Highway 407 Electronic Tolling System
[Source: C. Moy on Flickr]

The Draft Investment Strategy released by Metrolinx sets out a funding framework to deliver  $50 billion in transportation improvements over 25 years. Metrolinx is looking for your feedback. This is your region and your future. I encourage you to weigh-in on what is proposed.

Todd Litman’s recent post on planetizen discusses the costs of different modes of transportation. One conclusion is that “if a typical household shifts from driving everywhere (what we call, automobile dependency) to multi-modalism (using a combination of travel modes) and so is able shed one vehicle, the savings typically average about $5,000 annually. If these savings were invested each year over a typical 45 year working career, the household will retire about a million dollars wealthier.” There’s motivation for ya!

Research by Metrolinx finds that on average, people in the GTAH spending about $70 per week on transportation. Initially, the projects in the Regional Transportation Plan will cost about $155 per year per person in the GTHA, and reach $470 per year per person in 2033. When you break it down like this, $50 billion doesn’t sound so bad.

QUESTION: How much do you spend on transportation within the GTHA in a given week on items such as gas, parking, transit fares, cabs and tolls?  How much more would you be willing to pay per week in order to reduce your travel time, improve the reliability and predictability of your travel time, and/or improve the quality of your travel experience?

The Metrolinx plan piggy-backs on the Ontario government’s Move 2020 plan. The $11.5 billion pledged from the province and $6 billion hoped for, but not yet committed to, by the federal government, still leaves a $32 billion funding gap from 2015 to 2033. A decision on highway tolls or parking fees or other funding tools has been postponed to 2013. The thought is that people would be more willing to support future projects once they see the benefits of the initial ones. Is this really the case?

QUESTION: Would you be willing to pay more to support future transportation expansion projects if significant improvements to the transportation system were made first?

London Congestion Charging Sign
[Source: Jeni Rodger's on Flickr]

A Transportation Futures Road Pricing Forum takes place in Toronto on November 13th with a line-up of international and Canadian experts.  From the forum’s website:

Most Canadians would agree that there is an urgent need to bring predictability and ease of mobility to the province’s transportation network. Is there a role that road pricing schemes can play in improving mobility, accessibility, air quality and the state of the nation’s transportation infrastructure? What kind of educational campaign is required to promote pricing – especially in an era of high gas prices? Or is road pricing nothing more than a cash grab?

Road pricing is a hotly debated topic and will continue to be in the coming years. On one hand, congestion is increasing and it has the potential to bring in a lot of money for transportation projects. On the other hand, there is a lot of public opposition to more taxes, and the GTAH doesn’t currently have the transit system like London to support a major modal shift or offer other alternatives to driving.  But given that new taxes or road tolls are not going to be used initially to help fund the RTP, some people wondering if this vision can be achieved.

QUESTION: How should transportation projects in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) be funded?