Topic: HWY 407 Rewards...not much!

[21Rouge]

Our 407 bill is pre authorized so I haven't checked regarding the details of each bill  .

I see I am a Tier 4 customer which according to the bill gives me 40 fee kilometers on Sunday trips.

So I calculate my 40 free kilometres for each Sunday trip I made in the billing period in question and I get a total of $28.46.

However the ETR bill shows only $7.83 . I call and after much discussion the rep. now believes that this reward is for 40 kilometres in total for the whole month.

That is not up to 40 kilometres on each Sunday of the month as I assumed. I don't think it is clearly explained on their website and I also think that this may have been a recent change as an earlier bill seemed to calculate discounts over multiple Sundays.

Anyone else a Tier 4 customer who knows better?

[Mike]

Our 407 bill is pre authorized so I haven't checked regarding the details of each bill  .

I see I am a Tier 4 customer which according to the bill gives me 40 fee kilometers on Sunday trips.

So I calculate my 40 free kilometres for each Sunday trip I made in the billing period in question and I get a total of $28.46.

However the ETR bill shows only $7.83 . I call and after much discussion the rep. now believes that this reward is for 40 kilometres in total for the whole month.

That is not up to 40 kilometres on each Sunday of the month as I assumed. I don't think it is clearly explained on their website and I also think that this may have been a recent change as an earlier bill seemed to calculate discounts over multiple Sundays.

Anyone else a Tier 4 customer who knows better?

You are correct, it is 40KM for the month.  I was Tier 2 for awhile, but will fall back down to tier 4 soon.  The 3 cents off gas card is pretty sweet every month.

[21Rouge]

You are correct, it is 40KM for the month. 

Thanks Mike.

Still a maximum discount of about $7 on monthly bills in excess of $200 isnt much of a reward.

[Mike]

You are correct, it is 40KM for the month. 

Thanks Mike.

Still a maximum discount of about $7 on monthly bills in excess of $200 isnt much of a reward.

Did you get the gas card?

[21Rouge]

You are correct, it is 40KM for the month. 

Thanks Mike.

Still a maximum discount of about $7 on monthly bills in excess of $200 isnt much of a reward.

Did you get the gas card?

Yes except we have our Air Miles card tied to our EASY PAY pass key with Shell.

[vdk]

So when is the government going to buy back the 407? That would be a good idea..

[overtakeyouintheleftlane]

Haven't ever reached a Tier level, you have to drive tons of KM's to even reach a Tier. I only use it about 4 times a month at the most on weekends (427 to McCowan Rd.).

Government won't be buying it back, they will keep that lease until the last day.

I kinda like it like that, at least I have a choice when the 401 has slowed to a crawl.

[tpl]

Haven't ever reached a Tier level, you have to drive tons of KM's to even reach a Tier. I only use it about 4 times a month at the most on weekends (427 to McCowan Rd.).

Government won't be buying it back, they will keep that lease until the last day.

I kinda like it like that, at least I have a choice when the 401 has slowed to a crawl.

I only use it once or twice a month, 401 to 404 and I like it for its relative emptiness. It does need a 130 km/h speed limit to cut down on the number of speeders tho'   


 I think it should be extended at the west end around the back of Hamilton all the way to a US border point.  Difficult I know especially the bit between where it now joins the QEW  onwards to Hamilton.

At the East end... all the way to Kingston OR optionally, replacing Hwy 7 and going all the way to Ottawa.

Even though the 407 is expensive for commuting it is, I think, the way expressways should be built in future. Maybe a way to  6 lane the TCA all the way from Ottawa to the Manitoba border would be with a toll expressway.

[wing]

Are you nuts?  Imagine the toll cost to Ottawa?  Would be cheaper to fly!

The 7 is dead and empty at almost all times.  Last few times I've gone to Niagara I've taken 7 to 407 and it is a breeze.

[vdk]

They should buy it... it would be good for Toronto, for employers and employees, and for property values along the highway

[21Rouge]

I like it for its relative emptiness.

That is in part how I justify using it to the tune of $150 per month i.e. it is far safer to use than the corresponding 401.

It does need a 130 km/h speed limit to cut down on the number of speeders tho'    .

I have had no problem travelling at 130 while on this HWY.

At the East end... all the way to Kingston

The firm plan is to extend it from its current dead end at Brock to the junction of 35 115. But good luck when this will happen.

[overtakeyouintheleftlane]

Have you noticed though the way people behave on the 407ETR are much better than the other highways? People don't poke along in the left lane, people let you merge, people don't drive below the speed limit, etc.

Worth the money IMO. Price the others off the highway. I'm fine with that.

