Should HOV lanes be turned into toll lanes, too?
Asking a Canadian if he’d be in support of toll roads would be like asking a Penguins fan if Sidney Crosby should take next season off, too.
No, you idiot, I already pay taxes higher than Rob Ford’s cholesterol. Find a way to make traffic work with the 80 per cent of my paycheque you’re already taking.
Fair, but what can we say about Canadian traffic? In the country’s largest metropolises, congestion seems to be far worse than our population should suggest it be, and some highways in the GTA are among the worst in North America (the dreaded 401 being the most used roadway on the entire continent).
What can we do, then? Go back to square one. As suggested again by a C.D. Howe Institute report, Canada needs to add high-occupancy toll lanes to reduce traffic and generate revenue for municipalities.
So, raise your hand if you’ve heard this one before.
*Bing: What does ‘HOV’ lane stand for?
The latest chapter in the “add toll roads” debate adds a bit of a twist, at least. This time, the C.D. Howe Institute wants to turn Canada’s car pool lanes into toll lanes.
Ben Dachis, author of the C.D. Howe report, argues that the high-occupancy vehicle lanes are underused by car poolers, so while they should remain free for vehicles carrying more than one passenger, opening them up to single-driver cars for a price might be a fitting alternative.
“When you have bad congestion, the only way to maximize capacity of the highway is to restrict and manage access,” he says. “You do that by charging people for that access.”
On paper, you have to admit: makes sense. Take lanes that are already underused and collect cash to have them reach reasonable capacity.
Except, that only works when you think people will pay to use the lanes.
“If anything, tolls would make these lanes less popular, shifting traffic back to the already congested free lanes, but only speeding up traffic for those who chose to pay the toll,” Steve Munro, a long-time observer of Toronto traffic, tells the National Post. In other words, the single drivers that scam use of the car pool lanes now would move back to gen. pop when municipalities start catching onto their ruse.
What do you think: is adding a toll component to an already-used lane a no-brainer, or would it merely scare drivers away, making traffic in the other, free lanes immeasurably worse?
By Jason Buckland, MSN Money
Posted by: Jody | Sep 8, 2021 12:48:57 AM
Whenever I'm travelling in the States, I make a point of avoiding all the toll roads, even though it may take me a bit longer to get there. I do agree with the suggestion that it will shift traffic to the free roads and cause even more commuter chaos.
Posted by: Moe | Sep 8, 2021 8:53:40 AM
I think HOV should be abolished. It assumes that I have a choice in my travel. I stopped taking cooking lesson (something) I enjoyed because I could no longer make it to them when travelling by myself. Since yes the HOV lanes were faster, but the single lane occupancies lanes were 35-40 minutes slower.
If anything more toll roads should be set up, but their proceeds should go to the most competitive public transit option available for that route. For example, the 404 HOV should be converted into toll lanes with proceeds going to increased service on GO and TTC. Make it stupid to take your car if you can take public transit and more people will do it.
Posted by: mascaren | Sep 8, 2021 11:45:17 AM
Give me a break.....is this another "hit the poor motorist joke"?
Build a cost-efficient LRT going in the centre of the DVP/404 from say Newmarket to downtown Toronto,and DON'T charge exhorbitant fares;then people will use the system.Have computerized-terminals issuing tickets,and "random ticket inspections",to keep users honest.
They have had thistype of system in Australia (Sydney,Melbourne,Perth), for quite a few years now & it works just fine,as you pay for distancetravelled.
Oh yeah,make the downtown core into a paved pedestrain only area.Have frequent "hop-on,hop-off" free buses going in a loop around the core........................this is also available in many Australian cities,and is a pleasure to use.
If the TTC fares were inexpensive and the system efficient,then drivers would use it.
Posted by: Dr. Lindon | Sep 8, 2021 8:00:56 PM
Although I live in Canada (close to Toronto), I work primarily in Houston and Seattle, and occasionally in LA. I also used to work in Montreal and Amsterdam. I never have any issues driving in Houston or Seattle or any of the other cities outside of Canada, even in rush hour. The 401 in and around the Toronto area is THE ABSOLUTE WORST ROAD EVER. Toronto itself is THE ABSOLUTE WORST CITY TO DRIVE IN EVER. My dog could drive a car better than the best driver in Toronto. Do they given out driver's licenses in cereal boxes there?
Posted by: Dr. Lindon | Sep 8, 2021 8:14:02 PM
Ooops, excuse the typo. the last statement should have been: "Do they give out driver's licenses....."
Posted by: Jim | Sep 15, 2021 8:41:00 AM
No we pay enough for roads in our fuel taxes!!!! I alos think it would be a good idea for Hudak (when he wins)to expropriate the 407 ETR and open it up for the rest of us overtaxed folks. Imagine how much better the traffic would be in the morning with 2 highways sharing the load. 407&401. The environmental benifits alone would be huge!!!!!!