Tolls Taken Off Coquihalla

***Yellow Fever*** · September 27th, 2008, 04:42 AM

Tolls taken off Coquihalla
Premier says no more tolls on Coquihalla Highway

Catherine Rolfsen, Vancouver Sun
Published: Friday, September 26, 2008

PENTICTON -- After $10 a pop for more than 20 years, drivers on the Coquihalla Highway paid their last tolls Friday morning.

"The tolls are gone for good on the Coquihalla," Premier Gordon Campbell told delegates at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention.

Campbell said that as of 1 pm Friday, the tolls that have been in place since the highway's opening in 1986 would be history.

Tolls were removed from the Coquihalla Highway by the premier Friday.

The announcement was the highlight of a speech that was peppered with promises to rural B.C.

"Thanks Gord!" yelled Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Kevin Krueger as the audience of municipal leaders erupted in an standing ovation.

The road, which cost $848 million to build, has brought in approximately $845 million in tolls, the government says.

Campbell also confirmed that the twinned Port Mann Bridge will be tolled for 35 years when it opens in 2013. The fee is slated to be $3 per vehicle.

The Coquihalla's toll was $10 for cars, with other vehicles paying between $5 and $50.

As recently as 2006, Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon said there was no end in sight for the tolls.

In the 1980s, Bill Bennett's Social Credit government said the toll was meant to pay for fast-tracking construction of the Hope-to-Merritt section. But when that amount was paid off in 2000, the fees remained.

B.C.'s Chamber of Commerce immediately applauded Campbell's announcement.

"While the Chamber supports the use of tolls in specific cases as a source of funding for new transportation developments, the Coquihalla has long ceased to be one of these cases," president and CEO John Winter said in a press release.

Residents of communities near the tollbooth expressed relief but some skepticism.

"Right on," said Sherri-Anne Trotman, an employee at Rolly's Restaurant in Hope, when told of the news.

But she said she'll believe it when she sees it, as government has changed its tune on tolls in the past. "Maybe I'll have to go for a drive tonight and see if it's true."

Sandy Tsang, an employee at Merritt's Canada Cafe, said it's good news.

"I always go to Vancouver," she said. "It should be lifted, it's been a long time."

But she said she's worried about what will happen to the many locals who work at the tollbooths.

Campbell assured reporters after the speech that all permanent employees will be found new jobs with government.

***deasine*** · September 27th, 2008, 07:46 AM

=)

nova9 · September 27th, 2008, 10:58 AM

Sweet jesus. That's going to make my summer trips out to the lake cabin so much sweeter. 10 extra dollars for more beer!!!

Quimby · September 27th, 2008, 09:13 PM

Purely political move- Campbell and Co. are taking a beating in public opinion and need to shore up some votes. It's good for truckers, but will the highway still be kept up to standards with the loss of nearly $60 million in revenue?

clooless · September 27th, 2008, 09:31 PM

Maintenance is contracted out, so I doubt there will be any change in that regard. And it's not like the tolls went into a special fund. Most likely the tolls went straight into general revenue.

urbanfan89 · September 27th, 2008, 09:34 PM

About 5 years ago they were talking about selling off the road like the 407...luckily that didn't happen.

spongeg · September 28th, 2008, 09:31 PM

the plans lasted longer than they were suppossed to didn't they?

September 27th, 2008, 04:42 AM	#1
*Yellow Fever* Descendant Of Dragon龍的傳人 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: City Of Rain 雨之巿 Posts: 19,285 Likes (Received): 2274	Tolls Taken Off Coquihalla Tolls taken off Coquihalla Premier says no more tolls on Coquihalla Highway Catherine Rolfsen, Vancouver Sun Published: Friday, September 26, 2008 PENTICTON -- After $10 a pop for more than 20 years, drivers on the Coquihalla Highway paid their last tolls Friday morning. "The tolls are gone for good on the Coquihalla," Premier Gordon Campbell told delegates at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention. Campbell said that as of 1 pm Friday, the tolls that have been in place since the highway's opening in 1986 would be history. Tolls were removed from the Coquihalla Highway by the premier Friday. The announcement was the highlight of a speech that was peppered with promises to rural B.C. "Thanks Gord!" yelled Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Kevin Krueger as the audience of municipal leaders erupted in an standing ovation. The road, which cost $848 million to build, has brought in approximately $845 million in tolls, the government says. Campbell also confirmed that the twinned Port Mann Bridge will be tolled for 35 years when it opens in 2013. The fee is slated to be $3 per vehicle. The Coquihalla's toll was $10 for cars, with other vehicles paying between $5 and $50. As recently as 2006, Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon said there was no end in sight for the tolls. In the 1980s, Bill Bennett's Social Credit government said the toll was meant to pay for fast-tracking construction of the Hope-to-Merritt section. But when that amount was paid off in 2000, the fees remained. B.C.'s Chamber of Commerce immediately applauded Campbell's announcement. "While the Chamber supports the use of tolls in specific cases as a source of funding for new transportation developments, the Coquihalla has long ceased to be one of these cases," president and CEO John Winter said in a press release. Residents of communities near the tollbooth expressed relief but some skepticism. "Right on," said Sherri-Anne Trotman, an employee at Rolly's Restaurant in Hope, when told of the news. But she said she'll believe it when she sees it, as government has changed its tune on tolls in the past. "Maybe I'll have to go for a drive tonight and see if it's true." Sandy Tsang, an employee at Merritt's Canada Cafe, said it's good news. "I always go to Vancouver," she said. "It should be lifted, it's been a long time." But she said she's worried about what will happen to the many locals who work at the tollbooths. Campbell assured reporters after the speech that all permanent employees will be found new jobs with government.

September 27th, 2008, 10:58 AM	#3
nova9 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 310 Likes (Received): 0	Sweet jesus. That's going to make my summer trips out to the lake cabin so much sweeter. 10 extra dollars for more beer!!! __________________ I live in Vancouver and you don't. 'Nuff said.

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September 27th, 2008, 07:46 AM	#2
*deasine* =) Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2,490 Likes (Received): 6	=)

September 27th, 2008, 09:13 PM	#4
Quimby BANNED Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Kamloops Posts: 363 Likes (Received): 0	Purely political move- Campbell and Co. are taking a beating in public opinion and need to shore up some votes. It's good for truckers, but will the highway still be kept up to standards with the loss of nearly $60 million in revenue?

September 27th, 2008, 09:31 PM	#5
clooless Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 80 Likes (Received): 0	Maintenance is contracted out, so I doubt there will be any change in that regard. And it's not like the tolls went into a special fund. Most likely the tolls went straight into general revenue.

September 27th, 2008, 09:34 PM	#6
urbanfan89 Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,470 Likes (Received): 3	About 5 years ago they were talking about selling off the road like the 407...luckily that didn't happen.

September 28th, 2008, 09:31 PM	#7
spongeg Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Coquitlam/Rainbow Lake Posts: 7,558 Likes (Received): 1	the plans lasted longer than they were suppossed to didn't they?