B.C. toll plan no problem for truckers

SURREY, B.C. — While some political unrest surrounds a plan by the B.C. government to increase toll fees on the new Port Mann bridge, the province’s trucking association doesn’t see a problem.

A new 10-lane bridge is being built across the Fraser River just east of Vancouver, connecting Surrey and Coquitlam. Once complete, the bridge will replace the nearly 50-year-old Port Mann bridge, which will be torn down.

The cost of the roughly $3 billion project will be recouped through tolls, which were originally planned to be about $3 per crossing for passenger vehicles.

According to a story by CBC, the province will have to add an extra $2.30 per crossing for video tolling.

The province’s NDP have accused the Gordon Campbell Liberal government of trying to hide the fee.

The B.C. Trucking Association isn’t concerned. Under the new plan, the extra money added per crossing as a video processing fee, will be avoidable for most truckers.

Paul Landry, president and CEO of the BCTA, told media that many truckers will likely use a transponder, which deducts the toll automatically, meaning they will never have to face the fee for a late payment.


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