Many worried removing the tolls from the Port Mann and Golden Ears Bridges would cause a huge influx in traffic, and it turns out that that fear was well founded.
In fact, few are surprised to learn that both bridges have experienced a substantial rise in the number of crossings every day.
One surprise, however, is the number itself. Translink just announced that they have seen an increase in 30,000 crossings per day for the Port Mann Bridge alone.
This figure is both astounding and troubling, as traffic congestion is already a major problem on the bridge; however, it has actually been a boon for the Pattullo Bridge.
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Pattullo And Port Mann Bridge
The Pattullo Bridge experiences a great deal of traffic congestion, and removing tolls on the Port Mann Bridge have eased some of its flow. In fact, crossings at the Pattullo have dropped 12 percent since September 1st.
The Golden Ears Bridge has also seen a rise in traffic of approximately 25 percent, indicating that the tolls were causing commuters to find alternative routes.
Another point of contention regarding the toll-free bridges is who will pay for their cost without the revenue generated from the tolls. While the city has proposed numerous ideas, many of them have adverse affects on the city.
