We need to fix our roads and simply blaming the past civic, provincial and federal governments isn't going to get the job done. We need to roll up our sleeves and maybe open our wallets. Its going to cost money but I'm not so naive to think just throwing a bunch of money at this will magically fix everything.
Our avenues are atrocious.
After all, the deep wounds will not heal if we continue to apply cheap bandages that keep falling off.
The boulevards are broken.
Our city is full of smart people. How can the money be found? How can the roads be fixed so they last longer? Why are some older roads holding up better than newer ones? Have we lowered our standards?
Have the materials and workmanship become substandard? Have the recently milder winters with more frequent freezing and thawing made the problem worse?
Our crescents are in crisis.
Regardless, the roads need fixing and we need the money to pay for it. Perhaps we could charge;
1. Fuel tax. A user pay system. The more you drive the more you pay.
Bigger heavier vehicles use more fuel but also probably contribute to
more wear and tear on the roads. A buck to two per fill-up is not unreasonable.
2. Taxi levy. Perhaps 25 or 50 cents added to the initial fare?
3. Hotel/motel room tax. A couple of dollars per room per night.
4. Tire surcharge. One or two dollars per new tire.
5. Casino/lottery grants. A crazy amount of local money is spent on
gambling. Let's use some of it.
6. Property tax. Sorry but we need the money.
7. Automobile dealers. Can they do something? Cars need roads.
Whoa! I can already hear the angry backlash. More money out of our pockets. Stick it to the working guys and gals. Sorry but we need the money. We need problem solvers not whiners. We need solutions not just more complaints.
The drives are derelict.
We need to fix this. Prince George is already getting bad press and if we do nothing just wait until the whole country arrives here in 2015 for the Canada Games. Imagine what will be written, reported and tweeted about P.G. then.
Our streets are stricken.
Either we fix them or we don't.
B.D. Anderson
Prince George
