Evaluation of roadways management — Results at a glance — September 2022

Evidence indicated that management structures were in place for roadway operations and capital projects, with oversight divided among field units, Highway Engineering Services, the Highway Operations Unit, and Investment Management.

Strategic priorities of the roadways program were closely tied to the implementation of the Federal Infrastructure Investment (FII) initiative, which shaped new organizational structures and business processes.

At the operational level, roles and responsibilities were generally clear but not well documented. The division of higher-level responsibilities among the functional units was not well understood by staff across the Agency.

As Parks Canada does not have in place national policy direction for the management of roadways, alignment with policies could not be assessed. In the absence of policy guidance, field units were found to apply a mix of provincial standards, Parks Canada directives, and environmental legislation.

Several lines of evidence indicated that roadways activities were similar across field units, with variations mostly due to practical factors such as terrain, weather, and the types of roads being managed (such as highways versus access roads). Variations were also found in both road maintenance records and information management practices.

Evidence that Parks Canada was achieving the following desired outcomes was identified:

• Communications: strategies were in place to inform visitors and travellers of road conditions, delays, risks, and closures.
• Maintained and Improved Roads: significant improvements to the roadways (highways in particular) were achieved through the FII initiative.
• Minimized Environmental and Cultural Impacts: practices were in place to limit negative environmental impacts. Evidence of consultations and engagement with Indigenous communities were also identified.
• Due Diligence: examples of good practices were found in areas such as construction, health and safety, and maintenance documentation.

Although roadway safety and reliability were found to be an operational priority across Parks Canada, data were not sufficient to assess this area.

Financial analyses, supported by case study findings, indicated that roadways are not resourced to meet demands. The roadway inspection program does not have stable funding, which will eventually limit the Agency's ability to manage efficiently, invest in preventative maintenance, and make strategic investments. Evidence show that roadway funding levels can have negative impacts on the planning and delivery of visitor programs, asset management, and other activities within field units.