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TransLink's potential plan for Knight Street Bridge Toll
WTF?!?!
http://news1130.com/more.jsp?content=20090916_133303_7504
Richmond councillors warn of TransLink potential plan for Knight Street Bridge toll
Katharine Kitts | Wednesday, September 16th, 2009 10:42 am
RICHMOND (NEWS1130) - City councillors with the 'Richmond First' political party are warning people about TransLink's idea to potentially put a toll on the Knight Street Bridge. If true, you might have to dig in a little deeper in the future for the commute to-and-from Richmond and points south, and 'Richmond First' is warning it could have a dramatic impact on commuters and businesses.
The Knight Street Bridge, connecting Richmond to Vancouver, is owned and maintained by TransLink and could be a likely target for future 'road pricing' plans. Richmond city councillor Bill McNulty worries it could significantly change traffic patterns across the Lower Mainland. "When you talk about road pricing, you're talking about adding a tax or a toll, and as a result we're very concerned that may be one way of raising money."
A recent Regional Transportation Commissioner report highlighted the need for $130 million per year from existing revenue sources to maintain current service levels. TransLink's Ken Hardie says ideas are still in the discussion stage. "The issue has actually been discussed for a number of months in terms of how we pay for the big expansion that we need in the transit system in the region. The real key at this time is to look at the concept of road pricing and what it actually means, how it could work and where it might be applied."
While he understands the shortfall, McNulty says tolling drivers on existing infrastructure is not an acceptable option. |
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