The Harbor Bridge has been a thorn in Saint John’s side for many years. We have been paying interest on a loan that cost us the taxpayers many millions of unnecessary dollars. So now that we are paralleled with Ottawa having a Tory government here this will be a test of the old school of politics as usually Ottawa cozy’s up when the same color is Provincial. The excuse for not getting it done previously is the Province of New Brunswick says it’s the Feds responsibility because they look after two bridges in Quebec. The Federal Government came back and said is prepared to forgive the bridge's outstanding debt of $22.6 million and pay half of the $35 million refurbishment bill - $17.5 million. So for the last amount of years the citizens of Saint John have been on the hook for something used by the entire Province. So first we need in place a cost share Provincial /Federal guarantee for funding and the loan gone. Still the provincial cost still needs to be paid via taxes or at the toll booth. Once again we saw Politicking going on and this time they are using the citizens of Saint John as their Ginny Pigs .It is the citizens of Saint John that use this bridge to get back and forth to work or get around the city. So the previous Graham government once again was playing politics if not why was Jack Keir involved, it is neither his riding nor portfolio. So once again I say politicking using grand standing to take away from his attempt to get the Tax Payers of our Province to pay for their short comings.
Presently we are in the worst deficits in our provinces history approximately $8.4 Billion dollars. So if we completely remove the tolls then where does the money come from? Why again should the people or business in the city be on the hook for the previous governments’ grand standing as this had been in the news since last spring? The PC’s during their election platform said remove the tolls so where does the money come from for maintenance as it is estimated at $1.6 to $1.8 million per year.
A simple suggestion of stop playing Politics and get the bridge fixed before it is in such disrepair that it is un-repairable and then the people of Saint John are reduced to using the reversing Falls Bridge which is like a mountain bike trail on its best of days. The next thing is it is a 22.5 million pay down off its debt. This is a true pay down with the interest no longer accruing and the only thing left is future repairs. So address that now not a lump sum payment because we have already seen how the Liberals are such great money managers of our Province. Remember your MOU and CPI? The bridge authority still employs people so if we take off the tolls there will be more lost jobs. Bravo gentlemen create more unemployment for Saint John.
How do we keep the people working at the toll booth and make sure your taxes does not go up to pay for maintenance? The last thing we need in Saint John is more unemployment as it is sitting at 9.4% as per the Telegraph Journal. So let’s look at the smart way of doing things not just look for the normal Liberal/PC quick fix or so they have an influx of cash to pay down the provincial debt they created.
This is the fiscally responsible plan I put forward:
The B-Pass is something that can not only be used as a tool to maintain proper traffic flow but also give a direct forecast to those looking at what they have in coffers. This can easily be set up with the Provincial License we pay each year to drive in the Province. The B-Pass as per looking at cost is around 9$ direct purchase from the manufacture they are currently using and a few adjustments to the Oracle Program that is used for the province for licensing.
For the people that work and reside in the greater Saint John area that are passenger vehicle’s charge a flat fee of $50 per year by just taking 2 rides across a day 5 days a week 50 weeks of the year saves people $450 per year. The clauses to take part in this must stipulate people living or working in Saint John County. The people that live outside that want to travel through pay a reasonable toll that one dedicated lane in and out of the city is set aside for their use.
This alone generates with the living and working people based on current travel trends on the bridge approx 5.9 million dollars of exact dollars for reinvestment and keeping people employed that work on the bridge without taking into consideration Commercial traffic. I also suggest having speed cameras posted that take your license plate and if over a certain limit appropriate fines given as one of my friends that work their almost got ran over by a careless driver.
We already know you're out to lunch. No proof required!
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