[tpl]

Are you nuts?  Imagine the toll cost to Ottawa?  Would be cheaper to fly!

The 7 is dead and empty at almost all times.  Last few times I've gone to Niagara I've taken 7 to 407 and it is a breeze.

I made no comment as to who should own it nor what the toll rates should be.   I use my local bit of 7 all the time... give 7 a 120 km/h speed limit and that would be fine. I think there is more chance of more 407 than of getting sensible speed limits on other roads.


I'd like to see several of the existing 400 series roads tolled as well ( a minority opinion I know) using the same transponders as the 407. I bet that even if there was the political will to toll the roads that no Ontario politician would dare to use the 407 transponders and even more, the same billing software ( which I am sure the 407 people would sell/licence to the province)

[blur911]

I'd like to see several of the existing 400 series roads tolled as well ( a minority opinion I know) using the same transponders as the 407. I bet that even if there was the political will to toll the roads that no Ontario politician would dare to use the 407 transponders and even more, the same billing software ( which I am sure the 407 people would sell/licence to the province)

Why would we want more people taking secondary roads?  That's what I'd do if they tolled the 401 for my drive to work.

[vdk]

That's the problem toll roads create.

Most people avoid them and end up on secondary roads or other already packed highways. That's not helping anyone but a select bunch.

LE: Imagine how much stress a toll free 407 would take off the 401.

[tpl]

I'd like to see several of the existing 400 series roads tolled as well ( a minority opinion I know) using the same transponders as the 407. I bet that even if there was the political will to toll the roads that no Ontario politician would dare to use the 407 transponders and even more, the same billing software ( which I am sure the 407 people would sell/licence to the province)

Why would we want more people taking secondary roads?  That's what I'd do if they tolled the 401 for my drive to work.

An answer which has been tried in TO is to make patches of the secondary roads one way only.

But if the 401 was tolled and was 130 km/h and well maintained but the 80 km/h on secondaries was photo radar enforced like the UK with permanent cameras  would you not just find it easier to use the toll road and go faster?  I would.

[blur911]

But if the 401 was tolled and was 130 km/h and well maintained but the 80 km/h on secondaries was photo radar enforced like the UK with permanent cameras  would you not just find it easier to use the toll road and go faster?  I would.

I would have to consider moving to a different locale then.  I drive 120-130kph on the 401 now with no tolls and everyone drives the secondary at 100kph.
How does making me pay more to overall drive more slowly and maybe get photo-radar tickets make me happier?

[tpl]

It is supposed to make you happier?  Oh dear! Had I but known!     

I was/am just musing about how the Ont Government could make more money, keep the "safety lobby" quiet and probably not upset anyone EXCEPT the people who commute on the 400 series roads.    If the 401 was tolled I betcha that the local councils would soon given in to NIMBYISM and have 40 km/h limits and speed bumps all over their bits of the secondary roads... or even easier and cheaper... just stop ploughing them in the winter.

My personal preference would be to remove about 1/4 of the health care budget  ( replacing that with user fees)  and all of the speeding and RIDE policing budget and build some decent roads tolled or not.   

[blur911]

It is supposed to make you happier?  Oh dear! Had I but known!     

 If the 401 was tolled I betcha that the local councils would soon given in to NIMBYISM and have 40 km/h limits and speed bumps all over their bits of the secondary roads... or even easier and cheaper... just stop ploughing them in the winter.

Don't get me started on speed bumps.  The most ridiculous knee-jerk brain-dead idea I have ever seen.    

[Ice]

I'd like to see several of the existing 400 series roads tolled as well ( a minority opinion I know) using the same transponders as the 407. I bet that even if there was the political will to toll the roads that no Ontario politician would dare to use the 407 transponders and even more, the same billing software ( which I am sure the 407 people would sell/licence to the province)

Why would we want more people taking secondary roads?  That's what I'd do if they tolled the 401 for my drive to work.

An answer which has been tried in TO is to make patches of the secondary roads one way only.

But if the 401 was tolled and was 130 km/h and well maintained but the 80 km/h on secondaries was photo radar enforced like the UK with permanent cameras  would you not just find it easier to use the toll road and go faster?  I would.

One way streets have been bad for business and pedestrian safety in parts of Hamilton. Most of them are being phased out and most streets in Hamilton will be two ways again... except for the main cross city ones. One way streets are a fad that comes and goes... but it never really seems to work the way its' advertised.

I'm definitely not in favour of tolling the 400 series highways. It's the difference between me being able to see my friends in Toronto and not. If they were tolled it would put the cost from difficult to unbearable.