A communication from a senior Ontario Ministry of Transport (MTO) official has led to some confusion among Durham residents over the toll on Highway 407 East.
This section of Highway 407 has remained the only stretch of provincially-owned 400-series highways that is tolled. An election promise by Ontario Premier Doug Ford (see below) said the toll will be removed if he was re-elected back to power.
Colin Simons, MTO Director, Transportation User Services Branch, had a technically correct but seemingly obsfuscatory response to a toll-removal inquiry by a Durham resident.
“Although the rapid construction of the Highway 407 East was completed with the understanding that the highways would be tolled, the tolling revenue was intended to be received into general revenue. Toll rates on the provincial portion of Highway 407 were determined based on an assessment of market demand, rather than the original construction costs. Furthermore, the Highway 407 East project included the construction of Highways 412 and 418. Due to various factors, the government decided to discontinue charging tolls on these highways as of April 5, 2022,” said the director.
The response led to some debate on social media in Durham.
“If tolls were really removed on 407 East on April 5, 2022, why did the PC Party commit to remove tolls if elected in our recent provincial election? I’m really confused on this subject; What is the truth on these tolls?” said the resident who made the inquiry.
Tolls on Highways 412 and 418 have been removed. However, residents, who called up Highway 407 officials, reported that the toll on Highway 407 East is still in place.
The official website also mentions toll rates effective from June 1, 2024.
There have been repeated calls by both some Durham municipalities and residents to remove the toll in these times of high cost of living.
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Its simple. Stop all payments to ETR 407. If we all collectively stop payments they will have no choice. Legally they cannot suspend you DL or fine you.