Don Valley Highway Case Study

Toronto’s mayor John Tory and his council have been discussing the establishment of tolls on the Don Valley Parkway and the Gardiner Expressway. In order to get support from not only his council but the people of the city, John Tory is asking for help from those living in the 905 “to share the cost of upkeep and transit expansion with people living in the 416.” The mayor hopes that the new toll route will help to cut the amount of traffic/congestion on these highways and to further develop transit in these areas. Josh Colle, chair of the TTC stated that asking drivers to pay tolls is similar to TTC riders paying a “modest fee to use public transit.” However, those that are against it argue that putting a reasonable toll on these highways still won’t be enough to fund the city’s large projects. The city is currently looking at ways that tolling the 407 has been successful, and what they can take from that to put towards the tolling of these highways. …show more content…
It is a necessary part of most working citizens’ way to and from work. Comparing the tolling of the Don Valley Parkway and the Gardiner Expressway with the introduction of Highway 407 in 1997, one can see what can and cannot work with the introduction of the tolling of these highways. When the 407 was first introduced, it was made to help relieve the congestion on Highway 401. When the 407 was tolled a year after it being free to use, citizens were reluctant to drive and pay, however, they would choose to drive using the 407 to avoid