Toll road proposal has supporters, survey finds
It is great to see that an academic institution has undertaken a HOT Lane opinion survey for Ontario. Unfortunately, extensive US experience has shown that HOT Lanes have the highest public support but the lowest effectiveness in terms of congestion reduction, emissions reductions and revenue generation. Of course, HOT Lanes are far more effective than HOV Lanes and general lanes.
By NATALIE ALCOBA
The provincial government may talk about how to fund GTA transit expansion sooner than expected, even as a new survey suggests drivers are open to at least one kind of tolling if it means they can get around faster.
Transportation Minister Kathleen Wynne told Global News yesterday the province is not looking at road tolls ''at this point,'' but added: ''We know there needs to be good solid financial support for transit.''
Metrolinx, the regional transportation agency, is slated to propose a plan examining a host of options -- from tolls to taxes to parking fees -- by 2013, but a spokesman for Ms. Wynne said yesterday "the option is still on the table" to produce it earlier.
"We have tasked Metrolinx to come forward with a coherent plan that will look at all opportunities and options because how we move forward on financing public transit is perhaps a more urgent conversation than it was three weeks ago," said Derek Luk.
Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion said this week tolls have to be "looked at," but others, such as Oshawa Mayor John Gray, are against charging drivers, saying it will "infuriate folks" who already feel they pay enough.
"We've got really focused on transit and I'm not opposed to it either, but we have to understand that transit is not going to improve overnight, and everyone is not going to rush to leave their cars for transit," Mr. Gray said.
The debate around how to ease gridlock prompted University of Waterloo Masters student Jeremy Finkleman to seek out "creative ways" to improve drive times.
His survey of 255 drivers found 63% supported the presence of High Occupancy Tolling lanes along 400 series highways in the GTA.
High Occupancy Tolling, known as HOT lanes, is a hybrid model that offers cars with just one occupant access to high occupancy vehicle lanes, at a price. The HOV lanes are still offered free to cars with multiple passengers, and the rest of the roadway is available at no cost to everyone else.
HOT lanes are used in nine different cities in the United States, including San Diego and Minneapolis that use the revenue generated to fund transit systems. There are no HOT lanes in Canada.
"Frankly, one of the major advantages is that you're not taking away existing free service as you would do if you added a blanket toll to the Gardiner Expressway or the DVP," Mr. Finkleman said. "What you are doing, instead, is whoever needs to get somewhere fast has an option to escape congestion."
Among low-income residents, support was 57.3%. His research showed that drivers were "willing" to pay $1.66 to save four minutes and $2.10 to save 10 minutes in high-urgency trips.
nalcoba@nationalpost.com