Talking Tolls: What's leadership got to do with it?

With politicians across Ontario and Canada in need of road pricing education, this press release was issued to media in advance of the Transport Futures Leadership Summit that took place on June 18, 2010.

Talking Tolls: What’s leadership got to do with it?

TORONTO, June 13, 2010. The Transport Futures road pricing conversation continues on June 18th when ten politicians from across North America provide their insights as to what kind of leadership is required to forge ahead with tolls in the face of significant opposition.

Over 100 delegates are registered to talk tolls with Oregon Senator Bruce Starr, New York City Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito, Langley Mayor Peter Fassbender, Montreal Councillor Richard Bergeron, Tory MPP Frank Klees, NDP MPP Gilles Bisson, Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner, Toronto Councillor Peter Milczyn, Vaughn Councillor Joyce Frustaglio and Caledon Councillor Allan Thompson.

“We set out to turn down the rhetoric and turn up the understanding of road pricing systems in 2008” says Martin Collier, director of Healthy Transport Consulting (HTC) and founder of Transport Futures. “Indeed, we’ve been on the forefront of staging the ‘intelligent conversation’ that Ontario Transportation Minister Kathleen Wynne has said ‘must happen’.”

Global case studies and research explored by Transport Futures has shown that road pricing is part of the solution to traffic congestion, safety issues, infrastructure funding, air quality and climate change challenges. Yet there are many other tangible benefits for Ontario citizens: an efficient and reliable transportation network means more time with family, more sleep, less vehicle wear and tear and arriving on time for work.

“Now we have to find out what kind of leadership attributes are necessary to implement road pricing and other solutions”, states Andy Manahan of the Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario (RCCAO), a Transport Futures partner since the inaugural forum two years ago.

“We’re glad to see that Toronto Mayor David Miller, Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion, Environmental Commissioner Gord Miller, Toronto City Summit Alliance Chair John Tory, the Board of Trade and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development(OECD) have all recently said the same thing: if we really want a 21st century transportation system that is sustainable, road pricing must be considered as part of the package.”

The Transport Futures Road Pricing and Leadership Summit is presented by HTC in association with the RCCAO, 407 ETR, LIUNA Local 183, Halcrow Consulting and several other key sponsors and supporters.

WHEN: Friday, June 18, 2010, 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: Metropolitan Hotel, 108 Chestnut Street, Mandarin Ballroom (lower level)