OTA Asks Michigan DOT to Reconsider Blue Water Bridge Toll Hikes

(Trucknews.com)

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is threatening to increase tolls for northbound commercial vehicles crossing the Blue Water Bridge from US$1.75 per axle to US$3.25/axle. The proposed toll increase is not sitting well with the Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) which is lobbying MDOT to reconsider.

“OTA recognizes the need for infrastructure improvement at the Blue Water Bridge. However, a more incremental cost recovery system that allows for adequate pre-planning plan is a more palatable approach and would visit less disruption and hardship on all concerned than a one-time massive hit,” said OTA president David Bradley.

The OTA acknowledged that toll increases have not increased at the Blue Water Bridge since 1997 and that the tolls collected on the Canadian side are higher than in the US. However, Bradley said “These facts are self-evident but timing and approach are all wrong. OTA considers it entirely unreasonable and inappropriate that an 85% price hike would be imposed in one fell swoop, with such short notice. Given the current economic times, and the stress that has already been imposed on Michigan-Ontario trade increases of this magnitude are untimely to say the least.”

The OTA pointed out to the MDOT that over 80% of Michigan’s exports to Canada move by truck and that the increase could add US$8 million per year in transportation costs to the state’s exports. Read more here.