Additional sales taxes, increased property taxes, and a tax on commercial parking spaces are just some of the 11 funding options being considered to pay for a long overdue transit expansion in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
According to Ontario’s Premier, Ontarians will know by next spring how the provincial government wants to pay for the public transit expansion that is needed to make a dent in the GTA’s traffic gridlock. On Wednesday, the Premier announced the appointment of an expert panel to examine the controversial, but crucial, funding options identified by Metrolinx, the province’s transit authority.
“Releasing the government’s transit-funding plan in the spring could mean the measures will be included in a March budget” writes Rob Ferguson, “requiring support from the Progressive Conservatives or New Democrats to avoid an election.”
“But both parties,” he continues, “have rejected tax increases to pay for transit expansion, saying Ontarians are hard-pressed to afford another hit in the pocketbook.”
FULL STORY: Transit: Kathleen Wynne names panel to report on revenue sources
Cost Estimates Nearly Double for Toronto Light Rail Plan
Cost estimate for Toronto's proposed Eglinton East LRT have ballooned from $2.3 billion to as much as $4.4 billion.
Less Free Parking for Transit Commuters in Southern Ontario
Transit planners in the region around Toronto are planning a "parking modernization" program that will charge for parking at GO stations and hope to provide new ways to access the system—without a car.
Toronto Mayor Proposes New Property Taxes to Fund Transit and Housing
The proposal by Mayor John Tory is being hailed as a game changer in Canada's most populous city.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
California Grid Runs on 100% Renewable Energy for Over 9 Hours
The state’s energy grid was entirely powered by clean energy for some portion of the day on 37 out of the last 45 days.
New Forecasting Tool Aims to Reduce Heat-Related Deaths
Two federal agencies launched a new, easy-to-use, color-coded heat warning system that combines meteorological and medical risk factors.
AI Traffic Management Comes to Dallas-Fort Worth
Several Texas cities are using an AI-powered platform called NoTraffic to help manage traffic signals to increase safety and improve traffic flow.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
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