Book Description

Early in 1990, the Steering Committee report on Phase 2 of the National Highway Policy Study for Canada (IRRD 807413) was distributed to governments, organizations, industries and individuals requesting information. A letter soliciting sectorial comment was mailed with this report to approximately forty indistry or national and regional association representatives. Although the letter was open in nature, four categorical areas were suggested where the Steering Committee was particularly eager to receive comment: 1) the importance of highway transportation to the industry sector and the degree to which an improved national highway system would affect this sector, 2) the extent to which the industry sector was affected by the costs of transportation, 3) the methods of financing which should be considered for undertaking a program of national highway improvements, and 4) the validity and relevance of the estimated user benefits and economic impacts attributable to the proposed improvement program. In general terms responses have been of two opinions. Many have expressed support for the National Highway Policy Study and for a National Highway System in Canada. These comments suggest that highway transportation costs and facilities are important not only to their sector but to all Canadians. Responses indicate support for user-pay concepts which generally involve spending all existing revenues received from road users, including federal government fuel revenues, on roads before adding additional road user taxes. The second group of responses, largely from the rail sector, suggested that a national highway policy should not be performed in isolation of other modes because highway policy is rail policy, and that an overall national transportation policy should provide the objective of subsequent work.