We need to talk about traffic now: Editorial
Here’s the most interesting item in a new study by the Toronto Board of Trade outlining 16 possible ways to pay for transportation improvements across the GTA — including road tolls, gas taxes, parking surcharges and sales taxes.
During the 2008 presidential election in the U.S., 32 referendums were held asking voters in dozens of communities to approve new revenue tools to fund public transit.
Three quarters were approved, often with over two-thirds of the vote.
In Los Angeles County, 67% passed a sales tax increase to fund mass transit, including subway expansion. Meanwhile, in Stockholm, Sweden, voters overwhelmingly approved keeping a congestion tax begun on a trial basis in 2006.
Why did so many people voluntarily agree to pay more for better transit and less traffic congestion?
First, they knew exactly what their money was buying and that it wouldn’t just disappear down some government-run black hole. Second, they were given a democratic choice after a public debate.