1 The early years are described in Bryan (1972)
2 Nix & Jones (1995) The information in this report is based on interviews conducted in December 1994.
3 Transport Canada (2000), Table 3-5
5 Ibid. , Table 3-4 shows $344.5 in transfers for all programs from all departments. Submissions to the CTA Review Panel by The Coalition to Renew Canada's Infrastructure show transfers by Transport Canada for highway agreements at only $212 million. Derkson & Shurvell (1999) show Transport Canada's transfers at $198 million.
6 Statistics Canada, Cat #53-218
7 Transport Canada's T-Facts provides excise tax revenues by fuel, by jurisdiction, but the latest figures available are for 1996/97. The total shown on Table 1 ($4,034 million) is only for fuel sold for road vehicles. The total amount collected by the excise tax would be somewhat larger (?5-6%) than this.
8 Provincial tax rates are listed in Transport Canada's T-Facts (energy.xls); territorial rates were provided by Manitoba Highways and Government Services. The figures shown on the table, given the estimates of fuel sales in some cases and the use of calander-year sales, will differ from finance departments figures on revenues from these taxes by a small amount.
9 Nix (1995). This is still the source of numbers used in Transport Canada's annual report.
10 The only minor changes made to the 1995 data are: (1) PEI - provincial roads increased from 5,128 to 5,658 km, (2) NB's latest annual report shows 21,300 kilometres of provincial roads versus the 18,480 2-lane equivalent km in the 1995 figures. As a rough estimate, the 1995 figure has been increased to 22,000 (ie, 21,300 route km = roughly 22,000 2-lane equivalent km).
11 Transport Canada (2000), Table 3-2
12 Transport Canada (2000), Table 3-2 shows provincial fuel tax revenues net of an allowance for the sales tax in 1998/99 at $6.25 billion or $0.55 billion lower than the amount shown in Table 1.
13 Transport Canada (2000) shows total transportation expenses in Nfld (all modes) of $226 million and federal transfers of $71 million (Table 3-5). Transfers for roads amounted to $58 million according to a table included in the Submission to the CTA Review Panel by The Coalition to Renew Canada's Infrastructure. The source for this table is listed as "Transport Canada Current Highway Contribution to Provinces & Territories, Cash Flow Report." This source is used in other descriptions of provincial and territorial finance policies. Derkson & Shurvell (1999) show $67 million.
15 Information on average federal funding is from PEI Department of Transportation and Public Works (2001). Derkson & Shurvell (1999) show no transfers from Transport Canada as of 2000/01.
16 The Coalition to Renew Canada's Infrastructure shows $36; Derkson & Shurvell (1999) show $42 million.
18 The Coalition to Renew Canada's Infrastructure shows $74 million in total. This presumably includes Fixed Link payments although other sources show these ending before fiscal year 1998/99. Derkson & Shurvell (1999) show $35 million-$34 for the Highway Improvement Program and $1 million as the last payment for the Atlantic Freight Transition Program.
21 Most information in this paragraph is from Byran (1972)
23 SNC-Lavalin. 1994. Identification et conditions d'application de nouvelles sources de financement pour le réseau routier québécois. Report for the Quebec Ministry of Transport.
24 Information from Maurice Boucher, Direction de planification, Service des orientations stratégiques, Ministère des transports du Québec
25 Public Works Financing V 139, pp 37-38
27 Harold F. Gilbert, quoted in RTAC News, Vol 12, no. 5 Sept-Oct 1986.
28 TAC News, Vol 21, no. 4 July-August 1995
29 Ontario Ministry of Transportation (1997), p 2
31 Jim Wilkes, "Ottawa urged to help pay for road repairs," Toronto Star, 16 May 2000
32 The name of the report and the authors has been misplaced but it is believed that Barry Prentice at the University of Manitoba was one of the authors.
33 Information on this potential Manitoba program is from an article by John Curran in Truck News, February 2001. Curran's source was Don Norquay, ADM of MH&GS.
34 Most material in this paragraph was developed from the Saskatchewan Departement of Highways and Transportation web site (www.gov.sk.ca/hiways/)
36 Alberta Transportation and Utilities, 1994, p 7
38 Price Waterhouse, 1994, Alberta Transportation and Utilities: Framework for Public-Private Partnerships in Transportation Infrastructure
39 Material in this paragraph based on Seymour (1992) and Bryan (1972)
41 BC, Consumer Taxation Branch Bulletin 099, April 1999.
42 (BC) Committee to Review Gasoline Prices in British Columbia (1999), p 16.
