It's time for the province to take a serious look at tolling, according to Delta council.
While discussing traffic problems on the Alex Fraser Bridge, civic politicians recently agreed to ask Victoria to review tolling. Despite the regional district also indicating support for so-called road pricing, including tolling, the province continues to stick with its policy of only tolling new crossings, not existing infrastructure.
CAO George Harvie said 110,000 vehicles per day use the Alex Fraser, including motorists that are undoubtedly avoiding the tolled Port Mann Bridge. Harvie said the Alex Fraser is now at capacity during the two-to three-hour afternoon rush.
"We don't see any relief until the new bridge over the Deas Island (George Massey) Tunnel is completed. Without tolling or whatever option, we won't see any relief for six or seven years," Harvie said.
A meeting has been requested with Transportation Minister Todd Stone to discuss concerns with the bridge, including Delta's strategy to stop rat runners using Annacis Island, as well as regional tolling options.
Delta South MLA Vicki Huntington also recently turned up the heat on the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure on the issue, pointing out it's been three years since the province promised a tolling review in Metro Vancouver but nothing has been done.
"After the 2013 election, the government said a review of tolls was a top priority, but they haven't taken any action on this file in three years," Huntington said. "Now is the time to have these discussions. This is an issue of fairness and equity for people living south of the Fraser River.
"The current system is a patchwork of free crossings and tolled bridges. We will soon be on the hook for a $3.5 billion bridge, and the Pattullo (Bridge) will likely be replaced with a tolled crossing as well," said the independent MLA. "That leaves the Alex Fraser Bridge as the only free crossing option."
Huntington added that Delta commuters using the new bridge could expect to pay over $1,500 more each year in tolls. An improved regional tolling system could decrease costs for residents south of the Fraser River and reduce congestion on all crossings.
"The Lower Mainland is a network of bridges," she said.
A tolling system is needed that distributes infrastructure costs fairly, she added.
The ministry did not respond to repeated requests from the Optimist to address Huntington's concerns.
A recent Metro Vancouver staff report recommending the province spend additional time answering questions on the George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project also raised the issue of tolling.
"For example, the tollfree Alex Fraser Bridge may experience additional volumes and congestion in the peak periods, and new growth in the midday period, which is currently operating at free flow.
Given the financial struggles of the Golden Ears Bridge and Port Mann Bridge, it would be financially prudent to better understand how different pricing/tolling policy changes could affect the fiscal sustainability of a new 10-lane bridge. Metro Vancouver staff request additional information on different tolling option," the report states.
Tolling has been talked about for years. A decade ago, for example, the Consulting Engineers of B.C., an industry group representing the province's largest engineering companies, said it thought the government's plan to toll only a new Port Mann Bridge would not work. Since then, many others have weighed in, with the Corporation of Delta and Huntington as the latest, but there's been no indication the province is about to change its policy.
