Rural Alberta infrastructure projects get $100 million

Slave Lake Airport runway (photo: Slave Lake Airport – source Governement of Alberta)

Alberta’s 2017 Budget includes $100 million in Strategic Transporation Infrastructure Program funding over three years—with more than $37 million approved for projects in 2017-18—for municipal infrastructure, including local road bridges, resource roads and community airports in rural Alberta.

“STIP funding helps our rural and smaller urban municipalities sustain their local transportation infrastructure which contributes to a higher quality of life in these communities. Investing in our towns and counties through STIP will not only ensure they have the roads and bridges they need to grow sustainably, but will also help to create good-paying construction and engineering jobs,” said Brian Mason, Alberta’s Minister of Transportation and Minister of Infrastructure in a news release from the province.

Approved initiatives include a repaving project at Slave Lake Airport, bridge and culvert replacements in Big Lakes County and in the Municipal District of Lesser Slave River and grading and other improvements on Cattle Ranch Road in the East Prairie Metis Settlement.

“Having both a forestry air tanker base and air medevac at the Slave Lake Airport, it is easy to see this airport is heavily used by the people of this region and surrounding area. This infrastructure would not exist without provincial support, and after five years of lobbying we are excited to see the province investing again in regional airports.” said Tyler Warman, Mayor of Town of Slave Lake, in the release.

Projects approved for 2017-18 STIP funding

The Government of Alberta is providing more than $37 million in STIP grants this year to support 87 municipal infrastructure projects in 50 communities across Alberta. The total eligible cost of these projects is $61.4 million and the municipal contribution total is $24.2 million:

• Local Road Bridges Program – 67 projects receiving $21.3 million in provincial funding. The contribution breakdown for this program is 75 per cent provincial and 25 per cent municipal funding.
• Resource Road Program – Five projects receiving $9.3 million in provincial funding. This program provides 50 per cent provincial and 50 per cent municipal funding, to a maximum provincial grant amount of $3 million per project. Municipalities are encouraged to acquire 25 per cent of their contribution from the private sector that will benefit from the project.
• Local Municipal Initiatives – Nine projects receiving $4.6 million in provincial funding. The provincial/municipal contribution percentages vary based on project scoring. 
• Community Airport Program – Six projects receiving $2 million in provincial funding. The contribution breakdown for this program is 75 per cent provincial and 25 per cent municipal funding