While Toronto area politicians dance around the issue of road tolls, Vancouver’s Mayors’ Council, composed of 23 municipal leaders, has released a report calling for the “staged introduction of mobility pricing” to help fund that city’s version of our Big Move transit plan.

The report, Regional Transportation Investments: A vision for Metro Vancouver, acknowledges that an influx of 1 million newcomers has it gripped in its own gridlock.

Although it’s not clear what kind of pricing and technology Vancouver will consider, the report says it will take five to eight years to implement a system that is “cost-effective and fair.”

Here’s how some cities price road use to improve traffic flow and, in some cases, raise money for transit expansion.

London’s congestion zone

How it works: Vehicles pay to drive into a central zone of London, but they only pay once a day, regardless of how often they enter or exit the district. The charge applies between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Licence plate numbers are recorded by cameras posted around the district’s entry and exit points to the “charging zone,” as it’s called by Transport for London.

What it costs: Tolls range from the equivalent of $18.40 to $25.77 a day, depending on whether you pay in advance or by midnight the following day, and whether the motorist uses the automated payment system. Residents in the central district or those living in areas just outside the zone are eligible for a discount of up to 90 per cent.

Stockholm and Gothenburg, Sweden, congestion zones:

How it works: Similar to London in designating a central congestion zone. That district is surrounded by cameras mounted on gantries that look a lot like those on Highway 407. Charges are levied between 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. in Stockholm and between 6 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. in Gothenburg. Drivers can move in and out of checkpoints once for free within an hour, but additional trips cost more.

What it costs: Price depends on time of day, with the highest charges applied during the morning and afternoon rush hours. It is slightly more costly in Stockholm, where motorists pay the equivalent of $1.63, $2.45, or $3.26 to a maximum of $9.82 per day. Drivers are issued a monthly bill for their passage through the cordon.

Singapore

How it works: Gantry-mounted electronic readers interface with in-vehicle units. The driver inserts a cash card into the unit and the appropriate amount is deducted from the card account when the car passes through the gantry. The Singapore government says ERP (electronic road pricing) is about controlling congestion, not generating revenue.

What it costs: The rate varies according to the location and time of day a car passes under a gantry. Prices also vary within a designated time period to discourage motorists from accelerating through the gate to pass at a reduced cost. Traffic speeds are reviewed quarterly to determine whether the rates are having the desired effect on congestion. Charges are in place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. around the central business district. But on other roads, charges apply only between 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Fees range from about 50 cents to $3. A commuter might pass through several gantries — adding to the fee each time — on a trip into the city centre.

Minnesota MnPASS Express Lanes

How it works: High-occupancy toll lanes are present on the I-394 (18 kilometres) and I-35W roads (25 kilometres into the city and 18 going out) into Minneapolis. Another toll lane opens next year into St. Paul. Cars with more than one occupant and buses can use the lanes for free. But single-occupant vehicles have the option of paying for access. Motorists have to sign up with a credit card number in advance. They lease a transponder similar to those used by Highway 407 drivers, for U.S. $1.50 a month. It attaches to the windshield and interfaces with an overhead electronic reader. Lane use is enforced by state police.

What it costs: Pricing varies according to the rate traffic is moving. The state has a commitment to keep traffic moving at 55 mph 90 per cent of the time. That means the charge upon entering the lane varies from about 25 cents to to $5 U.S. The average charge is about $1.75, according to a state spokesperson. The cost can go as high as $8 in the winter when drivers are anxious to keep moving, she said. There are 24,733 registered account holders.

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Toronto http://www.407etr.com/highway/map.html 407 ETR END

How does it work: Gantry-mounted cameras record licence plate numbers and the toll authority bills the motorist according to the distance travelled. Cars carrying transponders (leased at $3.40 per month) save the video toll charge of $3.95 per trip.

What does it cost: The off-peak rate for evenings and weekends is about 19 cents per km. Rush-hour rates go up to 30 cents per km. There’s a discount for travelling in the “light zone” between Highways 410 and 427. A trip between Dixie Rd. and Bayview Ave. in rush hour would cost about $9.94 in tolls.

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