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It almost sunk David Miller’s mayoral campaign when he even broached the subject. But it may be coming back: road tolls. After a summer of pollution and a season that featured Toronto’s first-ever winter smog alert, the city is preparing to appoint an air quality manager and a group of other officials to try to and reduce the gunk in the skies over the G.T.A. It’s too soon to say exactly how they plan to do that, but it’s clear much of the problem comes from the exhaust of cars clogging the downtown core. And that raises the possibility motorists who insist on bringing their vehicles all the way into Toronto’s interior could be made to pay for the privilege. Some contend it would be worth it. "Certainly if the air pollution levels come down, we would anticipate some health benefits,” claims Monica Campbell, the Environmental Protection Manager of Toronto Public Health. “And we've seen that from studies such as the Atlanta Olympic Games, where … when they reduced pollution from vehicles for a few weeks we saw the number of asthma events and asthma hospitalization in those children during that three-week period went down.” A similar plan is already in effect in London, England, where the air was becoming unbreathable. But there’s a big difference between that city and ours – commuters can get just about anywhere on their extensive underground public transportation system, while the Yonge-University and Bloor-Danforth subway lines here offer only limited access without transferring to buses or streetcars. The environmental group will be looking at several different methods before recommending anything quite as drastic as a new levy, but it’s a possibility they could decide to clear the air by clearing out the wallets of drivers. February 9, 2005

This will kill downtown pretty fast

Ive got an idea. Spend some money on incentives for people to buy hybrid vehicles. Build some highways and make it easier for cars to get around instead of the current congestion caused by a lack of road space and spend some money on massive upgrades to our transit system.

Tolls are another wag the dog idea that will do nothing but discourage people from going downtown.

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Originally posted by jester Everything in this country is illegal.

"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery…" Winston Churchill

‎"If you have ten thousand regulations you destroy all respect for the law" - Winston Churchill

soon you'll see hundreads people going on Bicycle through Gardner and DVP

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I wonder how they'd actually go about doing this though. I mean placing toll booths on the DVP / Gardiner is obvious enough, but wouldn't that just shunt traffic off on to local streets? It's not like they can toll every route into / out of downtown.

This is a GREAT idea. We have an incredible transit system and we should be using it. Why not have some kind of tolls, and use that money to further fund our transit system???

As for incentive for hybreds, another great idea. In the book "ecology of commerce" it suggests of paying insurance at the gas pumps, so it will be included in the tax of gas. This way EVERYONE has to pay insurance, and then those will fuel effiecent cars get cheaper insurance, which will lead to less S.U.V.s. And as big plus no one will be making fun of me and my echo

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Originally posted by baystreetboi I wonder how they'd actually go about doing this though. I mean placing toll booths on the DVP / Gardiner is obvious enough, but wouldn't that just shunt traffic off on to local streets? It's not like they can toll every route into / out of downtown.

they will declare it is as a military zone or something,put wires all around downtown core and give the privelege of driving on bicycle only for those who lived long enough out there =)

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quote:

Originally posted by baystreetboi I wonder how they'd actually go about doing this though. I mean placing toll booths on the DVP / Gardiner is obvious enough, but wouldn't that just shunt traffic off on to local streets? It's not like they can toll every route into / out of downtown.

Oh im sure they would succeed somehow.

Remember this is an anticar city council that we have had for decades now. Sadly they arent coming up with solutions but making more problems instead.

Traffic calming, bike lanes that are unnecissary, one way streets to no where, stupid turning restrictions.

These are the reasons why there is gridlock.

Want to end gridlock? make it easier for cars, get rid of streetcars, and build more subways.

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quote:

Originally posted by jester Everything in this country is illegal.

"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery…" Winston Churchill

‎"If you have ten thousand regulations you destroy all respect for the law" - Winston Churchill

quote:

Originally posted by k la This is a GREAT idea. We have an incredible transit system and we should be using it.

We do??

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quote:

Originally posted by jester Everything in this country is illegal.

"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery…" Winston Churchill

‎"If you have ten thousand regulations you destroy all respect for the law" - Winston Churchill

quote:

Originally posted by k la This is a GREAT idea. We have an incredible transit system and we should be using it. Why not have some kind of tolls, and use that money to further fund our transit system??? As for incentive for hybreds, another great idea. In the book "ecology of commerce" it suggests of paying insurance at the gas pumps, so it will be included in the tax of gas. This way EVERYONE has to pay insurance, and then those will fuel effiecent cars get cheaper insurance, which will lead to less S.U.V.s. And as big plus no one will be making fun of me and my echo

i smell Totalitarianism

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Originally posted by Jayx1 We do??

How many other transit systems have you been on? Go to Washington, you will swear the TTC is a personal limo afterwards.

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Originally posted by k la How many other transit systems have you been on? Go to Washington, you will swear the TTC is a personal limo afterwards.

Many many many and the TTC pales in comparison.

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quote:

Originally posted by jester Everything in this country is illegal.

"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery…" Winston Churchill

‎"If you have ten thousand regulations you destroy all respect for the law" - Winston Churchill

quote:

Originally posted by Jayx1 Many many many and the TTC pales in comparison.

Somewhat ironic coming from a person that obviously supports increased car usage...

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Originally posted by k la How many other transit systems have you been on? Go to Washington, you will swear the TTC is a personal limo afterwards.

I think the question is: How many have YOU been on?

Our transit system is "good" at best.