Watch the video above: Sean Mallen explains why Toronto may once again dominate the list of Ontario’s worst roads.
TORONTO – CAA South Central Ontario (CAA SCO) has launched its annual Worst Roads campaign.
Over the course of the next four weeks, Ontarians can vote online for the roads most in need of repair or redesign.
“One of the objectives of this campaign is to encourage governments to spend the money, plan for the maintenance of our roads,” said Faye Lyons of CAA South Central Ontario during a press conference Tuesday.
Road safety advocates say municipalities across the province need a dedicated fund to help them plan and forecast road maintenance and repair.
“If the senior levels of government were to dedicate a percentage of the gas tax back to municipalities, I think they’d have the better ability to plan for it,” Lyons said.
The provincial excise tax currently stands at 14.7 cents on every litre of gas and diesel sold in Ontario which generated approximately $3.1 billion in 2012-2013.
The Ontario Road Builders’ Association, who has partnered up with the CAA SCO on the campaign, says the harsh winter this season has caused more damage than usual.
“A number of different factors, not to mention the winter conditions, but also the fluctuating temperatures that have played a huge contributing factor into the increase of potholes that we are seeing in the roads,” said Ashley DeSousa, Director of Government Relations at the Ontario Road Builders’ Association.
In 2013, Toronto’s Dufferin Street was voted the worst road in Ontario for two years in a row.
Since the CAA’s Worst Roads List was created, Dufferin Street has been nominated seven times while Steeles Avenue has earned eight tallies.
Ontario’s Top 10 Worst Roads in 2013:
1. Dufferin Street (Toronto)
2. Burlington Street East (Hamilton)
3. Finch Avenue West (Toronto)
4. Kraft Creek Road (Timmins)
5. Bayview Avenue (Toronto)
6. Lawrence Avenue East (Toronto)
7. Wharncliffe Road South (London)
8. Bouvier Road (Clarence-Rockland)
9. Carling Avenue (Ottawa)
10. Stanley Avenue (Niagara Falls)
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