It’s laughable that the Liberals believe putting up signs directing drivers to the Pattullo Bridge satisfies their commitment to a viable free alternative. And using the South Fraser Perimeter Road, ostensibly built for truck traffic, will result in, as Mayor Dianne Watts correctly predicts, major congestion and backlog of traffic.
But the Liberals are left with no choice but to create a situation whereby traffic congestion becomes so intolerable that drivers will decide to use the Port Mann and pay the tolls. After all, they’ve entered into these long-term contracts with guaranteed payments to these private consortiums regardless of how the economy is performing or our ability to pay.
And since no one can predict what the economy will look like in 10 years, let alone 20 or 30 years, these contracts go far beyond the realm of stupid.
Worse, the government borrows money on behalf of the consortiums leaving taxpayers on the hook until the money is repaid. And in return for these extremely generous taxpayer loans we get the privilege of paying two-and-a-half to three times the initial cost of these projects.
We have been, and continue to be, hoodwinked.
Janice Crawford, Surrey
Thanks for the free ride
Thank you Fraser Valley.
I felt obligated to give all of you living south of the Fraser River a heartfelt “thank you.”
I live in Coquitlam and soon I will be able to drive a brand new highway to my job in Vancouver for free. Thanks so much for picking up the tab for me.
I feel blessed that in addition to paying tolls on the new Port Mann Bridge you also agreed to pay the gas tax so that I can ride the soon-to-be-constructed Evergreen Line.
I am beside myself that you agreed to pay general taxes so that I can get up to Whistler a bit faster and so I can ride the Canada Line to the airport. You people are awesome!
Thank you. Thank you.
John Vertram, Coquitlam