Toll roads would reduce gridlock, make commuting bearable

By TASHA KHEIRIDDIN

... why do most politicians speed away at the very mention of road tolls? For the same reason they shun user fees for health care and decry parents’ topping up funding for public schools. These are all imagined to be universal goods — paid for by all and equally accessible to all, even if some citizens make greater use of them than others.

This leads to a lack of accountability, which breeds inefficiency, which leads to waste and poor service or condition. In terms of roads, it leads to traffic jams and pollution, and calls for more public transit. But transit is no panacea: StatsCan says commutes by public transit average 44 minutes, versus 24 minutes by car. Cities don’t have the money to bridge that differential: You can’t build subways to every suburb; plus, buses use the roads too.

How would road tolls change driving behaviour and improve gridlock? First, motorists might choose to drive less. They might negotiate with their employer to work from home one day a week, or change their shift to avoid rush hour. If they can’t skip the peak drives, they might make their commute more efficient, by carpooling with a neighbour or co-worker and splitting the toll. Or they might choose to live closer to work, reducing or eliminating their commute entirely. For those who do stick it out on the highway, on the other hand, the lack of congestion will make the ride quicker and more pleasant...

Ultimately, accepting road tolls involves both a mind shift among drivers and taxpayers, and a display of will by politicians...

Sorry folks, but at some point, the rubber will have to hit the road. On the highway, as in life, you get what you pay for — and if you use it, you should pick up part of the tab. Unless motorists want to be driven to distraction by gridlock, pollution and potholes, it’s time for tolls.

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