WINNIPEG, (April 21, 2004) — Some road users in Manitoba will be asked to cough up some more cash to register their vehicles in order to pay for new highway projects and infrastructure improvements.

However, while those who register passenger cars, SUVs, farm tractors, and light trucks will face an increase of $23, owners of heavy-duty vehicles will be excluded from the rate hike, Dennis Nelson, director of licencing and registration for Manitoba’s motor vehicle branch, confirmed to Today’s Trucking.

According to NDP Premier Gary Doer’s 2004-2005 budget, the extra cash from the registration fees will help subsidize $20 million over two years in highway projects, including twinning a section of Highway 59 south — labeled the province’s most dangerous stretch of road.

The revenue generated from the registration fees will also be used to expedite the twinning of the Trans-Canada Highway west to the Saskatchewan border by 2006 — a year earlier than planned — as well as major resurfacing to Hwy. 6 from the Interlake to Northern Manitoba.

In order to address current and future infrastructure needs, the government also announced it will synchronize the tax rate on diesel fuel with the rate for gasoline.

The province also merged the Department of Drivers and Vehicle Licensing with Manitoba Public Insurance. Customers won’t see any immediate changes on the surface, says MPI, but it’s expected the merger will lead to technological improvements, better customer service and operational efficiencies, and save over $4 in overlapping costs.

— With files from the Winnipeg Free Press