NEOMAG Releases Transportation Report

The Northeastern Ontario Municipalities Action Group released their Highway 11 Corridor and Northeastern Ontario Prosperity report earlier in the week.

The group of Mayors from communities along Highway 11 from North Bay to Hearst, hand delivered the report to David Ramsay, Minister of Natural Resources and Mayor Victor Fedeli aims to do the same for Rick Bartolucci, Minister of Northern Development and Mines.

The report that identifies construction and maintenance spending per lane-kilometer is less in the Northeastern Ontario than on other highways in Ontario, has nine recommendations to improve the highway for the protection of motorists.

Full details provided in the news release below.

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The Northeastern Ontario Municipalities Action Group has released their Highway 11 Corridor and Northeastern Ontario Prosperity report. The group of Mayors, all representing communities located along Highway 11 from North Bay to Hearst, meet quarterly to discuss transportation issues. They retained Dr. Chris Sarlo, Associate Professor of Economics, Nipissing University, to prepare the in-depth report.

The analysis of the highway issues led to series of 9 recommendations. The main focus is an appeal to the government to implement a more aggressive approach to northern highways in terms of construction quality, maintenance, passing lanes, signage, and line painting. In addition, the group asks for a dedication of 1 cent per litre of provincial gas tax to be distributed for regional highway projects.

Mayor Victor Fedeli presented the report to David Ramsay, Minister of Natural Resources, at the Groups quarterly meeting in Kirkland Lake. “The Minister was very receptive to meet with our Group, and we know he has the Northern perspective in mind, as he drives these roads every week. We believe this report will make a difference in the safety of Northern travel,” said Mayor Fedeli.

The report revealed that construction and maintenance spending per lane-kilometer is less in the northeastern region than in other Ontario highways.

While the report was couriered to the Transportation Minister, along with a request for a face-to-face meeting, Mayor Fedeli intends to hand deliver the report to Rick Bartolucci, Minister of Northern Development and Mines, at their next meeting.

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