407 Etr

[vblanche]

WOW...received today a bill from 407 ETR...6 dollars for 3 kms...didn't even know that I went on 407...LOL

[cwp_sedan]

lol...and $4 of that would have been the toll/camera fee! :S

[sauga_kid]

Gotta get a transponder if you're riding the 407 regularly, those camera fees will kill you.

[vblanche]

thanks for advice. I don't use much the 407, I didn't even remember using it...it was after someone damaged the front bumper, so I guess I was upset...normally , I avoid these toll highways...except in France where every highways are "tolled":complain

[MattC]

its worth it getting a transponder.

if you use it 4-5 times its already paid for.

[Wild Weasel]

I used it by accident once in a rainstorm. Went one exit. I called them when I got the bill and they threw it out. :)

Once you end up on the ramp, there should be some sort of turn-off so you can avoid the cameras if you didn't intend to be there. :)

[Xerox]

fyi: if they cannot determine your exit point, they automatically charge you minimum one exit (if you do or do not have a transponder).

[Wild Weasel]

I thought that if they couldn't determine your exit point they would automatically charge you the maximum they can.

[Xerox]

I thought that if they couldn't determine your exit point they would automatically charge you the maximum they can.

I thought so too (I would imagine that most companies would do that and I know some States charge maximum if you loose the ticket on toll routes).

They've charge minimum on several occasion for my sister (with transponder) and for myself (without transponder). We've never done it on purpose :chuckle.

If they cannot determine exit point, I think in a way some could argue it's a problem with ETR's automated camera system and therefore the driver is not liable. (??)

[Caz]

They charge the minimum because it is their equipment that keeps track everything, in other words it is their fault if the records are incorrect. It happens to me all the time. I love getting the minimum charge.

[sp3GT]

Get the transponder I think it comes up to a dollar or two per month.

[MattC]

20$ a year.

$1.66 a month!

[WeatherB]

The transponder is definitely worth it!

I was late for a presentation once and I took it from Kennedy to Woodbine... Cost me $8 for about 6KM.

hehe

[sauga_kid]

If it wasn't for the convenience of saving time, I'd boycott the 407, it's a total rip off and they keep increasing the costs. I wish the MTO would build a major highway north of the 401, it would eleviate the traffic on the 401 and save us a whole lot of cash. Just my rant, sorry.

[MattC]

yeah, but since when did the government care about saving us money?

also, if we got another major artery in the city, we would go into debt so deep, that the costs you incur by taking the 407 would seem like chump change.

[Wild Weasel]

If it wasn't for the convenience of saving time, I'd boycott the 407, it's a total rip off and they keep increasing the costs. I wish the MTO would build a major highway north of the 401, it would eleviate the traffic on the 401 and save us a whole lot of cash. Just my rant, sorry.

That's exactly what the 407 was for. It wasn't originally planned as a toll highway. It just worked out that way when the damned gov't sold it to their friends. Now it will be a toll highway forever.

[Caz]

How would it save us money, the cost of building it would have to come from somewhere. Taxes FTW!

[sauga_kid]

That's exactly what the 407 was for. It wasn't originally planned as a toll highway. It just worked out that way when the damned gov't sold it to their friends. Now it will be a toll highway forever.

I know that that's what it was intended for, but like you have stated, the whole idea has gone south after they sold it off and it is now an eternal toll highway, leaving commuters with no other option but to pay:bang. With that in mind, we are left eternally paying to ride the damn thing and not only that, it is occupying precious right-of-way that should in my opinion be used to eleviate the traffic off of the 401.

[WeatherB]

Talking about taxes, anyone hear about the increasing property taxes and garbage taxes?

I rather get stuck in traffic than pay more taxes.

[dentinger]

hey how much are those transponders??
and what exactly do they do??

[Jeff-TheBiz]

JUst make sure you do use it enough to cover the $2 a month..

I just returned my transponder, what a headache, you can only bring it to the head office at Hwy 27 & Steeles, they suggested I take the 407... yeah right.

anyhow.. I never used it in over a yr and half.. $30 gone.

[Jeff-TheBiz]

Talking about taxes, anyone hear about the increasing property taxes and garbage taxes?

I rather get stuck in traffic than pay more taxes.

Kinda off topic but a reply none the less..

In Toronto they are also trying to charge an additional $20 on a vehicle registration at the MTO, read about it in an omvic newsletter

[MattC]

If you use it once or twice a year then its not worth while.

i use the 407 alot to get to meets etc, so a weekly basis... its really handy if you take it on off-hours... depending on where you go its usually around 2-5$ in miles.. well worth avoiding traffic

[sp3GT]

I use it everyday pretty much, it is somewhat pricey but it's worth it.

[Kevin@nextmod]

If its not a toll hwy, would you think it'll be free like this? Or will it end up like the 401 if its free.

[Caz]

I use it everyday pretty much, it is somewhat pricey but it's worth it.

+1

I save well over a half hour each way on my drive to and from work. That is over 20 hours a month. I car pool (drive every other week) and I pay around $75-$90 a month to the 407. Well worth the money for me.

