Quote:
Originally Posted by DESS
Anybody know for sure with a link to proof? Not doubting you dude, I just need to compile everything I can.
Even if that is the case, we'll have to find a way to limit/charge residents from satellite cities for entering Calgary during rush hour. I'm quite confident it can be done.
|
Perhaps the 100 percent owned and operated thing is slightly misleading. Deerfoot trail is 100 percent operated by the provincial government,
edit: thanks resolute 14 for finding the link
I would have to disagree with your entire idea. There is more to deerfoot trail (or any road for that matter) than the individual sitting in traffic in the morning. All provincial highways, QEII, both ringroads, etc., are mandated to focus on goods movement. The individual driver is not the concern of those who make decisions about the roads.
If you were to introduce a toll you would create a huge problem with goods movement which would likely end up hurting Calgary's economy drastically.Productivity would go down (you'd have to wait until after 9 for a shipment for example), and operating cost for shippers would increase.
Beyond the straight up goods movement portion you then have to factor in the city's which you propose to "shut out" of the city during those hours. They do, particularly Airdrie but the others too, have very favourable tax environments for light industrial businesses. They also have a high proportion of lower income families who work in those areas. Add this up and you could have a situation where businesses move from the city to the outlying areas due to the availability of labour and cheaper operating environments (this is obviously a speculative scenario btw).
Beyond this you have to consider social equity. Is shutting people out from a making a living fair? Assuming you lived in one of the satellite communities would you think it is fair to pay a high cost toll everyday?
Now, this is not to say that I think toll roads are not a bad idea. In fact I think they are a fantastic idea, however interrupting the flow of goods in the city could have huge ramifications.
I would suggest that toll roads that choose haves and have nots are a problem from a social standpoint. I would then also argue that everyone, Calgarian, Chestermerian(?), Airdriite(?), etc all do not pay the real cost of using roads on a daily basis. If you want to throw a toll on a road make it equitable and fair, everyone can pay it.
I could go on for a while about this but I am going to stop now!