When Premier Mike Harris bootted out Mr. Bob Rae out of Queens Park in ealy 1993, He vowed to change Ontario. He promised Ontario would change, and he promised Toronto change. Well, he changed Toronto alright, but for the worse.
This multi-million dollar project was set up to ease the conjested Highway 401. And as "punishment" for Torontoians, we have to pay to use it. Each time we use the 407, we are electronically tagged with a signal, and the signals are compiled then sent to the owner of the transponder to pay the fees each month. If you don't have a transponder, or have an expired one, you are photographed, and billed at your expense, with an extra fee, of course.
Of course we have seen many other toll roads in the world. Many highways in the US are tolled, and are successful because you must us the toll highway to get to point A to point B. Another fine example is Hong Kong, where usage of the cross river and cross mountain tunnels are charged. It is a success because all tunnels are tolled. You cannot escape paying for the usage of the roads if you want to get from one place to another. It is impossible. But it just won't work in Toronto, because we have a choice of non-tolled roads to choose from. And of course, we, the heavily taxed and "government robbed" people of Toronto would choose the free roads rather than to pay for "technologically updated road". All roads look the same, and all roads are built the same. So what if they have an advanced draining system. The Don Valley Parkway has an advanced draining system, yet it needs yearly repairs and closures. How good is a road when we have a choice between a tolled one or a free one.
Torontonians are VERY smart. Most of us did not and will not buy these transponders and help the government reduce their deficit on our backs. The lack of transponder sales have prolonged the "free" trial period for another week. The government hoped to have 85% of all Torontonians buy these transponders and pay to use the ETR. Since only less than 10% have bought these devices so far, the engineers figured that the cameras cannot operate at such a rate that 90% of the cars to be tagged.
Mr. Harris, nice try, but it would not, and will not work. If we have a choice between paying and not paying to use the roads, the people would choose not to pay. You better find a comprimise, declare this multi-million dollar road closed, or.... make it free for us to enjoy... indefinetly...
"The road to hell is paved with good intentions." This is a phrase usually found in many self-help books. Let me put it to you this way, people, "The road to making Harris filthy rich, making his supporters filthy rich, and making Torontonians look like SAP's, is the 407 Express Toll Route.
