OTA says Toronto road tolls create “whole new ballgame”

by Truck News

TORONTO, Ont. – The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) says Toronto City Council’s approval to toll the Don Valley Parkway and Gardiner Expressway could lead other municipalities to follow suit.

The OTA has traditionally opposed the imposition of tolls on existing infrastructure and/or where the revenue collected is used for purposes other than road infrastructure.

“Toronto has made its decision and we anticipate the provincial government will give the city the green light to implement the tolls,” says OTA president, Stephen Laskowski. “Our focus will now be on making sure future toll revenues are used to pay for the cost of the Gardiner reconstruction; that the collection and administration of the toll system uses the latest technology to maximize efficiency for both the road user and the city; uses variable pricing, including zero rating commercial vehicles during certain time periods, to encourage businesses to ship or receive goods during off-peak periods; and, that Toronto and any other municipalities thinking of introducing tolls coordinate their efforts so we don’t end up with a patchwork of toll collection systems.”

He also said there may be a role for the provincial government to help with coordination across various municipalities.

“Of course, we don’t like tolls. Who does? However, we acknowledge that sometimes and under certain conditions they could be the only way certain new highway infrastructure projects will ever get built,” says Laskowski. “So, if this is the road we are going down, let’s take the time to do it right so the burden on everyone is minimized. Because in the end all consumers of downtown services and goods will no doubt see prices rise as a result increased transportation costs related to the toll system.”

The Toronto toll system is not expected to be implemented until 2019 at the earliest and possibly as late as 2024.


Have your say


This is a moderated forum. Comments will no longer be published unless they are accompanied by a first and last name and a verifiable email address. (Today's Trucking will not publish or share the email address.) Profane language and content deemed to be libelous, racist, or threatening in nature will not be published under any circumstances.

*

  • The next complaint will be Torontonians chewing about the excessive cost of goods.
    At the end of the day carriers really don’t care if there’s tolls or not. They simply get passed on to the customer.
    After a couple years worth of tolls and when that customer has to look at revamping their facility or moving elsewhere, the toll cost is going to play a big role in that decision.