Up taxes to fix traffic, Mayor tells transportation forum (Mississauga News)

[LoneRonin]

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• May 22, 2012 - 2:57 PM

"Traffic congestion in Mississauga has reached a "critical" stage and finding the money to solve the problem is a challenge, a transportation forum heard this morning at the Living Arts Centre.
Mayor Hazel McCallion didn't mince words when she said serious investment is needed to help alleviate traffic in Mississauga and across the GTA. However, addressing the long-standing issue of transportation and transit in the city will require residents paying additional money via either taxes or user fees, said the mayor.
"We're going to have to accept tax increases if we want to make a change in this crisis situation," said McCallion.
Metrolinx president and CEO Bruce McCuaig said time lost to congestion and traffic costs the GTA and Hamilton area about $6 billion each year, or the equivalent of 26,000 jobs. The population in the area is expected to grow by about 2.5 million to nine million by 2031 and that means average commute times, which currently sit at about 82 minutes and are one of the worst in North America, are expected to increase to about 109 minutes if nothing is done to grow and develop the transportation system.
"We know we can't let that happen," McCuaig told the forum. "It's a future we can avoid because we do have an alternative."
He was speaking about Metrolinx's regional transit plan, dubbed The Big Move. First adopted in 2008, it features about $16 billion in projects currently underway including the bus rapid transit system in Mississauga and light-rail transit along Hurontario St.
The goal is to invest about $50 billion over 25 years, making it the biggest infrastructure investment in Canadian history, to try and catch up on missed development in prior decades.
If everything goes as planned, it could help reverse the trend of increased commute times and drop them to 77 minutes, said McCuaig.
Mississauga will be home to future projects including an expansion of high-occupancy vehicle lanes along the QEW through the city, electrification of GO Transit lines (which means more trains can be run at less cost) and expanded GO service with trains running both into and out of Mississauga with greater frequency during the day.
However, funding remains an issue. McCuaig said there have been discussions about ways to generate revenue, such as a sales tax or road tolls. Metrolinx, an agency of the Ontario government created in 2006 to improve the coordination and integration of all modes of transportation in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, has pledged to inform municipalities by June 2013 of what it plans to do to find funding.
"With The Big Move, we have an opportunity to do something lasting … for the region," said McCuaig.
Mississauga's population sits at about 734,000 and it's home to about 55,000 businesses employing 422,000 people. More people are living and working in Mississauga, said the City of Mississauga's commissioner of transportation and works Martin Powell, and the growing population is straining the municipality's transportation network.
Traffic is increasing, he said, and not just during the morning or afternoon commute, but at non-peak times as well.
Powell spoke about some of the current projects underway, like bus rapid transit (fully implemented by 2015) as well as light-rail transit and the development of an advanced traffic management system for the municipality. He also identified other plans, including the widening of Hwy. 401 to Trafalgar Rd. in Oakville and the widening of Hwy. 410, and rapid transit to Pearson International Airport and along Dundas St. from Halton to Toronto as well as along the city's waterfront. He added that the downtown core needs more improvements as it deals with an influx of people.
Funding, however, is a problem, said Powell, adding traditional sources of income, like property taxes and user fees, aren't going to be enough.
"We've identified some of our needs going forward; we have the plans, now we just need the funding," he said.
Metrolinx vice-president of investment strategy John Howe said cities around the world are struggling with their own funding crunches. His group took a look at other jurisdictions and how they dealt with funding matters.
There was talk about road tolls, but Howe said it can be very expensive to implement and operate.
He spoke of other cities, such as London, England, which implemented a 0.5 cent sales tax, while Vancouver used bridge tolls and parking funds as well as other sources to fund its system."


So why the hell don't these clowns let us ride in the HOV lane???....I do it anyways but I hate that I have to be constantly vigilant for popo and at risk of a ticket. When I have the time I'm going to work on writing them a letter.​

 

[short stop]

Is letting motorcycles ride in the HOV lane suddenly going to alleviate GTAs traffic issues?

 

[Freak]

Some how the solution to every problem seems to end up with raising taxes! Raise Property Tax! Emission Tax! Recycling Tax! Entertainment Tax! Parking Tax! Road Pricing tax! Motor Vehicle Ownership Tax! Land Transfer Tax!

They should add Breathing and Defecating Tax!

