TORONTO — An 85-percent hike in tolls is a bit too much to swallow. Especially since we’re barely inching out of a recession.

That’s the message the Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) is sending the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) in response to the MDOT’s proposal to up price of a northbound crossing of the Blue Water Bridge between Port Huron, Mich., and Sarnia, Ont.

As todaystrucking.com reported earlier this week the MDOT wanted to increase the commercial truck toll from $1.75 to $3.25 per axle and increase the passenger car fee from $1.50 to $3.00, effective January 5.

The hike would mean an additional $8 to $10 million in revenues for the bridge, which hasn’t seen fare increase since 1997.

In responding to the announcement, OTA President David Bradley acknowledged the fact that the need for infrastructure improvement at the bridge but, Bradley said, "a more incremental cost recovery system that allows for adequate pre-planning plan is a more palatable approach and would visit less disruption and hardship on all concerned than a one-time massive hit."

Ontario truckers understand a toll increase on
the Blue Water Bridge in necessary eventually,
but doubling the fee isn’t the right time now.

Bradley also conceded that that tolls levied by the Canadian side of the bridge are currently higher than those on the U.S and in general are lower than regional averages.

"These facts are self-evident but timing and approach are all wrong. OTA considers it entirely unreasonable and inappropriate that an 85-percent price hike would be imposed in one fell swoop, with such short notice.

OTA highlighted to MDOT the volume of trade moved by truck, including over 80 percent of Michigan’s exports to Canada, and explained that the toll hike represents an approximately $8 million USD a year increase in transportation costs to Michigan exports based on current traffic patterns and volumes.

In December OTA will be asking MDOT to consider the following recommendations:

MDOT withdraw its proposal and introduce a more incremental increase in tolls over a more reasonable time period.

OTA believes this is entirely justifiable given current economic conditions. Failing that, it is imperative that at the very least MDOT should introduce a minimum six-month delay to the proposed toll increase.

MDOT should provide discounts/exemptions for participants in the automated pre-paid account system in a similar manner as Blue Water Bridge Canada.