43 Government of the Northwest Territories Department of Transportation (2000), p 24
44 The source for all information shown up to the 1960s is Bryan (1972)
45 The first numbers are from the table in the submission of the The Coalition to Renew Canada's Infrastructure, the second numbers are from Transport Canada (2000), Table 3-4
46 National Highway Policy Study Steering Committee, Phase 4 report, p 14
47 Gillen and Oum (1992), p 574
49 National Highway Policy Study Steering committee, Phase 4 report, p 12
50 Lockwood (1997) lists 10 objectives for PPP. One of them is "additional financial resources,"which is typically achieved when private sector interests can charge tolls.
52 Traffic volumes for toll facilities:
(1) Halifax-Dartmouth Bridges: estimates for the year 2000 given in testimony before the NS Standing Committee on Public Accounts on Nov 15, 2000.
(2) Cobequid Pass: Highway 104 Western Alignment Corporation web site (www.cobequidpass.com)
(3) Confederation Bridge: no information available. However, several sources suggest AADT on NHS highways in PEI are in the range of 4,000-to-5,000. Transport Canada (2000), p 88 shows NHS highway on both sides of the bridge at "less than 5,000" in 1996. Leore (1997) shows NHS highways in PEI with an average of 4,200 in 1996 and the TransCanada in PEI with 3,700 for the same year (Table 3). As a rough estimate, then, the figure of "about 4,000" is used on the table.
(4) Saint John Harbour Bridge: Saint John Harbour Bridge Authority, Annual Report, for fiscal year ending March 31, 2000.
(5) Seaway International Bridge: Statistics Canada's International Travel Survey for 1999 shows 1,057,218 vehicles entering Canada over this bridge. Estimated AADT is 5,793 [(1,057,218 * 2)/365]
(6) Ogdensburg-Prescott Bridge: Statistics Canada's International Travel Survey for 1999 shows 258,587 vehicles entering Canada over this bridge. Estimated AADT is 1,417 [(258,587 * 2)/365]
(7) Thousand Islands International Bridge: Statistics Canada's International Travel Survey for 1999 shows 869,546 vehicles entering Canada over this bridge. Estimated AADT is 4,765 [(869,546 * 2)/365]. Although this is the figure used in the table, it may be lower than the true figure. "New York Toll Facilities" (www.ettm.com/ny/html) shows current "transactions" at 2,201,483-ie, presumably an AADT of 6,031.
(8) Highway 407: www.407etr.com, Dec 19/00
(9) Lewiston-Queenston Bridge: Statistics Canada's International Travel Survey for 1999 shows 2,175,937 vehicles entering Canada over this bridge. Estimated AADT is 11,923 [(2,175,937 * 2)/365]
(10) Whirlpool Rapids Bridge: Statistics Canada's International Travel Survey for 1999 shows 216,998 vehicles entering Canada over this bridge. Estimated AADT is 1,189 [(216,998 * 2)/365]
(11) Rainbow Bridge: Statistics Canada's International Travel Survey for 1999 shows 2,052,196 vehicles entering Canada over this bridge. Estimated AADT is 11,245 [(2,052,196 * 2)/365]
(12) Peace Bridge: Statistics Canada's International Travel Survey for 1999 shows 3,988,608 vehicles entering Canada over this bridge. Estimated AADT is 21,855 [(3,988,608 * 2)/365]
(13) Ambassador Bridge & Detroit-Windsor Tunnel: Because traffic figures for the Ambassador Bridge are not in the public domain, Statistics Canada's International Travel Survey combines the numbers for the bridge with those for the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. In 1999, there was a combined total of 10,736,458 vehicles entering Canada through these two points. This suggests a total two-way flow of 21.5 million. The Detroit Windsor Tunnel web site (www.dwtunnel.com) list annual traffic as "over 9 million." Therefore, for here it is estimated that Ambassador handles 12.5 million (AADT = 34,247) and the tunnel handles 9.0 million (AADT = 24,658).
(14) Blue Water Bridge: The bridge's web site (www.bwba.org) shows 5,545,320 vehicles in 1999 (AADT = 15,193). This is close to the number suggested by doubling Statistics Canada's International Travel Survey for 1999.