 

[bboySushi]

Maybe the problem isn't too many cars...it's too many idiot drivers who shouldn't have gotten their license in the first place, people driving way too slow, cops pulling someone over for speeding 25 over on a main busy street during rush hour and not moving them to a side street because they're lazy, etc. etc.

 

[invictus43]

Maybe the problem isn't too many cars...it's too many idiot drivers who shouldn't have gotten their license in the first place, people driving way too slow, cops pulling someone over for speeding 25 over on a main busy street during rush hour and not moving them to a side street because they're lazy, etc. etc.

No, it's too many drivers..

 

[OpenGambit]

I would rather pay 300 bucks a month to park downtown than take transit. and I lived on the Yonge line.

 

[short stop]

Some how the solution to every problem seems to end up with raising taxes! Raise Property Tax! Emission Tax! Recycling Tax! Entertainment Tax! Parking Tax! Road Pricing tax! Motor Vehicle Ownership Tax! Land Transfer Tax!

They should add Breathing and Defecating Tax!

I'm assuming you have formulated an alternative funding plan for all of this? C'mon, let's hear it.

 

[Kri$han]

Yeah, this is great; We should pay out the nose NOW, because of the apparent shortsightedness in transit funding that has existed in Mississauga since the 60's.

I'll never understand why everyone thinks Hazel has been god's gift to Mississauga... the infrastructure planning has been TERRIBLE!!! Aside from managing by-laws, getting re-elected and taxation policies, her WHOLE JOB is to plan the development of the city... She had no problem zoning high-density residential and commercial areas around square one, but didn't have the brains to think about increasing traffic/pedestrian access in the area until AFTER construction is completed?

Even worse is that Toronto has many older examples of cities (suburbs) that we could have learned from (Like Scarborough and their LRT... not that it's the best example, but proof that we'll need to tie into Toronto's mass-transit system sooner than later)

The whole city was designed around the premise of using cars, and now we have to pay crazy money for them to re-design and re-construct it to be more urban.... if they had planned for this earlier, it wouldn't cost nearly as much to implement.

 

[short stop]

Yeah, this is great; We should pay out the nose NOW, because of the apparent shortsightedness in transit funding that has existed in Mississauga since the 60's.

I'll never understand why everyone thinks Hazel has been god's gift to Mississauga... the infrastructure planning has been TERRIBLE!!! Aside from managing by-laws, getting re-elected and taxation policies, her WHOLE JOB is to plan the development of the city... She had no problem zoning high-density residential and commercial areas around square one, but didn't have the brains to think about increasing traffic/pedestrian access in the area until AFTER construction is completed?

Even worse is that Toronto has many older examples of cities (suburbs) that we could have learned from (Like Scarborough and their LRT... not that it's the best example, but proof that we'll need to tie into Toronto's mass-transit system sooner than later)

The whole city was designed around the premise of using cars, and now we have to pay crazy money for them to re-design and re-construct it to be more urban.... if they had planned for this earlier, it wouldn't cost nearly as much to implement.

Post-war city building across North America revolved around the use of automobiles. This isn't unique to Hazel or the city of Mississauga. Communities across the world now have to deal with this massive undertaking. Yeah, it's unfortunate that we have to bend over and take it, but we have to start fixing it at some point.

 

[Kri$han]

Post-war city building across North America revolved around the use of automobiles. This isn't unique to Hazel or the city of Mississauga. Communities across the world now have to deal with this massive undertaking. Yeah, it's unfortunate that we have to bend over and take it, but we have to start fixing it at some point.

I agree, but we're talking 60+ years after the war, dude. Many, many cities have either a) constructed mass transit systems or b) had the foresight to plan that someday a mass-transit system may be needed. My whole point was that if they planned on making things (the structures, zoning, etc.) the way they are (which they clearly did), then there's no reason they couldn't have planned around some of these traffic issues.

Americans have done a MUCH better job of this than we have -and yes they have traffic just as bad as we do, but they also have 10x the population, and in higher densities than we do. For all intents and purposes, we a re a much "younger" city, and should have taken some lessons learned from all of those around us.

