These are the status of the Cycling Budget at the moment. It is subject to change as the various subcommittees meet tomorrow and over the next week. The challenges that we face are the cut of $208,000 from the Urban Development Services (UDS) budget proposal and the cut of $790,000 from the Works and Emergency Services Budget.

I have been using the figure of $300,000 for the UDS buget, I have now learned that the actual submission is $316,000. As it stands only $108,000 has been recommended for approval. That is a cut from last year of $40,000. It appears that that money may be restored tomorrow (January 18,2001) at the Planning and Transportation Committee Meeting. Councillor Joe Pantalone will make a motion to that effect. If the other councillors support it that will be one victory. The other $168,000 is still not approved. We still have to make the case for that. Most of that money is to fund the The Road & Trail Safety Ambassadors program. It is the program that delivers the Cycling Safety message directly to cyclists.

The Works Committee will have a meeting on January 22, 2002 where they will hear deputations. There we will see if they restore the $790,000.

The Parks Budget figures are the good news, 1,855 million for new paths and trails. Their proposal has not been cut back by much percentage wise but there is still a proposed reduction of $250,000 that is intended to keep the trails in a state of good repair. Hopefully this money is not cut out of the budget at the Economic Development and Parks Committee meetings on January 21 and 25th. We will have to keep an eye on that but it is mostly good news so far.

Here is the budget status as of today, January 17th, 2002.

Works Committee - WES Budget (Capital Projects)
Transportation Division
Requested by the Cycling Committee (Cycling Infrastructure) $1.5 million

Recommended $710,000

Total cut $790,000

(Operating budget)

Car free day $190,000

Recommended nil

Planning and Transportation Committee - UDS Budget

(Operating budget)

Requested by committee $316,000

Recommended $108,000

Total cut from request $208,000

Last year actual spending $150,000

Total cut from last year is $40,000

Economic Development and Parks Committee - EDCT Budget

(Capital Projects)

Requested by the Cycling Committee $1.9 million

Recommended Capital Budget for trails and pathways $1.855 million

Toronto Bike Plan ­ City Wide surface repairs

(page A44 of budget book) Reduction: $250,000

These numbers may change tomorrow depending on the decision of the Planning and Transportation Committee. I will keep you posted.

Martin Koob
tcc-rep@tbn.ca