[toraerach]

They should have used the cuts in the GST to pass some sort of Municipal Sales Tax of 1-2% - since people would still be paying the same thing, it might've been taken a bit easier. Now any such tax would be more noticeable as we would be paying more. A missed opportunity that makes the whole idea less politically viable.

 

[waterloowarrior]

Dear ________

Thank you for visiting the Metrolinx Consultation Portal.

Metrolinx is now extending the consultation period for the White Papers and Green Papers until Friday, September 5, 2008. A Draft Regional Transportation Plan and Investment Strategy will go forward to the Metrolinx Board at the end of September. Shortly thereafter, these documents will be posted on this site for your input throughout early Fall.

We look forward to hearing from you.

 

[waterloowarrior]

Panel sees public appetite to pay for change
Road tolls, regional sales tax, gas tax should all be on the table to pay for alternatives to gridlock, participants say
July 16, 2008
Daniel Girard
Urban Affairs Reporter

Already feeling the sting of soaring gasoline prices, GTA residents may someday be facing the prospect of digging deep for everything from road tolls and a regional sales tax to parking at the mall or their suburban office lot.

And, while clearly "very controversial," the consensus at a forum on regional transit infrastructure today was that such initiatives are something politicians and the public must at least be ready to ponder in an effort to ease gridlock.

"These are the kinds of things that are on the menu that we are going to have to seriously talk about," said Paul Bedford, former chief planner of the City of Toronto and current board member of Metrolinx, the regional transit planning body.

While stressing that he was not talking on behalf of Metrolinx, Bedford nonetheless told 150 people at The National Club on Bay St. that he was "setting the table" for public discussion this fall after the agency releases its plan for regional transit projects and how to pay for them.

In April, Metrolinx detailed a series of car-reduction scenarios in the latest stage of its development of a regional transportation plan. The most ambitious of them would cost $90 billion over 25 years.

Queen's Park has pledged $11.5 billion for about 50 regional projects to expand subway, streetcar, light rail and bus services by 2020.

Calling that commitment "just a start," Bedford said the $90 billion is not only affordable, it's necessary.

"If we don't do this, we will be in very bad shape," he said.

Noting the gap between need and money to pay for it, Bedford called for "intelligent public dialogue" on a host of financing options. They include a 10 cents per kilometre toll on provincial and municipal expressways in the GTA such as Highway 401 or the Don Valley Parkway, $1 each weekday on non-residential parking spaces, a 20-cent per litre gas tax, a 1 per cent regional sales tax and more government subsidies.

Such initiatives, which Bedford explained could each net about $1 billion a year, would no doubt ignite a vigorous debate. Any talk of tolls or taxes on gasoline or retail sales always raises the ire of drivers and the political sensitivies of elected officials.

Both Premier Dalton McGuinty and Transportation Minister Jim Bradley said in February they didn't support tolls on expressways and 400-series highways in the GTA after a blue-ribbon panel on Toronto finances said such a move could raise $700 million to improve transit.

Bedford admitted there is potential for "a public revolt," if and when these suggestions come forward, because "have you ever met people who want to pay more tax?"

"Probably not," he said. "But, the fact is, we're going to have to bite that bullet."

Toronto Mayor David Miller, who commissioned that panel, has said he thinks the toll concept merits "very serious consideration."

And two of his city council colleagues echoed those sentiments at today's forum, organized by Global Public Affairs.

TTC chair Adam Giambrone said "there is an appetite to consider some of those" taxes and fees but it's "unlikely" that they would be used to come up with all of the money needed to build, operate and maintain new public transit projects. People may be willing to pay more but have to see results, he added.

"We should be thinking big, very bold, out there on a 30-40-year plan and then we need nice, bite-sized chunks that we could actually see that it's happening and build public confidence. That keeps momentum going."

Councillor Karen Stintz said she senses a willingness of voters to discuss these initiatives because "people are wrapping their head around that they're going to have to fund the system." But, she said, there's too much focus on "making driving less attractive than making the better way more attractive."

Stintz likes the idea, advanced by others, of using the prospect of future tolling revenues to borrow money to improve transit now, so people see it as an alternative.

"What we need to demonstrate is value for the investment," she said. "Right now, people are still operating on a time-value model where it makes more sense for them to drive."

Getting Personal

Cost per month of tolls or road pricing and various other typical expenses.

