To lower congestion, the municipal government is looking at mobility pricing for the Downtown core.

Traffic on Cambie Street, one of the areas involved in the proposed mobility pricing / Pixabay

In their new Climate Emergency Action Plan released earlier this week, the City of Vancouver has proposed tolls for downtown roads. The fees are an effort to limit traffic and lower emissions, while also encouraging public transit usage and providing funding for environmental infrastructure.

The new toll plan would charge a user fee for roads in the Vancouver peninsula and Broadway corridor. London, England uses a similar structure and has been successful in lowering their emissions by 10-20%.

Affordability, impact on residents, and effectiveness are among the concerns of drivers. Though still in the suggestion phase, many feel the current economic crisis is not the right time.

If approved, the new system would likely start in 2025 along with the Millennium line SkyTrain expansion. The city of Vancouver is presenting the full Climate Emergency Action plan next Wednesday, November 3rd.