“…if we think of space as that which allows movement, then place is pause; each pause in movement makes it possible for location to be transformed into place”
Tuan, 1977
Roads are a vital component to cities. They allow people to move through the city and also support the movement of goods and services. Roads are a vital part of the economy.
Roads are also a time and money suck, and in 2019 were directly or indirectly responsible for 14 deaths and 268 serious injuries[1]. Not to mention the GHG and other emissions that impact human health, climate and water systems.
Who benefits? Who benefits and what cost for Edmonton to maintain and actievly expand it’s extensive road network?
Let me tackle the cost item first. In the City of Edmonton’s 2020 Integrated Infrastructure Services Report Infrastructure State and Condition, Edmonton’s road network is valued at $9.6 Billion. That’s $9 614 000 000.
With reference to the map in the header, the specific costs to maintain / replace our road network are:
Arterial Roads, coloured black on the map. There are 3500 lane KM of arterial roads in Edmonton. The average age of arterial roads is 30 years, with an estimated asset life of 22 years, meaning that the average age of any section of arterial road is 8 years older than it’s estimated life. The replacement value for the arterial roads is $3.6 billion or over $1 million per lane KM.
Local Roads, coloured blue on the map. There are 4830 lane KM of local roads in Edmonton. The average age of local roads is 38 years, with an estimated asset life of 28 years, meaning that the average age of any section of local road is 10 years older than it’s estimated life. The replacement value for the local roads is $3.46 million or $716500 per lane KM.
Collector Roads, coloured orange on the map. There are 1763 lane KM of collector roads in Edmonton. The average age of collector roads is 35 years, with an estimated asset life of 20 years, meaning that the average age of any section of collector road is 15 years older than it’s estimated life. The replacement value for the collector roads is $1.9 million or $1 million per lane KM.
The cost of replacement does not include the cost of maintenance, such as snow clearing or filling potholes.
This ongoing expense is a liability, unless we can get it under control. We spend a lot of tax dollars on roads, and we are going to be spending a lot more as the gap between the average age of a roadway and its estimated lifespan increases. Also, we are expanding old roads, and building new ones with each new development that gets approved.
Roads account for 2/3 the total replacement value Edmonton’s people movement system. Light rail, transit and active movement account for just under 1/4. As the infrastructure report states, on page 19:
Overall, the average age of the Goods and People Movement Portfolio is 37 years with an expected life of 33 years. Roads’ assets are at or over their expected asset life. With appropriate maintenance and renewal schedules roads can be maintained past their expected asset life. However, there will come a point when full replacement will be needed.
As Brent Toderian said on Twitter: "The truth about a city's aspirations isn't found in its vision. It's found in its budget”. And it’s evident that Edmonton aspires to pay for roads into the future despite declaring a Climate Emergency, and implementing a Vision Zero program. To change this trajectory, Edmonton would have to buck the trend in not regulating roadways by:
More strictly regulating where and how new developments are built, and the mobility options made available.
Extend the life of our current roadway infrastructure (already being done through great maintenance) by providing options that will keep vehicles off the road. Active mobility such as bike lanes, expanding LRT and amazing bus service will all help.
Increasing density in the downtown and mature neighbourhoods will accomplish a few things. Greater density will bring more services within a shorter drive or even within biking and walking distance. Less driving, and other mobility options saves wear and tear on roadways, extending their life.
Who benefits from Edmonton’s roads? The ability to drive on Edmonton’s roadways is, at it’s core, an issue of class and race. Those who can afford a vehicle - who can afford all the daily/weekly/annual expenses such as gas, insurance, maintenance, etc. - have preferred access to mobility. Lower income folks, racialized and Indigenous people, older folks, non-drivers and children are all second class citizens in Edmonton. They all have barriers to accessing safe and affordable transportation that will take them where they want to go in a reasonable amount of time. In this sense, a just city that works for everyone is also a city that values it’s assets and is working to preserve the billions invested in roadways. It just makes sense, from a financial perspective, to invest more in creating a just city that values the transportation needs of all it’s citizens.
Notes:
From The City of Edmonton’s Vision Zero 2019 report, page 4.