Highway 407 operator to hike tolls Feb. 1

TORONTO (Jan. 2, 2003) — For the fifth time in less than four years, the operator of the Highway 407 will increase fees to use the road.

Starting Feb. 1, the cost to use the 108-km highway across the top of Toronto will rise to 25.90 cents per kilometre for a straight truck and 38.85 cents for a tractor-trailer combinations during peak hours. Peak hours are weekdays between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.

During off-peak hours, the per-kilometre charge for trucks will be 24.20 cents and 36.30 cents for tractor-trailers.

Car drivers will pay about 13 cents in peak hours, an increase of 1.5 cents. Off-peak times will be billed at 12.1 cents per kilometre.

407 International, the consortium which bought the 407 from the province of Ontario in May 1999, said the increased fees will help pay to widen the highway by one lane in each direction at the western end, between Highway 401 and Hurontario St. The company also plans to open a call centre with 235 customer-service representatives to handle billing questions, and hire patrols to provide roadside emergency assistance.

José Maria Lopez de Fuentes, president and chief executive officer of 407 International, said the increases are justified because the improvements will help speed the flow of traffic.

“More people are picking up their children from daycare on time, arriving at the bank before it closes or simply getting home sooner by using 407 ETR. These rate changes are necessary to ensure those benefits are still there for our customers when they choose to use the highway.”

For the typical user, the new rate increase represents about a quarter per trip, he added.


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