(15) Sault Ste Marie Bridge: Statistics Canada's International Travel Survey for 1999 shows 1,307,857 vehicles entering Canada over this bridge. Estimated AADT is 7,166 [(1,307,857 * 2)/365]. The International Bridge Authority itself reports 2000 calendar year traffic at 2,688,636 (news release dated Jan 3/01)-AADT = 7,366.
(16) Fort Francis-International Falls Bridge: Statistics Canada's International Travel Survey for 1999 shows 463,319 vehicles entering Canada over this bridge. Estimated AADT is 2,539 [(463,319 * 2)/365].
(17) Coquihalla: BC MoTH Annual Report 1997/98 suggests total volumes in fiscal year 1997/98 were "almost" 2.7 million vehicles (2.7 million/365 = 7,397 AADT).
53 Actual or estimated toll revenues were developed as follows:
(1) Halifax-Dartmouth Bridges: Annual Report, 1999
(2) Cobequid Pass: financial statement for year ending March 31, 2000; www.cobequidpass.com
(3) Confederation Bridge: no information available. However, SG Hambros (1999), p 107 notes that net toll revenues were projected to be $18 million after the first year of operation (1997-98).
(4) Saint John Harbour Bridge: Saint John Harbour Bridge Authority, Annual Report 1999-2000
(5) Seaway International Bridge: US DoT (1999) shows 1997 toll revenues at US $2.6 million and "New York Toll Facilities" (www.ettm.com/ny.html) shows 1998 toll revenues at US $2.7 million. It is assumed that these are gross revenues (ie, before any split among the owners). Current toll revenues are estimated as 1.5 * 2.7 = CDN $4.1 million.
(6) Ogdensburg Bridge: US DoT (1999) shows 1997 toll revenues as US $1.03 million and "New York Toll Facilities" (www.ettm.com/ny.html) shows 1997 toll revenues at US $1.2 million. Toll revenues are estimated (half way between the two) as 1.5 * 1.1 = CDN $ 1.7.
(7) Thousand Islands International Bridge: US DoT (1999) shows 1997 revenues at US $ 6.9 million of which $5.45 is from tolls. Toll revenues are estimated as 1.5 * 5.45 = CDN $ $8.2.
(8) Highway 407: "Highway 407 ETR," World Highways, Route One Publishing, UK, 1998 shows the original forecasts at $89 million in 1999 and $156 million in 2010.
(9) Lewiston-Queenston Bridge: According to US DoT figures for 1994 ("Receipts of State-Administered Toll Road and Crossing Facilities - 1994"), the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission (Lewiston-Queenston, Whirlpool and Rainbow bridges) had toll revenues of $US 7.6 million. In 1999, Queenston-Lewiston carried 48.95% of the 3-bridge traffic so guestimate US $ 3.72 or 3.72*1.5 = CDN $5.6 million.
(10) Whirlpool Rapids Bridge: According to US DoT figures for 1994 ("Receipts of State-Administered Toll Road and Crossing Facilities - 1994"), the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission (Lewiston-Queenston, Whirlpool and Rainbow bridges) had toll revenues of $US 7.6 million. In 1999, Whirlpool carried 4.88% of the 3-bridge traffic so guestimate US $ .37 or .37*1.5 = CDN $0.6 million.
(11) Rainbow Bridge: According to US DoT figures for 1994 ("Receipts of State-Administered Toll Road and Crossing Facilities - 1994"), the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission (Lewiston-Queenston, Whirlpool and Rainbow bridges) had toll revenues of $US 7.6 million. In 1999, Rainbow carried 46.17% of the 3-bridge traffic so guestimate US $ 3.51 or 3.51*1.5 = CDN $5.3 million.
(12) Peace Bridge: US DoT (1999) shows 1997 toll revenues of US $14.665 million. "New York Toll Facilities" (www.ettm.com/ny.html) shows total 1999 revenues as US $21.4 million (this probably includes more than tolls). Revenues are estimated as 1.5 * 15 = CDN $22.5 million.
(13) Ambassador Bridge: Financial information is not public. However, with estimated traffic volumes of over 12 million and a $3 toll for automobiles, it is not difficult to estimate that total revenues are over CDN $40 million. A news item in the Detroit News (Peter Waldmeir, Sept 28, 1997) notes that toll revenues exceed US $20 million.
(14) Detroit-Windsor Tunnel: no financial information has been located. However, web site (www.dwtunnel.com) suggests annual traffic is "over 9 million" Assuming an average toll of CDN $4 (it is $2.75 for a car), suggests over $36 million. For here, a figure of $38 million is used.
