Pay roads

I had the following response to my post on selling roads to private companies.

"I found your post quite interesting. We've had similar things happen here in Canada. The one that immediately jumps to mind is Highway 407, a toll road that runs along the northern part of the Greater Toronto Area. While its great b/c the road is usually less busy than the free Highway 401 further to the south (and is in much, much better shape), the toll is ridiculous. For light vehicles, its 16.25 cents/km during peak times, and 15.50 cents/km during off-peak. For heavy trucks, the rate jumps to 32.50 cents/km (peak) and 31.00 cents/km (off peak). The road is managed through a 99-year lease with a couple of the companies mentioned in the article you linked to, Cintra and Macquarie, along with SNC-Lavalin. The consortium has the power to raise tolls whenever they want, by however much they want, with no say from the government. And they've got the power to deny you new or renewed plates if you don't pay the tolls, since the tolls are billed monthly. Its a pretty slick system, to be sure, but their customer service is horrible.I found your post quite interesting. We've had similar things happen here in Canada. The one that immediately jumps to mind is Highway 407, a toll road that runs along the northern part of the Greater Toronto Area. While its great b/c the road is usually less busy than the free Highway 401 further to the south (and is in much, much better shape), the toll is ridiculous. For light vehicles, its 16.25 cents/km during peak times, and 15.50 cents/km during off-peak. For heavy trucks, the rate jumps to 32.50 cents/km (peak) and 31.00 cents/km (off peak). The road is managed through a 99-year lease with a couple of the companies mentioned in the article you linked to, Cintra and Macquarie, along with SNC-Lavalin. The consortium has the power to raise tolls whenever they want, by however much they want, with no say from the government. And they've got the power to deny you new or renewed plates if you don't pay the tolls, since the tolls are billed monthly. Its a pretty slick system, to be sure, but their customer service is horrible."


Thanks,

Sean Kautzman
Land Manager - North & East Ontario
Aggregates, Concrete & Asphalt
Lafarge Canada Inc.