RMS OF TISDALE, CONNAUGHT — The RMs of Tisdale and Connaught have received almost $38,000 through the Targeted Sector Support (TSS) Initiative for a regional road structure initiative, analyzing which routes get the most use in the communities.
Jaime Orr, administrator for RM of Connaught, said the results of the study will determine what roads and bridges the RMs will invest in long-term, as well as update local road classifications.
“It will take a look to see if we’re spending money on the correct areas,” she said. “Maybe we have some main roads that aren’t being as utilized as we thought, and we have some secondary roads that are maybe being over-utilized.”
Orr said this may lead to the possible discussion of decommissioning specific bridges and roads to invest in other routes, but not without mandatory consultation with community members.
“Each RM has a large number of bridges, so it might help us determine which bridges are necessary for our road network. If we can close the bridge and reroute a road and save money, it could give us that information.”
The funds are being split equally between the two RMs, with the end date for the study set for May 2, 2022.
The TSS Initiative provides cost-shared grants of up to 75 per cent on eligible costs to municipalities partnering to strengthen their core municipal responsibilities through projects focused on regional co-operation, capacity building and good governance.
Most recently, 23 projects, including the RMs of Tisdale and Connaught, were approved for cost-shared grants after a review process by the TSS Steering Committee, which consists of representatives from Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA), the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM), the Saskatchewan Association of Northern Communities (New North) and the Ministry of Government Relations.
