By Pepper Parr
June 23rd, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
Here it comes
Ontario is launching Canada’s first High-Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes as part of a pilot project on the QEW—between Trafalgar Road in Oakville and Guelph Line in Burlington—to help manage congestion and add another option for travellers.
Lanes that were for High Occupancy vehicles (HOV) are about to become HOT – between Trafalgar and Guelph Line – begins middle of September.
This new pilot project will start on September 15, 2016. Existing High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes on the QEW will be designated as HOT lanes. Carpools of two or more occupants will still be able to use the QEW HOT lanes for free, while single occupant drivers will now have the option to purchase a HOT permit to use them.
HOT permit applications from members of the public will be accepted online from August 1 to August 21 through ServiceOntario. A limited number of applicants will be selected to purchase permits through a draw. The permit will cost $180 for a three-month term.
As part of the pilot, Ontario is issuing a Request for Information seeking innovative technologies that can be used to support tolling, compliance and performance monitoring of HOT lanes for the purposes of testing during the pilot. Possible technologies include telematics, radio frequency identification, video-analytics, GPS, and infrared cameras. The pilot will be used to inform long-term planning for future HOT lane implementation and will also support Ontario’s innovation sector by providing an opportunity to test emerging traffic management and tolling technologies.
The media release made mention of one objective, which was to keep people and goods moving, connect communities and improve quality of life. Another objective would appear to suck money out of our pockets and into the coffers of the province. $180 for a three-month term – annualized that amounts to $720. Yikes.
GO trains are looking nicer.
How does this new feature work exactly?
After I buy my permit – can I resell it on kijiji at a higher price?
If we are a two-car family, can we swap between cars?
Can I still drive on the HOV lane if I forgot my permit at home?
Who enforces it – or do I need to wave it at the cops at 120km per hour?
Is it available for motorcycles? Or my giant dump truck?
How does the “lottery” work? Do government insiders get first crack at the lottery?
Will the lottery winners be split 50/50 between men and women?
Does the permit get sent in the mail and what happens when Canada Post goes on strike?
Is there HST on the $720 too ?
What if I sell my car or it is in an accident half way through – do I get a partial refund?
Can I put it in my will?
What happens when the QEW is closed for an accident (like it is today?
Lastly – 1,000 permits @ $60 = $60K per month government income. How many bureaucrats & government administrators will it take to organize this? Any more than 10 people @ 72K per year salary means a loss.
So to be clear here “behaviour management” didn’t work and you are giving up. The problem is that this HOT will just expand and expand. More lanes added, more lanes converted, etc, etc.. It’s an easy way for a government to “defend” it’s total lack of transport policy. Look even if it’s an electric car a traffic jam with endless starting and stopping just wastes energy.
There is an excess of bad judgment in this government.
Corporations will pay the cost for their executives and deduct it as a business expense. What problem is being mitigated with this change (besides increasing government revenue)?
GO trains are looking nicer…are you kidding!!! Just try being crammed in like sardines every day and now they have changed the schedules so that we will get home even later.
Unfortunate decision.
The whole purpose of HOV lanes is to encourage car pooling / ride-share.
Akin to Papal indulgences, for those who want to buy their way out of responsible policy.
Yippee, now I will be able to drive solo in my 1970 gas guzzling, smoke spewing, 10 passenger full size SUV in the HOV lane. $180 dollars for three months is less than I pay to fill my gas tank at .95 cents per litre. Thank you to the Ontario Liberal government for not caring about the environment, not trying to ease traffic congestion, and not wanting to encourage car pooling and ridding the highway of solo occupants. Cash is still king.