The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) has launched its 10th annual Ontario’s Worst Roads Campaign to draw attention to infrastructure problems across the province.
The CAA campaign encourages Ontarians to vote online during the month of May for roads that need to be fixed whether it’s potholes, traffic light timing, too much congestion, or anything else.
Once all the votes are in, the CAA and the Ontario Road Builders Association compile a top 10 list and bring it to the attention of local and provincial politicians.
The CAA, which represents 2.2 million motorists in Ontario, has been very successful in previous campaigns as 90 per cent of roads on the top 10 lists have either been fixed or are scheduled for repairs.
And it’s not just roads in densely populated cities such as Toronto, Ottawa or Hamilton that have a shot at becoming one of the 10 finalists.
“We find that the roads that make the top 10 list are roads that people in communities rally around,” said John Ennis, spokesman for CAA.
The 2012 campaign drew a record 10,000 votes and it saw the residents of Timmins, Ont. start a grassroots campaign for Kraft Creek Road, which went on to finish fifth.
“They put together their own election signs, they did door-to-door canvassing and a number of different initiatives to get word out about the campaign,” said Ennis.
The annual campaigns not only draw attention to roads that are in need of repairs, they also highlight the significant cost of bad roads for motorists.
This year’s campaign is also advocating for gas tax funding to provincial governments to be shared with municipalities, said Ennis.
For more information about Ontario’s Worst Roads Campaign or to cast your vote visit www.worstroads.ca.
