The problem with the tolls is they've always been unfairly applied just to those south of the Fraser River. A new highway to Whistler (what was than one, something like $6 billion when it was all finished?), a new bridge in , (ahem) Clark's fake riding, are untolled. If either party had any guts they'd lower the tolls on now, but apply them to all bridges built in the last 10 years, at least.
I disagree. I grew up on the north shore, where it's much less possible to live without crossing a bridge. But you know what? There used to be tolls on the Lions Gate. Look at cities like Sydney and New York - both harbour cities with big waterways to cross, and they have tolled crossings as well.
The thing that is unfair is the fact they stuck it only on two bridges, both coming out of north Surrey-Langley, and not any others. The idea - a political idea - was that only the users of the the new bridges would pay for them. It was a sop because the provincial government was gutless and wanted the revenues, but not the political flak of making people pay for something. Get something without having to pay for it? Pay for something without feeling like you're paying for something? This is thinking worthy of children, not adults - which I guess is what they think the voters are.
Well, I can tell you regardless of where these bridges are built, their indecisive decision is harming all of Metro Vancouver.
This means the tolls for those have to be higher than normal, and it squeezes the traffic towards the other bridges, instead of the new bridges that are supposed to improve things. People are suckers for a bargain - and I say suckers because it seems many of them would spend an extra $10 in fuel to save $5 in tolls. Time costs money too, and how much of that are people spending to avoid it? Truth is, if every major bridge was tolled, people would just suck it up and drive normally.
What also makes no sense to me is the fact they make cargo trucks pay 3 times more than a car - isn't that the traffic that needs to go places, as opposed to the commuters traveling alone, who have other options? (Well, if this government would provide those options !)
Anyways, like I said, the politicians in charge have been dancing around this issue for many years now, trying every scheme except what actually works. We need realism, not false promises from politicians who are afraid that voters would have a tantrum.
