One month ahead of the provincial election, the B.C. Liberals announced Sunday they will cap tolls for commuters on the Port Mann and Golden Ears Bridges following the election. The B.C. NDP, meanwhile, said they plan to eliminate tolls on the two bridges.
According to a release from the B.C. Liberals, commuters could pay no more than $500 per year to cross the Port Mann and Golden Ears Bridges. The cap would also apply to the replaced Pattullo Bridge and the George Massey Tunnel Replacement once they are up and running.
The cap, which applies to personal vehicles with a TReO decal, could provide substantial savings for some regular commuters. The Liberals estimate that non-business weekday drivers with a TReO decal can spend approximately $1,600 a year crossing the Port Mann Bridge.
The B.C. Liberals estimate the toll caps, which would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2018, will cost the provincial government $30 million annually.
At a rally in Surrey on Sunday afternoon, NDP leader John Horgan said his party plans “to eliminate the tolls on the Port Mann Bridge and on the Golden Ears Bridge to make sure you can get home.”
“It’s not fair to people living south of the Fraser … that you pay the price of the delays the B.C. Liberals have caused,” he said.
WATCH: B.C. Liberals promise to cap bridge tolls