 

[kiwi]

Post-war city building across North America revolved around the use of automobiles. This isn't unique to Hazel or the city of Mississauga. Communities across the nth america now have to deal with this massive undertaking. Yeah, it's unfortunate that we have to bend over and take it, but we have to start fixing it at some point.

fixed.
The traffic issue is predominant a Nth American one. In other countries I think there has been a slower growth in Automobiles usage as gasoline and vehicles have always been expensive. I'm thinking if the smaller poorer European countries. In Nth America, gas and vehicles have been relatively cheap in recent decades.

 

[invictus43]

Yeah, this is great; We should pay out the nose NOW, because of the apparent shortsightedness in transit funding that has existed in Mississauga since the 60's.

I'll never understand why everyone thinks Hazel has been god's gift to Mississauga... the infrastructure planning has been TERRIBLE!!! Aside from managing by-laws, getting re-elected and taxation policies, her WHOLE JOB is to plan the development of the city... She had no problem zoning high-density residential and commercial areas around square one, but didn't have the brains to think about increasing traffic/pedestrian access in the area until AFTER construction is completed?

Even worse is that Toronto has many older examples of cities (suburbs) that we could have learned from (Like Scarborough and their LRT... not that it's the best example, but proof that we'll need to tie into Toronto's mass-transit system sooner than later)

The whole city was designed around the premise of using cars, and now we have to pay crazy money for them to re-design and re-construct it to be more urban.... if they had planned for this earlier, it wouldn't cost nearly as much to implement.

As Short Stop says, Mississauga isn't the only city guilty of poor transit planning. Nearly every city in North America is the same. And it's not really the city's job to dictate policy..they react to what people who live there want. As you say, Scarborough, etc are all examples of poor transit planning. But at the time, that's what people wanted. I'd say that's what people continue to want. We're building-out Milton now..where's the transit plan there? Georgetown has specifically avoided transit because they don't want people from Brampton moving there. The city responds to what people want. Mississauga has tried to improve transit but really, it's an uphill battle. There just isn't enough density. It's a chicken and egg scenario. I don't really see a traffic issue within Mississauga itself. I see a problem with people from 905 getting into Toronto and I think that's where the province needs to get its act together and start kicking some ***.

 

[Houghtonator]

I start work @ 11... what is this traffic you speak of..

 

[invictus43]

I agree, but we're talking 60+ years after the war, dude. Many, many cities have either a) constructed mass transit systems or b) had the foresight to plan that someday a mass-transit system may be needed. My whole point was that if they planned on making things (the structures, zoning, etc.) the way they are (which they clearly did), then there's no reason they couldn't have planned around some of these traffic issues.

Americans have done a MUCH better job of this than we have -and yes they have traffic just as bad as we do, but they also have 10x the population, and in higher densities than we do. For all intents and purposes, we a re a much "younger" city, and should have taken some lessons learned from all of those around us.

I disagree. Have you been to many American cities? Atlanta is the shining (or ******) example of transit and cars. Some US cities do alright..NYC, Boston, Chicago..Los Angeles is terrible. They also subsidize a great deal as well. I agree that transit is horrible in North America in general..but it's not unique to Mississauga..I'd say it's a typical city. And the mayor here was complicit (she has admitted that publicly) in creating the problem as well.

 

[short stop]

I agree, but we're talking 60+ years after the war, dude. Many, many cities have either a) constructed mass transit systems or b) had the foresight to plan that someday a mass-transit system may be needed. My whole point was that if they planned on making things (the structures, zoning, etc.) the way they are (which they clearly did), then there's no reason they couldn't have planned around some of these traffic issues.

First off, not a dude.

Second, the war itself has nothing to do with this. Post-war is just a period time where there was an explosion of growth in terms of cities across North America. With prosperous times came the ability of the middle class to own cars, and the construction of low-denisty suburbs began in earnest. Just as invictus said, this is what people *wanted*, and inner-cities were seen as dirty, crowded, and out of style.

Americans have done a MUCH better job of this than we have -and yes they have traffic just as bad as we do, but they also have 10x the population, and in higher densities than we do. For all intents and purposes, we a re a much "younger" city, and should have taken some lessons learned from all of those around us.

Many larger US cities are much, much older than their Canadian counterparts. Even then, with the possible exception being NYC and their expansive subway system, they are facing the exact same infrastructure problems that we are. Think Los Angeles, in particular.

Remember, it was a different way of wanting to live decades ago. And people still do. I don't see much criticism of Milton, Vaughan, or the eastern corridor of Pickering/Ajax/Whitby, all who have made the same planning mistakes in the past DECADE.