Road Pricing: Toronto-Oakville; 10 cents/ km; 60 km. per day = $120

Cable TV: $40-$50

Cell Phone: $50-$60

GO Train: Oakville to Union Station; 60 km per day = $195

TTC Metropass: $109

Source: Paul Bedford, former City of Toronto chief planner and current Metrolinx board member.

 

[waterloowarrior]

RedRocket, I think with the release of the investment strategy it will be important for Metrolinx to stress that motorist currently aren't paying the full cost for driving in the GTA (public transportation isn't the only thing being subsidized). A common reaction will be 'I already pay for roads with the gas tax' or 'Taxes for drivers are high enough' or 'Raise fares instead, I'm not going to pay for something I don't use'

As you know, the reality is that things like property taxes pay for a huge part of local roads and things like the increased policing needed. Then of course there are all the external costs like pollution, GHG, health care, congestion for goods movement, increased parking etc (although perhaps one could argue that some of the cost is covered through the federal gas tax).

Presenting some basic full cost analysis of car driving (showing how it is subsidized), along with the benefits of the plan (decreased accidents, less congestion, improved health, etc) and publishing it in the media will be an important way to argue in favour of this plan

 

[RedRocket191]

Waterloowarrier:

I can tell you that the message you're proposing has been put forward many times to Metrolinx, and the consensus is that we all agree with you. There is a disconnect between what we pay and what roads actually cost the economy, the environment and the people of the region, and while it will be difficult for many to accept this fact, it's something we have to do out best to get across.

I would be very surprised if I didn't see it as a transportation demand management policy when the RTP comes out, but unfortunately, I won't be surprised if the car driving public rejects the education campaign.

Case in-point is my own family. We had the choice of buying a new fuel efficient car for $20,000, or buying out the lease on a mini-van for $7000. My parents chose the mini-van because the price was so attractive. However, the $40 that fills up my mom's Hyundai barely brings the van to half-tank. Somewhere in the process there was a disconnect between the price of the vehicle and the cost to operate it. I think this story mirrors your point, as driving can seem inexpensive at first but is very costly when things are examined more closely.

 

[waterloowarrior]

RR good points...When you drive from point to point it seems like a free trip, but if you add up all the operating costs it gets to be quite expensive.

from the new funding agreement between Canada and Ontario

2. TRANSIT

Canada and Ontario recognize the importance of public transit in supporting more efficient and sustainable transportation and in mitigating congestion in urban areas. Consequently, both governments have made substantial commitments to public transit in recent years, including: a joint announcement in 2007 of FLOW and MoveOntario, a $4.5 billion investment in transit and highway projects in the Greater Toronto Area; Canada’s commitments to infrastructure programming, transit capital trusts, and the permanent extension of the federal Gas Tax Fund; and, Ontario’s commitment to transit, including a dedicated gas tax, its inter-regional transit system, GO Transit, and MoveOntario 2020, a major, long-term investment in transit. Further, Ontario has created Metrolinx, a new regional transportation agency that has been charged with the task of recommending projects, investment priorities, delivery methods and timelines through a Regional Transportation Plan for the Greater Toronto Area and Hamilton. Canada and Ontario agree to cooperate in reviewing Metrolinx’s draft Regional Transportation Plan and to discuss its proposed initial projects through the Infrastructure Framework Committee. Canada agrees that projects identified under this process will receive priority consideration for funding under the BCF. Canada and Ontario agree to continue their ongoing collaboration to invest in public transit in the future.
3. PETERBOROUGH COMMUTER RAIL LINE

On March 27th, 2008, the governments of Canada and Ontario announced a commitment to initiate a joint study for a Peterborough commuter rail line, as part of the Government of Canada’s Budget 2008 Public Transit Capital Trust. The Parties will jointly develop and agree to the terms of reference, and further agree to make best efforts to complete the study within one year.

Canada and Ontario agree to review the findings and conclusions of this study. The identified project will be jointly funded by Canada and Ontario, with Canada and Ontario equally sharing in all eligible capital costs, net of funding from municipal or private sector contributions, up to a maximum of $150 million each, subject to the successful completion of a federal and provincial due diligence review of the project, securing any funding approvals that may be required respectively by the federal and provincial Treasury Boards, all applicable environmental assessments, and the signing of a contribution agreement that will detail the project elements, schedule, capital and operating costs, and funding parameters, to the mutual satisfaction of Canada and Ontario. Ontario, at its sole and exclusive discretion, will decide if GO Transit will be the operator of any service on this line.