By: Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The County of Essex will continue with Step 3 of the Road Rationalization Study Timeline – which will include drafting the final report with a recommended road network, general terms and conditions for transfer, a Connecting Link agreement template, and an implementation plan – County Council voted at the November 19 meeting.
It is a process to reclassify the road network to determine what roads in Essex County should be municipal or County responsibility.
The motion follows the one made at the September 17 meeting, where County Council supported the finalization of the County Road Network with the local municipalities, and directed administration to continue to Step 2 of the Road Rationalization Study Timeline.
At that time, it also approved the Hybrid Rationalization Model that will work to reclassify the road network to determine what roads in Essex County should be municipal or County responsibility.
The hybrid model first applied a set of measurable, quantitative criteria, including connectivity to settlement areas and provincial highways, heavy industrial and employment areas, proximity to traffic generators – like national parks, conservation areas, and tourism destinations – and bypass functions to alleviate congestion in urban areas. It also includes four roadway characteristics – speed limit, surface materials, traffic volume, and right-a-way width.
Since, Administration completed discussions on outstanding road segments, Director of Infrastructure & Planning, Allan Botham said. He preciously told County Council that the County administration shares the majority view of the local municipal administrations that the current County Road Network is generally appropriate for the County of Essex.
He provided County Council with the next generation of the hybrid model results. Admin is also modernizing the County Connecting Link Agreement template, including working on a standard agreement across the region with the local municipalities. Staff is also looking at simplifying cost-sharing agreements.
A set of terms and conditions continue to be worked upon, Botham added, in addition to financial considerations for road transfers, and the timing of those transfers, in addition to impacts to asset management plans, maintenance, liabilities, and insurance.
In the coming weeks and months, Botham said recommendations will be finalized regarding road rationalization, and the implementation plan, in working with municipal partners. That will be brought to County Council for consideration of adoption in the first quarter of 2026.
The County is advancing the Transportation Master Plan in collaboration with R.J. Burnside & Associates.
Lakeshore Mayor Tracey Bailey was pleased to hear a final report will come back for County Council approval, as she had a list of concerns, however, knowing there is more time for the municipal administrators to go over the County Connecting Link, they have been, calmed.
She was confident her concerns could be worked out administratively behind the scenes, knowing the County reps will be working with municipal administrations.
Step four of the project will be implementing the Road Rationalization Plan.
The Report to County Council notes, if approved, Administration recommends implementation of transfer to begin in 2028 to allow time for resource and budget adjustments.
The report adds the Road Rationalization Study may result in a net reduction of approximately 35-lane km from the County Road network. While County staff levels will remain unchanged from this reduction, this reduction is expected to generate potential savings in maintenance and lifecycle renewal costs for the County.
