Highway Robbery

So, the folks at the 407 ETR are increasing the tolls on the highway again? As a resident of North Burlington (approximately 5 minutes from the on ramp), and a commuter to the 401 and Islington area in Toronto, I find this appalling. When this highway was built (by our tax dollars), I can remember the toll being around 4 cents a km off hours, and 7 cents a km peak time. We are now looking at 12.95 cents a km peak and 12.10 cents off hours! When our government sold the highway to a private company (at a loss), we were told that the rates would not rise by a great deal. What a joke! Since the 7 cent a kilometre days, the toll has increased 85\% during peak time, and over 300 \% in non-peak hours. Here is my problem:

When I moved to Burlington 4 years ago, it took me approximately 15 minutes to drive hwy. 5 to the 403. With the building that has occurred during the past few years, it now takes over 30 minutes. I understand the growth in the area, however due to the amount of time spent in the car, I am now forced to either use the 407, or drive to the QEW and take my chances. From Appelby Line to the 403 (in the 407 world, this is 15.22 km, but on my odometer it is more like 12 km), it will now cost me $1.97 per trip. If I take this two times a day, five days a week, four weeks a month, it will cost me $78.80 a month, plus $2.00 for the transponder for a grand total of almost $1000.00 a year. At 7 cents per km, this would cost $42.61, or $535.00 per year.

Will someone please help us? How can this company get away with Highway Robbery (pun intended)? Is our provincial government asleep at the wheel? Once again, they have blatantly lied to us. Am I the only one that feels like this (I hope not)? My only recourse here, and I think everyone that commutes should think the same way, is NOT to use the 407 again until the toll is eliminated (or brought down to a reasonable level) . If I drove the same distance on the New York State thruway, my cost would be 50 cents (78 cents Canadian), less than half the price! And if an out of province car enters the road, they do not pay! Our taxes in Ontario are such that we should not be required to pay to use a road at all. When you combine income tax, gas tax, sin tax, property taxes, GST and PST, don't you think it is enough? It is time that the provincial government grew a spine and stepped in. Enough is Enough!

The ultimate goal in this petition is to get the Ontario Provincial Government to step in and revoke the contract that they signed with the owners of Highway 407. This is a highway that we, the taxpayers, paid for, and then sold by the Ontario government at a loss. We were told that increases were minimal. The tolls have risen by 85\% during peak time and over 300 \% non-peak times.
We, as Canadians have become too complacent and let things slide. Let's change that now.

Regards,

Donald Parkhill
(One irate commuter)
Burlington, Ontario