As for traffic in Mississauga - I've lived here almost my entire life, and it's a cakewalk compared to Toronto. Anyone who is complaining needs to drive out to Scarborough on a weekday and sit in an endless sea of intersections and backed-up traffic.

 

[Kri$han]

I disagree. Have you been to many American cities? Atlanta is the shining (or ******) example of transit and cars. Some US cities do alright..NYC, Boston, Chicago..Los Angeles is terrible. They also subsidize a great deal as well. I agree that transit is horrible in North America in general..but it's not unique to Mississauga..I'd say it's a typical city. And the mayor here was complicit (she has admitted that publicly) in creating the problem as well.

Have a look at Chicago's subway system, and compare it to Toronto's.

But I digress, that comparison isn't really comparable to Mississauga specifically, but proof that Toronto has been much worse than similar cities in the US. Yes, Los Angeles is a night mare and is actually the only place as bad as Toronto is... and they have over 1 million people more than we do :\

 

[short stop]

fixed.
The traffic issue is predominant a Nth American one. In other countries I think there has been a slower growth in Automobiles usage as gasoline and vehicles have always been expensive. I'm thinking if the smaller poorer European countries. In Nth America, gas and vehicles have been relatively cheap in recent decades.

You sir, are correct.

 

[invictus43]

Have a look at Chicago's subway system, and compare it to Toronto's.

But I digress, that comparison isn't really comparable to Mississauga specifically, but proof that Toronto has been much worse than similar cities in the US. Yes, Los Angeles is a night mare and is actually the only place as bad as Toronto is... and they have over 1 million people more than we do :\

Yeah, I've been to Chicago and I have to say, they've done pretty well with their system. But Chicago is comparable to Toronto, not Mississauga, and it's one of the few cities in the States that actually works well. You can count them on one hand. Mike Harris terminated a lot of the transit good-will as well as funding in the mid 90's. The problem is, there has been, and continues to be, very little inter-governmental co-operation. Metrolinx is trying..but they don't have enough power to do the things that need to be done. Some municipalities understand that their main transit rider is going to downtown Toronto. Others insist that none of their residents work in Toronto and want to build their own transit system specifically for themselves, which is obviously hilarious.

Top that off with the fact that a lot of North Americans simply want to drive. Period. They want someone ELSE to pay for and ride transit.

 

[Kri$han]

and inner-cities were seen as dirty, crowded, and out of style.

Inner cities weren't seen as dirty and crowded, they *were* dirty and crowded: think coal-powered manufacturing facilities. Everyone wanted a clean place to live, and that wasn't in the city.

Many larger US cities are much, much older than their Canadian counterparts. Even then, with the possible exception being NYC and their expansive subway system, they are facing the exact same infrastructure problems that we are. Think Los Angeles, in particular.

I don't think NYC has the exact same problems Mississauga, or even Toronto does, as they have nearly 4 times the population, and not as much land availability as we do. They also don't have older versions of their city like we do in which they can learn from.

Remember, it was a different want of wanting to live decades ago. And people still do. I don't see much criticism of Milton, Vaughan, or the eastern corridor of Pickering/Ajax/Whitby, all who are making the same planning mistakes in the past decade.

As for traffic in Mississauga - I've lived here almost my entire life, and it's a cakewalk compared to Toronto. Anyone who is complaining needs to drive out to Scarborough on a weekday and sit in an endless see of intersections and backed-up traffic.

Can't criticize those other suburbs, because they're not in the same situation as Mississauga is... they're similar, but not the same. I am born and raised in Mississauga, and have lived in Scarboough (near the town centre). I find Mississauga equally as bad as Scarborough, and a bit better than Toronto, but for different reasons. The only thing better about sauga is the ease of parking, which is soon to be a PITA.

 

[mimico_polak]

To me it seems the major problem for such municipalities (Mississauga, Brampton, Milton, etc.) is the shortsightedness of their planning system.
The money being garnered from the developers is addictive and they don't worry so much about looking at what the future will need (Mississauga has been debt free for ever...until now! when the development dollars dried up)...today's governments want today's money...it'll be a different gov't in the future so let them deal with the issue...if a gov't decided to look ahead and STICK to the plan...well that would make it simpler...

Look at the whole issue with Metrolinx...subway...streetcar...subway...streetcar...choose one and stick with it.

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