this post was submitted on 30 Nov 2024
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Ontario Premier called out for inaction on promise to remove Highway 407 tolls in Durham (durham.insauga.com)
submitted 3 days ago by NarrativeBear to c/[email protected]
20 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Promises made by Ontario Premier Doug Ford to buy Highway 407 and remove the tolls to help ease chronic gridlock have so far come up empty,

Oshawa MPP Jennifer French, the NDP Critic for Infrastructure, Transportation & Highways, called out the government’s inaction on Highway 407 as the region faces some of the “worst traffic worldwide.”

“People deserve a government that gets them where they need to go, safely and efficiently,” said French. “While people are stuck in gridlock across the GTA, the 407 sits half-empty – and this premier isn’t doing anything about it.”

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[–] NarrativeBear 12 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (4 children)

“While people are stuck in gridlock across the GTA, the 407 sits half-empty"

Looks like tolls are actually beneficial to reducing congestion...

Tolls help with choosing other forms of transportation, and reduce gridlock. If individuals had to choose to pay a direct fee (as opposed to a indirect fee) people may choose to drive less and choose to support forms of public transits more. This would ease congestion and promote a need for better more frequent public transportation.

Cities should start implementing a "Congestion Charge" for their downtown cores. Every vehicle should have a transponder so once it enters a specific area in a city centre it gets pinged and tolled. Residents living inside these areas would probably be a exemption to promote more families choosing to live in cities as opposed to commuting in and out everyday.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Looks like tolls are actually beneficial to reducing congestion…

I'd say it has more to do with the fact that over half the 407 leads to empty space, and not directly into/through Toronto.

But yes, I would also support tolls on all roads. In fact, bake it into car insurance, so those who drive more pay a higher "congestion charge".

My car insurance rewards drivers for not driving! LOL

If we make cars the least attractive option, then people will seek alternatives. Good luck trying to convince Ford to get on board... he's only about cars.

[–] FireRetardant 1 points 1 day ago

This is good on the stick side of things, we need the other side solution too like higher frequency transit, transit priority lanes/signals, and free fares to help people switch as well. The amount of money we lose subsiding transit is easily made back by what we save on car infrastructure.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 3 days ago

Are you mad? That's horrible! First they'll do a congestion charge, then they'll put bike lanes back, then ban cars altogether and turn downtown into a walkable utopia!

/s in case it's not obvious

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 days ago

Yes. But the problem is lack of alternate public transportation. Travelling by public transport takes 2-3 times more than by car.

[–] [email protected] -3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Cities should start implementing a “Congestion Charge” for their downtown cores. Every vehicle should have a transponder so once it enters a specific area in a city centre it gets pinged and tolled.

Except that that allows every vehicle to be tracked. Anywhere, not just in the city center, since a transmitter elsewhere would be able to ping transponders too. The privacy hit is way too high a cost in return for a teeny reduction in congestion (because most people will just continue driving, pay the charges, and then complain they can't afford other stuff. See also: price of gas. The stick approach to public transit does not work).

[–] Nouveau_Burnswick 7 points 3 days ago (1 children)

If your car is less than 15 years old, it's location data (and way, way more information, like your sex life) is already being gathered and sold my the manufacturer. If your car is 15-35 years old, it's decreasingly probable. (And less data is collected).

No active congestion pricing system uses transponder, they all use cameras. Not sure why Toronto would be different?

[–] [email protected] -2 points 2 days ago (2 children)

If you cannot see the difference between an invasion of privacy that was done without permission and could be curtailed if sensible laws were passed, and one that is mandated by law, then I give up.

[–] Nouveau_Burnswick 3 points 1 day ago

I'd you can't see the difference between between an invasion of privacy that's a made up scenario in your head and isn't present at other congestion pricing cities; and an existing one that already plagues cars, I give up.

[–] FireRetardant 2 points 1 day ago

It is a privledge to drive not a right. Walmart keeps cameras on you from the moment you enter to hold accountability to theft and other actions like violence or harassment. Congestion, speed, and red light cameras serve a similar purpose on the roadways, holding drivers accountable for their actions.