Paving and Asphalt Repair

Paving and Asphalt Repair

A paving and asphalt business is a great way to earn a living for those who love working outdoors. What you will need is tools and equipment, staff, financing, and a business plan to apply for funding. Just keep in mind that this business is a seasonal one because coating does not cure well when it rains or snows and in cold weather in general.

Services

The first step is to decide on the types of services you plan to offer, for example, driveway widening, crack filling, line painting, hot asphalt repairs. Asphalt repair companies offer a host of specialized services to business and individual customers, including site evaluation, pulverizing and reclaiming, commercial paving, and asphalt resurfacing and patching.

Tools and Equipment

Once you have decided on the range of services to offer, it is time to buy tools and equipment. You will need paving equipment such as sweepers and graders, milling machines, reclaimers, and drum and batch plants. You will also need jump trucks to transport asphalt to different locations. There are different jump trucks to look into, including live bottom, belly or bottom, and end dump trucks. Other machinery and equipment for your paving and asphalt repair business include pneumatic tire rollers, steel wheel rollers, asphalt pavers, and material transfer vehicles.

Business Plan

The third step to running a successful paving service is to apply for a loan, and you need a good business plan to this end. The first section of your plan is your executive summary, which wraps up your mission, objectives, and keys to success. You may want to list objectives such as developing a sustainable and profitable business, increasing your customer base, and providing superb quality services. Your company summary should include elements such as your start-up summary and company ownership. Write a market analysis summary as well and focus on your target customers, i.e. people who can afford to pay for paving and asphalt repair services. Finally, it is important to list start-up requirements to show potential lenders how much you need. Include expenses such as utilities, leased equipment, depreciation, and marketing and sales expenses. Start-up costs also include work clothing, containers for sand and raw material storage, water containers, etc.

Financing

Major sources of funding include grants, assistance offered by non-for-profit organizations and institutes, and government-sponsored and private loans. In Ontario, for example, businesses can apply under the Strategic Economic Infrastructure Program, with the Eastern Ontario Development Fund. List of participating lenders includes institutions such as Laurentian Bank of Canada, and Scotiabank. Banks, caisses populaires, and credit unions offer a wide selection of financial solutions, including equipment and commercial real estate financing and commercial lending. Equipment financing includes products such as capital asset and rental conversion funding, capital loans, and pre-approved lines of credit. Banks also offer commercial lending solutions such as construction, operating, and term loans and letters of credit and guarantee.

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Canadian Cities Aging Infrastructure and Public Transit Problems

Canadian cities such as Vancouver, Calgary, and Ontario need a better road and public transit networks as the current infrastructure is inadequate and dated. In fact 4 out of 10 cities with the worst traffic in North America are Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. The current public transit infrastructure was mostly built in the 50s and 60s and requires significant investment.

Calgary

Cities in Canada have chosen different approaches to address aging infrastructure. In Calgary, for example, the chosen plan for action is to invest in road and rail transit infrastructure. Major projects include the installation of interchanges, upgrades of intersections, upgrades and rehabilitation of existing roads, and construction of new roads. The Green Line is a public transit network designed as a light rail transit line that will add 46 km of track and 28 stations to the current track and stations. The Green Line will serve 27 communities between Seton and Keystone. The line will make it possible to commute to business revitalization zones, Stampede Park, the Central Library, National Music Centre, recreational centres, and the South Health Campus.

Vancouver

A number of planning projects have been developed to make infrastructural improvements in the City of Vancouver. Construction works on Highway 4 aim to make the lanes wider and enhance road safety. Major projects are also underway in Metro Vancouver to improve efficiency, connect communities, and solve traffic congestion problems. Key projects include the Surrey-Newton-Guildford Light Rail Transit project and Broadway Subway project which are expected to receive over $3 billion in provincial and federal funding. The City of Surrey, City of Vancouver, and Translink will contribute a total of 1.23 billion. The Government of British Columbia and the Canadian government will contribute $1.82 and $1.37 billion, respectively. The goal is to build rapid transit networks to connect underserved areas. The Surrey-Newton-Guildford Light Rail Transit project will add 10 km of track and 11 stations to enable passengers to commute across Lower Mainland.

Toronto

In Toronto, a project has been implemented to make TTC stations more accessible, replace tracks, relocate walkaways, and add lighting. The project is underway to add security cameras, enhance signage, install automatic sliding doors, and install elevators for easier access. Some stations are already accessible, including Coxwell, St Clair West, and Woodbine. Others are still undergoing renovation, including St Patrick, Royal York, and Dupont. The Line 1 extension is already open.

Eglinton Crosstown LRT is a new major transit line project. It will run East-West on Eglinton Ave. A number of factors have been assessed such as monitoring measures, construction methods, bus terminals, station locations, and future and current environmental conditions.

Hamilton

A Light Rail Transit Project is underway in Hamilton to connect McMaster University with Eastgate Square. The project will be completed by 2014 and will receive provincial funding of $1 billion.

London

The London Bus Rapid Transit System is another project that aims to build two transit lines going south-west and north-east. The cost of the project is $500 million, and funding is provided by the Canadian government.

Other projects include the Toronto SmartTrack, Toronto Finch West LRT, Hurontario LRT, and Ottawa Confederation LRT. The Hurontario LRT project involves the construction of a line that will connect the Brampton's Gateway Terminal and Port Credit GO Station. The LRT will stop at North Service, Dundas, Central Parkway, Ray Lawson, and more. The project will be completed by 2022 and will cost $1.4 billion, provided by the provincial government. Construction works have already started. The Ottawa Confederation LRT will be constructed to replace the outdated Transitway system and will be funded by the federal and provincial governments and the City of Ottawa.