[garboui]

i only use the 407 a handfull of times a year for getting across the city if i have no other choice but to go around rush hour. since ive had my MZ3 i havent had to pay yet. with the licence plate being low down on the bumper my hitch rack will block 1 letter or number weather if theres a bike on or not ;)

[sp3GT]

+1

I save well over a half hour each way on my drive to and from work. That is over 20 hours a month. I car pool (drive every other week) and I pay around $75-$90 a month to the 407. Well worth the money for me.

I car pool too, not sure how much time I save but definitely worth it.
I never thought about doing every other week, we do every other day right now.

[Caz]

I find the week I drive I am much more stressed than the week I am the passanger.

[WLS ZMZM]

you guys are right.. the original intentions for the 407 were it not to be a toll highway... however the government made it a toll highway in the beginning to help offset the cost of building it.... however, when the tolls were first started, people stopped taking it... so the government... (the genius' they are) decided they would sell the hwy and everything with it.... so it was bought by a company based out of quebec... and is now a private hwy... not a government regulated hwy..... as for building another hwy n/Toronto.... it will never happen... because it ended up costing the government way too much to build the 407.... it's worth the money for the transponder....especially when you come back from niagra or hamilton... its soooooo much faster.. same with heading down there....

[MajesticBlueNTO]

Brief history here of the 407 (http://www.onthighways.com/highway_407.htm)

The Ontario PC govt at the time sold the 407 to a consortium (where the majority stakeholder is from Spain) for $3.1 Billion US in order not to run a deficit in the budget. This was to skirt one of their own legislated Bills that stated the current government would be penalized for running a deficit in their budget statement.

Some likened this to selling your furniture to make the mortgage payment.

It was a boneheaded move yes, as the 407 rakes in a $hitload in tolls; however, since the sale, the highway has been extended, the lanes have been widened, road maintenance is far quicker than both municipal and provincially managed highways, their salters are out faster are more generous in the winter and, their customer service queue time has been drastically reduced. does it warrant the astronomical increase in tolls since the sale, no, but that's what happens when it is run by free enterprise with no competition.

[starwind]

but that's what happens when it is run by free enterprise with no competition.

The following quote from Wikipedia (note the last two sentences) (bold is added by me), if accurate, puts the above in an entirely different context:

"As part of a controversial plan to finance revenue for tax cuts, the highway was sold to a conglomerate of private companies in 1999 for $3.1 billion. The deal included an unprecedented 99-year lease agreement, unlimited control of the highway and its tolls. The government also may not build any nearby freeway which might potentially compete with 407. However, the Government maintained the ability to build a light transit system along the 407 right of way."

(source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highway_407_(Ontario) )

[sauga_kid]

^You are quoting wikipedia, although statements from there may be true, IMO wikipedia is not a reliable source.

[starwind]

^You are quoting wikipedia, although statements from there may be true, IMO wikipedia is not a reliable source.

Hence the "if accurate" in my post...

[WLS ZMZM]

Hence the "if accurate" in my post...

ouch.... looks like starwind had the bases covered...... :chuckle

[sauga_kid]

I wasn't calling him out, just stating wiki isn't reliable IMO, hence why I said it may be true that's all. Sorry if you took it the wrong way starwind, I'm not here to start any ish.

[starwind]

Not a problem at all :-)

Actually, trolling through Wikipedia can be rather entertaining at times :-)

And yes, although at times Wikipedia information is quite valid, at other times it is not -- overall, therefore, other sources are needed to confirm Wiki info.



(btw I would be a "she" :-) )

[MajesticBlueNTO]

Not a problem at all :-)

Actually, trolling through Wikipedia can be rather entertaining at times :-)

And yes, although at times Wikipedia information is quite valid, at other times it is not -- overall, therefore, other sources are needed to confirm Wiki info.



(btw I would be a "she" :-) )

Wikiality and truthiness (http://www.wikiality.com/Wikiality) at their best

[JMAK74]

How would it save us money, the cost of building it would have to come from somewhere. Taxes FTW!

(Caz - this isn't directed to you personally)

We're still paying for it - We pay for 407ETR bill collecting through the MTO - if you don't pay your bills owing to them for toll fees, it simply shows up the next time you want to renew your plates. To get your plates renewed, you have to pay the outstanding ETR fees.

So get this - a private corporation has managed to get the government to collect it's outstanding bills.
Last I checked, Revenue Canada doesn't collect Mastercards outstanding balances when they collect taxes from someone. To add to that, courts in Ontario ruled that the ETR407 corporation can collect by that means - talk about getting it from behind and someone not having the decency to give a reach around (just watched Full Metal Jacket last night... again...)


Odds are, ETR cancelled it's contracts/relations with any bill collecting company they had working for them - in other words, they reduced operating expenses which went to the owners pockets.

On another side not to the 407 - it was built with public money (our tax money).

JMAK

[iconicrocket]

I remember when they first opened up and it was free for a short length of time. lol. Barely anyone use it, and anyone who was, drove really fast.