(15) Blue Water Bridge: Michigan Department of Transportation "Michigan Toll Facilities" shows US $9,765,000 in toll revenues for the year ending Sept 2000. This is for the US side only. For here, it is estimated that total revenues are 2 * 9,765,000 * 1.5 = CDN $29.3 million. A US DoT source shows 1977 tolls revenues at US $7.5 million-again, it is understood that this is for the MdoT side of the bridge.
(16) Sault Ste Marie Bridge: Michigan Department of Transportation "Michigan Toll Facilities" shows no revenues for this bridge. US DoT sources ("Toll Facilities") show 1997 revenues at US $6.7 million of which $5.7 are from tolls. (1.5 * 5.7 = CDN $8.6). The International Bridge Authority itself (correspondence with L. Bourdlais) reports calendar year 2000 toll revenues at $6,618,686 (it is believed this is in US funds; Cdn = 1.5 * 6.6 = $9.9 million).
(17) Fort Francis-International Falls Bridge: The Statistics Canada traffic volumes (doubled) were multiplied by Oct 1/00 toll rates: 885,726 cars * $4.50 + 40,912 trucks * $12.
(18) Coquihalla:
54 To calculate this number, AADT on Table 1 are multiplied by the length of the facility and then multiplied by 365. The exceptions are that (1) in the case of the international bridges and tunnels, only half the distance is used, and (2) in the case of 407, it is estimated that average daily traffic (weekday and weekend) is 205,151 and the average trip is 10 km. These numbers for Highway 407 are simply guesswork.
55 Statistics Canada's new Canadian Vehicle Survey (cat #53F0000XIE or Transport Canada's TP 13627E) estimates a total 140.8 billion vkt in the 4th quarter of 1999 and the 1st quarter of 2000. Doubling, this suggests 281.7 billion vkt a year. Since travel probably peaks in the summer, this understates the true amount. In any case, 1.5 billion vkt on toll facilities is 0.5% of this estimated total vkt. Travel on the NHS (79.2 billion) is given in Transport Canada (2000), p 87.
58 www.cobequidpass.com, January 2001.
65 www.confederationbridge.com, Dec 2000
70 Saint John Harbour Bridge Authority
71 Statistics Canada, International Travel Survey
72 Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
73 New York State Consolidated Laws, Title 8 Ogdensburg Bridge Authority, S 703.
74 The Niagara Falls Bridge Commission, which operates the bridge, refers to it as the Lewiston Queenston Bridge (rin.buffalo.edu/c_niag/infr/brid_niag.html). "Bridges Over Niagara Falls" (www.iaw.com/~falls.bridges.html) refers to it as the Queenston Lewiston Bridge.
75 "Niagara Falls Bridge Commission: History" (rin.buffalo.edu/c_niag/infr/brid_niag.html).
80 Michigan information: Michigan DoT: www.mdot.state.mi.us/bluewaterbridge/history.html visited Feb/01. The Canadian source is "A Historical Look at the Federal Government's Involvement in Highway Infrastructure" on Transport Canada's web site.
81 Transport Canada's web site ("A Historical Look . . . ") seems to suggest that the total costs (for both operators) was CDN $95 to $105 million. However, the MDoT web site indicates that the US share of the cost was US $62.6 million.
82 Some sources refer to the FHWA money as a grant. However, Theresa S. Petko (Michigan DoT), in a paper at a TRB/FHWA/etc conference in Dallas in April 1997, refers to it as a loan.
83 http://levin.senate.gov/releases/031198c.htm
84 US Department of Transportation (1999)
85 SG Hambros (1999). Most information in the first 6 paragraphs are taken from this report. The fact that job creation was one of the goals is from p 72; information on the proposals failing the financial goals is from p 76; information on the government's lower borrowing costs is from p 85; and the quote from the provincial Auditor is from p 74.
86 Information in the sale of 407 and the matter of tolls is from a government press release: Ontario Office of Privatization, Queen's Park (www.gov.on.ca/privatiz/), press release dated April 16, 1999.
87 Kasianchuk (1985), p 21; Seymour (1992), p 20
89 RTAC News, Vol 10, no 3, May-June 1984
91 Waters & Meyers (1987), p 502
92 BCMoTH annual report for 1997/98 gives the figure "almost 2.9 million" (the 1999/2000 annual report does not appear to contain traffic figures.) Original forecasts are not known, but Waters & Meyers (1987) not that 313 million kilometres were forecast to be diverted. 313 million/189km = 1.66 million trips.
