We've got gridlock. What are we going to do about it? Too many motorists and politicians end up being merely reactive, fighting any attempt to take away road space for other uses, or putting more funds into transit and cycling. Coming next month to Toronto is Transport Futures 2009, a Toronto-based conference on road pricing and other financial measures to make the link between motorists using the road and what we pay. This will be the place to hear about the big picture.
Transport Futures provides a non-partisan venue where road pricing, distance-based insurance, parking and other financial measures are rationally discussed by government, business, labour organizations, NGOs, professional associations, academia and citizens-at-large.
At this year's forum you can:
- hear a range of government and business perspectives on public attitudes towards road pricing through international case studies and other cutting-edge research
- debate key road pricing issues relating to social equity, taxation, technology, governance and investment;
- provide recommendations for and against road pricing in Ontario;
- network with government, business, labour, academic and non-profit representatives working on transportation and urban development issues.
The experts:
- Andrew Price, Halcrow Consulting, United Kingdom
- Ferry Smith, Royal Dutch (Automobile) Touring Club, The Netherlands
- Imad Nassereddine, 407 ETR Concession Company, Canada
- Patrick DeCarlu-Souza, Federal Highway Administration, United States
- Robin Lindsay, University of Alberta, Canada
Seating is limited. Early Bird Rates available until Oct. 31st.
Though the cost may be prohibitive for some, you may be interested in last year's forum and reading some of the presentations.
Big cities like London are forging ahead with even more ambitious schemes. The new mayor, Boris Johnson, is proposing (or his advisors are) a "£1 a mile toll" for motorists anywhere in London.
