Watts wants bridge tolls to be spread around Lower Mainland
Posted March 13, 2012 4:06 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
SURREY (NEWS1130) – The mayor of Surrey says plans for tolls on the new Golden Ears, Port Mann, and Patullo Bridges are unfair to people who live south of the Fraser River.
Dianne Watts says it’s not right to charge more than $3 per crossing on the the Golden Ears and two other new bridges expected to be done in the next few years, and wants to see commuters across Metro Vancouver paying smaller tolls instead.
“That is really restrictive, and I think that if it is going to be fair and equitable, then we need to make it either 75 cents or $1 and spread it around [to all bridges],” Watts says. “Let’s be smart about it. Let’s make sure that it’s fair and equitable across the region, that the people south of the Fraser are not being penalized.”
She says TransLink and the province need to work together on tolling policies for crossings around the region, and is also renewing calls for light rail rapid transit in Surrey as a cheaper alternative to a new SkyTrain.
“We’re continuing to have those conversations with the Minister of Transportation, and hopefully we can come to a point where we can have something that’s fair and equitable,” she says.
Last week Transportation Minister Blair Lekstrom said tolling all Metro Vancouver bridges and tunnels is unlikely to happen while he’s in office.