93 Distances are as shown in the FHWA's 1999 edition of Toll Facilities in the United States . . . .they exclude the portions that lie outside the territorial limits of the US (ie, in Canada or Mexico). The numbers of toll bridges, tunnels and roads given in the text are very approximate as they are based on a quick count of the number of lines in the table included in this publication with some judgement being exercised as to where a line represented a completely separate facility or just another section of a facility that had already been counted.
95 From a variety of sources (web pages, annual reports, the US DoT's "Tolled Facilities,") and some guesswork, these are the lengths of toll facilities:
(1) Halifax-Dartmouth Bridges: guestimate 1 km each
(2) Cobequid Pass: 45 km
(3) Confederation Bridge: 13 km
(4) Saint John Harbour Bridge: guestimate 1 km
(5) Seaway International Bridge: 4.02 km
(6) Ogdensburg-Prescott Bridge: 3.54 km
(7) Thousand Islands International Bridge: 13.7 km
(8) Highway 407: 69 km
(9) Lewiston-Queenston Bridge: 0.49 km
(10) Whirlpool Rapids Bridge: 0.33 km
(11) Rainbow Bridge: 0.44 km
(12) Peace Bridge: 1.77 km
(13) Ambassador Bridge: 2.74 km
(14) Detroit-Windsor Tunnel: 1.56 km
(15) Blue Water Bridge: 2.0 + 2.41 km (two bridges)
(16) Sault Ste Marie Bridge: 3.86 km
(17) Fort Francis-International Falls Bridge: 0.32 km
(18) Coquihalla: 195 km
97 "New York Toll Facilities" (www.ettm.com/ny.html)
98 Transport Canada (2000), p 87
102 letter from Ken Dobell, CEO, dated Oct 27, 2000.
103 Frank Condon, "Vancouver Council Okays Vehicle Levy," Truck News, January 2001. Condon's main source appears to be Paul Landry of the BC Trucking Association. According to Landry, the logical agency to collect the new vehicle fee would be ICBC-the provincially-owned insurance agency which both registers and insures vehicles. However, Landry is quoted as saying that ICBC "has so far refused to do it (collect the vehicle fee)". Manitoba Trucking Association's Newsletter (Feb 9/01) simply reports that the "provincial government . . . agreed to not support the vehicle levy or aid TransLink in its collection." Truck News (Feb 12/01) reports that TransLink is now considering asking for a 2¢/litre increase in fuel taxes in the Vancouver area.
104 All information is from the Premier's Task Force Report on Infrastructure
105 Information interpreted from « Loi sur AMT L.R.Q., c.A-7.02 »
106 Transportation Association of Canada (1998)
107 TransLink. 2000. Submission to Canada Transportation Act Review Panel. The very first recommendation (p 1) is "That the Government of Canada develop and fund a comprehensive transportation infrastructure investment program supporting both national and local transportation needs." This possibility is also mentioned in TransLink's strategic plan. The very first item in the GTSB's recent strategic plan ("GTSB Strategic Transportation Plan - Action for Implementation," June 30, 2000 available at www.gtsb.on.ca) is to "engage" provincial and federal governments in a "Transportation Investment Partnership."
108 Heggie and Vickers (1998) and Heggie (1999)
112 The first six paragraphs of this section are adapted from material in Heggie et al (1999)
114 This material is a summary of pp 96-107 of Heggie (1999)
122 BCTFA, 2000/01 Performance Plan, p 3.
125 BCTFA, Annual Report, p 36. There are other "peculiar" aspects to BCTFA's financial arrangements not mentioned in the text. For example, it lists as an asset 11,000 fully transferable share purchase warrants in Ballard Power Systems. It may make sense for the BC government to have a position in Ballard Power, but what is an agency charged with financing capital expenditures on roads doing with these?
126 This is quite a rough estimate: tolls - $279, BCTFA - $175, TransLink - $235, Victoria (? Half a million litres * 2.5¢ = $14 thousand), Edmonton - $65, Calgary - $85, Saskatchewan's Partnership program (? Possibly $1 million), Montréal (? 2.7 million litres * 1.5¢ = $41 thousand) = grand total of $840.2 million.
127 Provincial fuel - $6.8, federal fuel - $4.0 (this is on road-use fuels only), licences (vehicles, drivers) - $3.1, tolls - $0.3. Together, these equal $14.2 billion. There are various other permit fees and other amounts that probably should be added to the total.