DVP, Gardiner tolls up for debate at executive committee meeting
Committee to consider whether to launch deeper study of charging for use of expressways
Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway tolls are up for discussion Monday at the city's executive committee meeting.
The committee is considering whether to launch a deeper study on the possibility of charging for use of the city's ageing highways.
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- Gardiner Expressway vote: Toronto council backs 'hybrid' plan
A city council study released last week pegged the cost of maintaining the Gardiner at $3.8 billion and $200 million for the DVP. But the report suggested those costs could be recouped.
It outlined possible scenarios — a flat fee of between $1.25 and $3.25 , or a distance-based system that would cost drivers 10 and 35 cents per kilometre. In both cases, trucks would pay double.
With the $3.25 or 35-cent options, the city could recover the costs over the next 10 years, it found.
However, Stephen Buckley, Toronto's transportation general manager, said in the report that a more in-depth analysis is needed to examine "more detailed cost and revenue projections, impacts on other elements of the transportation network, and impacts on economic competitiveness."
Council will have to ratify any recommendation made by the executive committee before it can be implemented.
The Gardiner Expressway carries 228,000 vehicles each weekday east of Highway 427 and the DVP carries 110,000 vehicles per weekday north of the Bayview Avenue/Bloor Street interchange.