Delta Mayor Lois Jackson calls for tolling on all Metro Vancouver bridges
The province says it won't be looking at a regional tolling strategy for another five to six years
A Metro Vancouver mayor is calling for all bridges on the Lower Mainland to be tolled.
Delta Mayor Lois Jackson says she's concerned that, without a comprehensive tolling strategy, the Alex Fraser Bridge will be even more congested when it becomes the only untolled route over the Fraser River.
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"I think people will see this reasonably. It's user pay, it puts a bank together that allows us to pay for the things we want in the Lower Mainland to break down congestion," said Jackson.
She suggests drivers pay $1 for each crossing they travel over.
But the B.C. government says it won't consider a Metro Vancouver tolling strategy for another five to six years.
Transportation Minister Todd Stone says his government has no plans to implement or discuss regional tolling before the Massey Tunnel and the Pattullo Bridge replacements are further ahead.
"We are more than happy to have the broader discussion, but there is a lot of time to discuss any changes to the tolling policy."
Jackson says the province should make a decision now rather than wait.
With files from Richard Zussman