Transportation Master Plan and AMO Conference delegation requests on council’s radar
LAURIE WEIR
With an eye on the future, Smiths Falls council is advancing two critical initiatives: finalizing the town’s first Transportation Master Plan and submitting key funding requests to the province through the upcoming Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference.
At the May 26 council meeting, an update on the Transportation Master Plan (TMP) outlined a 25-year strategic vision for improving how residents and visitors move through the community. The plan will guide future capital investments in roads, trails, parking, and traffic management.
The TMP will build on the town’s Official Plan (OP), assessing both current and future needs across all modes of transportation. It will integrate related documents like the Active Transportation Master Plan and prioritize upgrades in line with expected growth. The strategic direction, approved in March, focuses on creating accessible and efficient travel options that support the town’s evolution.
Planned improvements include road reclassification, updated traffic calming measures, truck route revisions, and a long-term investment schedule. A draft of the TMP is expected later this year, following public consultation on the OP this summer.
Delegation requests headed to AMO Conference
Council is also preparing to submit two key delegation requests ahead of the AMO Conference in Ottawa this August, where municipal leaders meet directly with provincial officials.
The proposed topics include a plea for provincial support on the Trunk Watermain and Sanitary Sewer Separation Project, a 1.9-kilometre infrastructure upgrade targeting outdated systems, and funding for the Smiths Falls Regional Recreation Centre to replace the aging youth arena with modern, inclusive facilities.
“It may be planting seeds,” said Mayor Shawn Pankow as to get the attention of the officials. “Especially on the recreation side, it may be multiple delegations over a number of years before we get exactly what we want, but we have to try.”
Staff noted both projects align with the town’s strategic priorities for infrastructure renewal and recreational development. Council will vote on the proposed topics at the upcoming Committee of the Whole meeting. While there is no cost to submit the requests, there will be expenses related to council attendance at the conference, set for Aug. 17 to 20.