Which streets have the most potholes?
Simons subdivision has worst roads: Wright
Coun. Stephen Wright says the worst streets in his ward are in the Simons subdivision — and he asked at a finance meeting on Monday why city staff didn’t consult him before identifying another street as the worst in Northcrest.
The five most pothole-strewn streets in Peterborough — the worst in each ward — have been identified by the city and may get repaired next year using $1 million in federal gas tax money, states a new staff report.
In Northcrest Ward, the worst road is identified as Amundsen Avenue between Cumberland Avenue and Cartier Boulevard.
But Wright said there are roads in dire need of attention in the Simons subdivision, just off Chemong Road near Shoppers Drug Mart.
The subdivision was annexed into the city from Selwyn Township in 2008. The roads there are in dire need of resurfacing, Wright said.
But Coun. Dean Pappas, the finance chair, said that the streets up for repairs under this program can only be debated during budget talks in January.
Besides, Pappas said city staff had come up with the worst street in each ward without any consultation from councillors: “None of us around the table had a call on which roads.”
In Monaghan Ward, Moorecraig
Road is so bad it’s scheduled for reconstruction in 2020. The other worst roads are:
• Otonabee Ward: St. Catherine Street (between Braidwood Avenue and Hamilton Street)
• Town Ward: Simcoe Street (between George Street and Aylmer Street)
• Ashburnham Ward: McFarlane Street (between Television Road and Naish Drive)
Also discussed at Monday’s council meeting:
City of Peterborough Holdings board
Council voted to reappoint members of the board of CoPHI, the city-owned company that oversees electricity distribution and water services.
Nancy Brown Andison, Louise Lalonde and Arlynn Dupuis were all reappointed for a term of three years (to Dec. 31, 2022), while Scott Baker, David Bignell and David Paterson were all appointed for a one-year term (to Dec. 31, 2020).
Although Baker, Bignell and Paterson have all served their maximum of nine years on the board, they received one-year extensions on Monday because they were key players in the negotiations to sell the electrical distribution system, Peterborough Distribution Inc. (PDI), to Hydro One.
Although the sale price for PDI is $105 million, the city can expect to net somewhere between $50 million and $55 million after fees and debts are paid.
A transaction is expected in 2020. On Monday, board chair Brown Andison argued that these directors have “the most detailed and direct knowledge” of the negotiations and are needed on a one-year extension “to maximize returns” on the deal.
Council agreed to keep the directors on for an extra year; only Coun. Dean Pappas disagreed, saying he couldn’t make an exception for CoPHI and not for other boards and committees.
Edgewater Boulevard speed limit
The speed limit is going to be reduced soon along Edgewater Boulevard in East City, and parking restrictions will go into effect in certain places along the boulevard, as well.
On Monday, city council gave final approval to reduce the speed limit from 50 km/h to 40 km/h along Edgewater between Maria and Wallace streets.
A city staff report also recommended no parking near the CP Rail bridge or on the curve where the emergency access roadway connects with Edgewater Boulevard. Council approved that, too.
City staff recommended these measures be taken due to poor visibility along the boulevard.