Grey County Council is moving forward with a plan to transfer roads between the County and local municipalities. At their meeting on June 25, Council approved a proposal which will see all County-owned roads in urban areas transferred to the local municipalities. In addition, the County and local municipalities will exchange responsibility for sections of some rural roads to better align with modern traffic behaviour. The adjustments will strengthen the local and county road networks, improve how roads are maintained and managed, and simplify road jurisdiction.
Staff will bring forward a by-law this summer for Council’s consideration, with the transfer taking effect of June 1, 2027.
“Where we have landed in discussion is the result of careful consideration of not just the County perspective, but also the input from local municipal staff. This dialogue has been an essential foundation in the years of work in preparation of these decisions. Transferring roads will have several benefits for residents, businesses, and visitors, and municipalities. These changes will give local municipalities more control to respond quickly to road issues in their urban areas, making infrastructure repair and upgrades more efficient and making it easier for the public to understand who to contact to report an issue or request a permit,” explained Andrea Matrosovs, Grey County Warden. “By re-aligning certain rural roads, Grey County will have responsibility for local roads that are already functioning like a regional road.”
The road transfers will include 10 years of supporting funding for local municipalities totaling approximately $42.8 million, which is a combination of transition funding, transferred development charge money, and funding to offset other costs. This funding will help municipalities adjust to the additional costs of maintaining and servicing the additional roads, traffic signals, and other considerations.
The costs associated with road transfers will be included in the 2027 budget deliberations. County staff will immediately begin working with local municipal staff to ensure they have the information relating to the roads in their community, such as condition assessments, capital planning information, and other records.
“The decision to transfer roads follows years of hard work, consideration, and collaboration. The results will have a long-term positive impact for the region,” said Randy Scherzer, CAO of Grey County.
As communities have grown, driver habits have changed. The Grey County Transportation Master Plan recommended a review of the road network with consideration of transfers. A Roads Exchange Task Force was formed during this term of council to review how road ownership and responsibility can best support safe, efficient travel and reduce public confusion around road jurisdiction. In February, Council received recommendations from the task force which included several roads to be transferred and a multi-year model for municipal transition funding. Council referred the initial proposal back to the task force to seek additional feedback from member municipalities, who had raised concerns relating to the funding formula, asset values, equity of transfers, and other considerations. A municipal workshop was held in May and an updated recommendation was provided to Council which included a higher level of funding for local municipalities.
As the project progresses, Grey County will engage with residents and businesses who will be most impacted by the changes to answer their questions and provide assistance.
An interactive map of the road transfers can be found online at www.grey.ca/road-transfers and listed below.
Urban Road Transfers
- 3.5 km of Grey Road 13 and 2.1 km of Grey Road 113 in Thornbury (Town of the Blue Mountains)
- 2.1 km of Grey Road 12 in Markdale and 2 km of Grey Road 4 in Flesherton (Grey Highlands)
- 4.3 km of Grey Road 4, 5.4 km of Grey Road 10 in Hanover
- 6.1 km of Grey Road 28 in the Town of Hanover/West Grey
- 1.1 km of Grey Road 7 and 2.1 km of Grey Road 12 in Meaford
- 6.4 km of Grey Road 5 in Owen Sound
- 5.9 km of Grey Road 15 in Owen Sound
- 3.1 km of Grey Road 1 in Owen Sound
- 2.7 km of Grey Road 9 in Dundalk (Township of Southgate)
- 2.7 km of Grey Road 4 and 0.5 km of Grey Road 27 in Durham (West Grey)
- 0.6 km of Grey Road 9 and 2.3 km of Grey Road 10 in Neustadt (West Grey)
- 2.2 km of Grey Road 3 in Ayton (West Grey)
- 0.4 km of Grey Road 40 in Chatsworth
Rural Road Transfers
- Grey County will assume ownership of Southgate Sideroad 11 in exchange for a portion of Grey Road 14.
- Grey County will assume ownership of the Bentinck-Sullivan Townline in exchange for section of Grey Road 25 (between Scone and Grey Road 3).
- Grey County will assume ownership of Concession 5 Georgian Bluffs (former Derby) and Concession 6 in Chatsworth (former Sullivan).
- Grey County will assume ownership of a section of Concession 12 in West Grey between Highway 6 and the Grey Bruce County Line in exchange for sections of Grey Road 9 between Highway 6 and Ayton, and between Grey Road 3 and Neustadt.
For more information about municipal road transfers visit www.grey.ca/road-transfers.
