Sudbury city council asks staff to rerun numbers on Elgin Greenway

The cost of the proposed Elgin Greenway has left many Sudbury city councillors with sticker shock.

They asked city staff at a meeting on Tuesday to come back on June 13 with a financial plan to make the design more affordable.

"All of us had a bit of an oh my moment when we saw the price tag," Coun. Deb McIntosh said.

"But I don't want to see it [Elgin Greenway] end because the price tag came in too high."

McIntosh received enough support from her colleagues to direct city staff to explore how private sponsorship and funding from senior levels of government can bring the cost ofthe project down.

Council also asked staff to focus onconstructing the first phase of the proposal between the Nelson Street Bridge and the intersection ofMintoand Elgin Streets.

If approved, the Elgin Greenway will create a linear park and trail connecting the downtown to Bell Park.

'Just thewrong time'

The endeavour is slated to cost $8.5 million nearly double the original cost estimate that was presented five years ago.

"It's just the wrong time from what I can see," Coun. Robert Kirwan said.

"There are other places we could spend that money that could have a far greater impact on this city than a one kilometre stretch for biking and walking."

The cost of the Elgin Greenway has increased because five plazas have been added to the design, and the price tag now includes the relocation of sewers and utilities, according to the city's planning director Jason Ferrigan.

About $1.9 million of the $8.5 million tab includes a five per cent design and 25 per cent construction contingency.

Upgrades to Riverside pedestrian tunnel going ahead

"When you cut a hole in your wall, for example, often you don't know what you're going to find behind that wall," Ferrigan said.

"A similar principle applies here."

Council should consider adopting a process to cap the cost of future projects, according to Coun. Joscelyne Landry-Altmann.

"So that we're not in a position like we're in now," Landry-Altmann said.

"I understand everything that has been added to this project, but that's just it. Everything that was added."

The city has already committed $1 million towards the Elgin Greenway's bill.

Two funding applications have also been submitted with FedNor and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation for $1 million each.

Although the city will have to revisitthe numbers for the project, city council agreed to fund upgrades that will begin this year onthe Riverside pedestrian tunnel for $250,000, which is partof the downtown to Ramsey Lake link.