The toll on the Port Mann Bridge does a whole lot more than pay for the bridge. It pays for 37 kilometres of highway upgrades. The bridge accounts for only one-third of the overall improvements.
A lot of us benefit from the improved highway but we do not have to pay tolls. A high proportion of bridge users come from south of the Fraser and are paying the lion’s share of the new highway that extends from the Cassiar tunnel to Langley.
Since many of us from north of the Fraser are getting a free ride, I thought it was time we returned the favour. One way to do this is to double the fares on the future Evergreen line. The excess money could be used to build LRT south of the Fraser. Surrey and Langley residents could then ride their LRT for free.
After all, fare is fair.
John Vertram
Coquitlam