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news

A Change is Gonna (Eventually) Come

By Tim Kiladze

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Photo by fermata.daily from the Torontoist Flickr Pool.


Drivers beware: quietly, almost furtively, the Ontario Service Centres on the 400 and the 401 are closing. If you’ve ever driven long distances on either of these highways (particularly the 401), you know this situation is problematic because these rest and refuelling stations have probably saved you from a close call with a near-empty gas tank. But don’t fret: the Service Centres aren’t closing for good; the Ontario government is letting the current operating leases expire so that it can renew all existing (and recently expired) contracts under one operator, instead of under the current consortium of oil companies. More importantly, most of the stations were built in the 1960s and the government wants a new operator to re-vamp the locations in order to make them capable of offering services up-to-par with twenty-first century expectations.

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A closed Tilbury Service Centre. Photo by Jamie Bradburn/Torontoist.

According to Bob Nichols at the Ministry of Transportation, the leases were scheduled to begin expiring in 2007, but the province requested contract extensions. During this respite, Infrastructure Ontario submitted an RFP (Request for Proposals) for the lease takeovers, but no interest was reflected. Since then, the government has worked hard to find a new operator, and Nichols says a decision will be made in April. Unfortunately, even if that news came today, the renovations will take time (months, hopefully not years). Until then, Nichols says the Ministry is “working hard to minimize the impact on the travelling public during this transition” and has set up make-shift bathroom facilities and rest areas for cars (but no gas or hot food is available).
Because the Service Centres are typically found in locations far from Toronto, the media here has provided very little coverage of the closures. But that doesn’t mean that someone from this neck of the woods will never drive past one, expecting (or worse, needing) it to be open. For these people, Nichols says the Ministry has set up signs to advise drivers that the Centres are closed; unfortunately, drivers may not notice them because they don’t know that they should be on the lookout. Consider yourself officially warned.

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Comments

  • http://null Vincent Clement

    the media here has provided very little coverage of the closures.
    No kidding. The Tilbury service centres have been closed for almost 10 months.
    unfortunately, drivers may not notice them because they don’t know that they should be on the lookout.
    You can’t miss the signs that were put up. The original versions said “Last Service Centre”. If you didn’t understand that, then you shouldn’t have a driver’s licence. The signs have since been revised and additional signs about alternative fuel stops have been installed.
    FYI, Pilot has an excellent 24 hour service centre in Tilbury with competitive fuel prices, a Subway, and a convenience/food store. It is located west of Exit 56 (Essex Road 42). Given this alternative, I don’t see the need to reopen the Tilbury service centres.

  • http://undefined RealityCheck

    This is rather dangerous for motorists, since it can be a significant distance from the highway to find a gas station at many exits and most aren’t set up to handle transport trucks. The critical part of these service centers is that they’re 24 hours, not a common thing for small town gas stations who have had minimal business from travelers. This is a special issue for women drivers who will be forced to hunt for poorly lit and sparsely used facilities instead of the floodlit and crowded service centers.
    I really question the judgment of providing a single tender for such a critical service. Government granted monopolies are a bad thing, especially when it isn’t a natural monopoly like a single toll road.

  • http://null Taylor Roberts

    As an Ontario taxpayer I kindly request the obvious: please do not install the usual chain restaurants at the new stops. Why not try to set up some more unique eateries and, if need be, have the province or local tourist association help out with start-up funding? My family now only uses these ghastly stops to pee; we pack our own lunches, but would gladly stop to eat if something were worthwhile.

  • http://undefined Sean Marshall

    The service centre westbound on the 401 near Trenton is now closed. There are signs well in advance, directing motorists to nearby 24-hour gas and food (there’s a Tim Horton’s at Glen Miller Road, the next stop for 24 service though, as posted, is in Cobourg).
    I’ve always liked how the 401 and 400 offer these service centres as in the US, they are a luxury found only on toll routes (and offered so that drivers could avoid leaving and re-entering with the toll gates).
    You’d think though that Tim Horton’s could get a temporary contract to pull one of their trailers to the temporary rest stops (used when a store is under renovations or other problems, as one was brought in to Walkerton in 2001).

  • http://undefined rek

    The service centres on Korea’s highways were spectacular. A giant central cafeteria-style restaurant, huge washroom facilities, a dozen smaller food vendors, an info kiosk, and a detailed map of the highway system for the entire country. All under one roof.

  • Pan Von Sol

    you know this situation is problematic because these rest and refuelling stations have probably saved you from a close call with a near-empty gas tank
    More like:
    you know this situation is problematic because these rest and refuelling stations have probably saved you from a close call with a full bladder

  • http://null Vincent Clement

    The temporary signs for alternative gas stations only list gas stations that are open 24 hours. Your comment about tractor trailers is laughable. How do you think they deliver gas to the stations? The women drivers issue is FUD.

  • http://undefined Vincent Clement

    Update: A new 24 hour Sunoco service centre recently opened at the interchange of Highway 77 and 401 – this one also has a Tim Horton’s and a A&W (I think).
    Between this centre and the Pilot west of Tilbury, I see no compelling need to open service centres with gas stations and food in Tilbury. Just build some nice restrooms and a small lobby with phones, a map and maybe some vending machines.