Majority disapprove of turning HOV lanes into toll lanes: poll

TORONTO – It seems a majority of motorists disapprove of the idea of turning high-occupancy lanes into toll lanes, according to a new poll.

The Mainstreet Technologies survey conducted for Postmedia indicates 51 per cent don’t like the idea while 43 per cent approve.

Premier Kathleen Wynne said last month the temporary HOV lanes set up in the Toronto and Hamilton area for the Games will not become permanent, but they will likely return in the form of toll lanes.

Wynne said the Liberals have made it clear they intend to create toll lanes that would let motorists without any passengers pay to use HOV lanes normally reserved for vehicles with at least one passenger.

READ MORE: More than 3,700 traffic tickets issued by police during Pan Am Games

The province believes the tolls will be an important revenue source to help fund the Liberal’s $130 billion, 10-year transit and infrastructure plan.

The “Toronto Issues” poll also found 58 percent of respondents approve of Toronto making a bid to host the 2024 Summer Olympics with 38 per cent disapproving.

Toronto Mayor John Tory has said the city will look at the feasibility of hosting the Olympics only after the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games are over.

Canadian Olympic Committee President Marcel Aubut said last month he will “use the full power of his office” to push for the bid, which would mark the city’s third official attempt to host the Olympics.

READ MORE: Toronto has all sport venues except a track and field stadium for Olympic bid

Poll respondents also overwhelming thought the Pan Am Games have been a hit with 86 per cent believing the event was successful and only 10 per cent saying it was not.

On the issue of the province’s plan to create its own pension plan, 59 per cent of those surveyed said they would approve while 27 per cent said they would not.

Wynne’s push for Ontario’s own plan has irked Prime Minister Stephen Harper over what the Liberal’s believe is the federal Conservative’s unwillingness to cooperate.

READ MORE: Ontario wants feds to co-operate on provincial pension plan

Earlier this week on the federal campaign trail, Harper took a veiled shot at Wynne while the premier said she would rather prefer to work with a new government.

The Mainstreet poll surveyed 2,415 residents with a margin of error of 1.99 per cent, 19 times out of 20.