The City of Steinbach has received a large grant from the federal government. Mayor Earl Funk says the $846,000 under the Gas Tax Fund is twice has much as the city usually receives under that annual program.


Mayor Earl Funk"They've doubled the gas tax grant for this year, 2019. So what we've done with that money is we have put it into a reserve and what we're doing is we're looking at increasing our asphalt overlay program and some drainage projects and pathways with that extra money."

Funk says city council plans to do those additional projects next year.

He notes money received under the Gas Tax Fund must be spent on transportation-related items.

"It can only be spent on anything that is transportation-related. So it does have to fall into asphalt or drainage or sidewalks/pathways, that kind of stuff, anything that is more in the line of transportation."

Streets slated for new pavement next year include Valerie Lane, Parkview Crescent and Parkside Place, pending final approval in the budget.

Funk says the Federation of Canadian Municipalities is lobbying the federal government to make the higher grant level permanent because municipalities across the country are struggling to maintain their transportation infrastructure.