program. 14 lane kms were reconstructed as part of the capital projects; including the addition of the new 2 lane km Thorold Stone Road extension.

Achievements also include full bridge replacements of Central Avenue Bridge in Fort Erie and Burgoyne Bridge in St. Catharines. Emergency repairs due to rainstorm successfully completed ahead of schedule for JR Stork Bridge Approach.

The Transportation Master Plan (TMP) was successfully approved by Regional Council on July 20, 2017; with the Substantial Completion filed on July 27, 2017 with a 45-day review period for any final comments to be considered. This transformative document will set the transportation vision and inform policy and process, and costs on transportation infrastructure and services in Niagara. The TMP process received tremendous public and stakeholder interest and input.

The successful passage of the Triple Majority By-law by the local area municipalities related to completion of Dillon Consulting work to allow Niagara Region to be a player in IMT is a significant step towards a consolidated transit model that will lead to an integrated and enhanced transit system for Niagara Region. This will also support the GO Rail implementation for which the GO Project Office staffing was approved by Regional Council.

The successful completion of the Merrittville Multi-Use Path project in coordination with the City of Thorold has led to a step closer towards achieving the Brock District Plan vision. That will also be supported by the reconstruction of the Hwy 406 & Hwy 58 and St. David's Rd interchange carried out by MTO with support from Niagara Region and the City of St. Catharines and the City of Thorold for implementation of an Active Transportation facility on this infrastructure.