TORONTO — As they do almost every February, rates for Ontario’s private highway are going up.

407 ETR announced vehicle tolls during peak hours will increase on February 1, 2007. The increase will go towards building more lanes, the company said.

Rates for heavy straight trucks and heavy multiple unit vehicles will be 35.2 cents per kilometre — up from 32.5 — and 52.8 cents per kilometre — up from 52.8 cents — respectively. Off-peak rates for heavy single and heavy multiple vehicles will be 33.6 cents per kilometre and 50.4 cents per kilometre, respectively.

“Our customers want toll rates that balance affordability with keeping the highway relatively free of congestion,” said Antonio de Santiago, president of 407 ETR. “To keep customers moving, we’ve added over 80 kilometres of new lanes in the past four years.

“We’ve already opened 53 kilometres of new lanes in 2006. In 2007, we’re going to add another 50 kilometres of new lanes between Highways 427 and 401,” said de Santiago. The $90 million project between Highways 427 and 401 will require over 90,000 cubic metres of concrete and more than 200,000 hours of labour.

The peak rate for light vehicles (cars, motorcycles and SUVs) will be 17.6 cents per kilometre.