City Council Approves $172,350 for Railway Tunnel Maintenance for 2025

Brockville – Brockville City Council approved on Tuesday night a staff recommendation for Tunnel Lighting Maintenance for 2025, that $172,350 be funded from the Fiscal Policy Reserve.

“The 2025 City Operating and Capital budgets were approved on January 28, 2025. Recently it was discovered that the Tunnel Lighting Maintenance project had not been included in the final approved Capital Listing. Understanding the importance of maintaining the Tunnel Lighting systems, it was considered prudent to bring the project forward prior to the spring opening of the Tunnel. ” said Staff

Staff proposed that up to $172,350 be funded in 2025 from the Fiscal Policy Reserve, therefore there would be no effect on the 2025 tax levy. Only the amount required for 2025 will be drawn from the reserve. An annual amount will be proposed in the 2026 budget.

Due to the damp conditions, the lighting and electrical components have been impacted over time which led to a reduced lightshow and a delayed opening in 2024.

The Brockville Railway Tunnel lighting system is comprised of the following large-scale components:

• 13 kiosks with controls and electrical panels
• 728 lighting fixtures
• 26 lighting enablers

Each kiosk has two enablers that together control 56 light fixtures. Based on the observed rate of equipment failure, Parks staff recommend that a generalized rate of replacement of equipment be established for annual replacement of lighting equipment. As a starting point, Parks staff propose that the lighting and enabler equipment of 1 of the 13 kiosks be purchased and replaced annually.

The annual purchase would include:

• 56 lighting fixtures
• 56 lighting covers
• 2 enablers for one kiosk
• 4 spare enablers to account for the failures.

Staff said by purchasing the listed equipment for annual replacement and as a spare equipment, the effect of failed lighting equipment toward a reduced quality of tunnel lighting show quality can ideally be curbed during the tourism season.

Staff and Council are hopeful that the tunnel will reopen with the full-scale show at a formal reopening for the season.