Should there be toll fees on the Diefenbaker Bridge to help pay for the city's share of a new second crossing? (File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Glenn Hicks

the toll bridge debate

Toll bridge debate: the pros and cons

Jul 23, 2019 | 8:15 AM

Not surprisingly the idea of tolling the Diefenbaker Bridge to help raise funds for a much-needed second crossing over the North Saskatchewan River has generated debate around the council table. Some reject the idea outright as another tax while others say there isn’t enough focus on the positives of introducing tolls.

At their regular executive committee meeting on Monday, council discussed a report that shows up to $4.5 million could be made each year if every motorist who uses the bridge were charged a fee. That could range anywhere from 50 cents to $7.50 each way depending on the residential status of the driver and the vehicle type. An estimated 24,000 vehicles crossings are made each day for a total of nine million each year.

Councillor Charlene Miller, who asked for the report on the feasibility of tolling, supports the concept as long as a new bridge is built in a three-way public partnership. She rejects any private involvement.

“A P3 private partnership would make our next generation pay for it, other than the generation right now paying for it which is what I want, “ she told paNOW after the meeting. “That involves the city, province and federal government altogether building a bridge.”

Miller said toll fees would have to be put aside specifically to pay for a third share of a new bridge and not be used for other city spending.

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The idea of seeking a second structure over the river has been discussed since clear signs of ageing were detected on the existing bridge in 2011. A Northern Bridge Regional Committee was established in 2015 following comments from the province about the limited lifespan of the Diefenbaker.

According to the city report, an estimated annual net revenue of anywhere between $500,000 and $4.5 million could be generated from tolls. If all motorists paid, the total income would be at the high end. If only non-residents paid, then the revenues could be in the lower range. There would be no need for toll booths as modern toll technology allows for digital identification of vehicles by cameras.

What it might cost you

It would cost around $1.3 million to set up the new tolling infrastructure, and $300,000 each year to maintain it. There would also be a cost to administer and collect the tolls from motorists, which would be about nine per cent of the total revenues.

The city’s Director of Finance Cheryl Tkachuk said while specific toll costs had not been specified the consultant they used had suggested a toll fee of 50 cents each way for Prince Albert residents and $1 for those from the R.M. of Buckland. It would cost $3 for other out-of-town private users, $3.50 for a three-axle truck and $7.50 for trucks with four or more axles.

The report also stressed that while significant money could be realized, there were potential negatives. These included deterring people from coming to P.A. to use the city’s facilities and businesses, and financially impacting out-of-town families who need to bring their kids to school for example. The report also suggested more economic development could be taken away from the city as areas North and South of the river expanded and people might also then choose to buy goods and services in Shellbrook or even travel more to Saskatoon as a form of protest.

Too much focus on the negatives

However, that focus on the negatives in the report didn’t sit well with Councillor Blake Edwards. While he remained non-committal on the toll, he wanted more info on the potential positives saying everybody who uses the bridge had experienced delays on it in the past and a second bridge was going to be needed in the future.

“We need solutions to the funding model [for a second bridge]”, he told paNOW. “We know it’s going to be expensive for the residents in the province to replace this bridge…likely up to $100 million…so the people in this area who use the bridge and the people in this area who benefit from people crossing this bridge, we need to come up with some solutions [to pay a third of the cost.]”

I’m opposed to a toll. It’s another tax _{– Dennis Ogrodnick}

Councillor Evert Botha agreed with Edwards that the city report seemed to feature “one objection after another.” He said the crossing over the river in P.A. was a vital corridor for the whole region and the option for a second bridge was needed so the surrounding regional municipalities should help pay for it.

“Time and time again we’re trying to find opportunities to ask our neighboring communities…to chip in and contribute to the very city facilities that are mentioned in this report that they might not be participating in [if a toll system was in place].” He figured a few dollars in toll fees should not be a deterrent to people wanting to use the city’s high quality public facilities.

However, not all councillors were in support of looking at the tolling idea. Dennis Ogrodnick rejected it as nothing more than another tax.

“Does Prince Albert need a second bridge? I don’t think we do. I think the province and the region needs a second bridge therefore they need to come up with the funding for a second crossing. I’m opposed to a toll. It’s another tax.”

City council ended their debate by asking city staff to reach out to the province regarding their thoughts on a toll system and to see if such a move would impact any funding for Prince Albert on other key roads projects. They’ve also asked staff to come up with more detailed counts on what types of vehicles are using the Diefenbaker Bridge.

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glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow