Toronto Mayor John Tory has endorsed a recommendation by city staff to implement tolls on the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway.
A $2 flat fee to drive a portion or length of both routes is expected could raise up to $160 million a year once implemented. The system could be in place by 2019.
But a city staff report finds $1.40 of each $2 toll is needed to maintain the highways, leaving only 60 cents per trip to fund future infrastructure or transit expansion.
In a lunchtime speech at the Toronto Region Board of Trade, Tory says when considering new methods to raise money for the city he considered four criteria: is it fair, does it give people a choice, does it produce more than just money, and can money be designated directly towards projects.
Tory believes tolling the Gardiner and DVP ticks all the boxes.
While the mayor is in favour of a tax on hotel room stays, he is opposed to recommended resurrection of the vehicle registration tax, a parking levy and a major hike on property taxes.