News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) - The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure’s operational budget for 2015-16 totals $296.9 million, a $23.5 million increase over the last fiscal year.

Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Roger Melanson made the announcement today while tabling the department’s ordinary budget estimates.

“This budget reflects our government’s commitment to move our province forward by maintaining our transportation infrastructure more effectively,” Melanson said. “We are providing more funding for highways and bridges as well as winter maintenance, and we are meeting our commitment to carry out brush-cutting to make our roads and highways safer.”

Melanson said an additional $8.3 million will be invested in winter maintenance to help deal with the harsher winters New Brunswick has been experiencing.

In total, the ordinary budget for the department breaks down as follows:

• $69.1 million for winter maintenance;

• $56.8 million for summer maintenance;

• $60.2 million for buildings and facilities management;

• $63.7 million for grants in lieu of municipal property taxes;

• $29 million for the New Brunswick Highway Corporation;

• $18.1 million for corporate services, policy and strategic development, district administration, and planning, design, engineering and property management services.

There is also a $75,000 increase in funding for the department’s vehicle retrofit program to better meet the needs of New Brunswickers living with disabilities. This increase of 37.5 per cent brings the total funding for this program to $275,000.

Melanson said the department is also working to produce savings for government through the elimination of free parking for elected officials and government employees working in urban centres and by consolidating operations and disposing of surplus assets in co-operation with other departments.

In ferry services, fares to Grand Manan Island will be increased for the first time in six years to help meet the costs of providing the service. The fare for regular passengers will increase from $10.90 per person to $12. Fares for tractor-trailers, trucks and commercial vehicles will also increase slightly. However, residents of Grand Manan Island will continue to pay half the fare.

The department’s capital budget, announced in December, includes improvements to Route 11 and maintaining the province’s existing highways and bridges by fully implementing asset management principles. Funding for provincially-designated highways in municipalities as well as the Vehicle Management Agency has also increased under the capital program.

“Our investments in infrastructure renewal will help boost our economy and create jobs,” Melanson said. “Both the ordinary and capital budgets for my department will result in more tenders for private contracts and more work on our roads, bridges and highways.”

The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure will also continue with its transformation to a performance-based organization to drive efficiencies, reduce costs and improve service delivery for taxpayers.