DVP, Gardiner tolls up for debate at executive committee meeting

Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway tolls are up for discussion Monday at the city's executive committee meeting.

The committee is consideringwhether to launch a deeper study on the possibility of charging for use of the city's ageing highways.

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A city council study released last weekpegged the cost of maintaining theGardinerat $3.8 billion and $200 million for the DVP.But the report suggestedthose costs could be recouped.

It outlinedpossible scenarios a flat fee of between$1.25 and $3.25, ora distance-based system that would cost drivers 10 and 35 cents per kilometre. In both cases, trucks would pay double.

With the $3.25 or 35-cent options, the city couldrecover thecosts over the next 10 years, it found.

However,Stephen Buckley, Toronto's transportation general manager, said in the report that a more in-depth analysis is needed to examine"more detailed cost and revenue projections, impacts on other elements of the transportation network, and impacts on economic competitiveness."

Council will have to ratify any recommendationmade by the executive committee before it can be implemented.

The Gardiner Expressway carries 228,000 vehicles each weekday east of Highway 427 and the DVP carries 110,000 vehicles per weekday north of the Bayview Avenue/Bloor Street interchange.