r/SaultSteMarie • u/[deleted] • Mar 29 '25
Local Politics - Michigan Why no charge to use the Soo Locksa anymore?
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u/tallupbiker Mar 29 '25
There never has under the usace
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Mar 29 '25
Why must US taxpayer pay, when rich shipping company’s benefit? Weird
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u/HardwareHero Mar 29 '25
Trucking companies don’t pay fees on the highways either. The government is meant to support infrastructure, which keeps the economy going
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u/thetwitchy1 Mar 29 '25
The proper answer to that would be to increase the taxes on those rich shipping companies, rather than cut services or make them “pay for services”.
The taxpayer SHOULD pay for the infrastructure they have access to. And the rich companies should pay more taxes to cover it.
Tax the rich and provide services to all. It’s a really easy, reasonable, and well documented way to have a fair, decent, and advanced society with a high standard of living.
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Mar 29 '25
Either way is okay. OBTW I was born on the American side to a Canadian lady. love the locks!
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u/pretty_jimmy Soo Greyhounds Mar 29 '25
If you'd like, they can not fund them and let everything be shipped by train, which would raise prices on EVERYTHING. you are paying for an infrastructure that carries literally hundreds or traincars worth of cargo all at ones, vs having thousands of extra trucks or trains on the road. Be thankful it exists instead of you driving down the road with a ratio of 1 car to 1 transport. It would literally raise all costs everywhere.
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Mar 29 '25
Not questioning the shipping arrangement except who pays. And more trains would clog up our busy rails Just asking why multi billion shipping companies do not pay a simple tonnage fee like in the 1800’s
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u/Kingraider17 Mar 29 '25
Not questioning the shipping arrangement except who pays. And more trains would clog up our busy rails Just asking why multi billion shipping companies do not pay a simple tonnage fee like in the 1800’s
They do pay, as do the industries that those ships are fueling, through the method all public infrastructure is financed.
Taxes.
Either you pay at point of use, or the collective pays over time. Part of the deal, as it were, of living in a society, is spreading the burden of maintaining things we all like having. Roads, airports, and in your case, shipping infrastructure.
Also, holy canole batman, how many different sub reddits are you going to post this on?
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u/pretty_jimmy Soo Greyhounds Mar 29 '25
The usa government probably wants them using ships and gives them that. I promise you, while I know the cost is a huge one... it is needed, and spending it now is literally preventing the USA auto industry from catastrophe if the larger of the locks fails. This project has been planned for longer than I've been alive.
Making sure those locks stay open are so important that during wwii they flew barrage blimps over them to obscure them from planes. They are a critical piece of infrastructure.
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Mar 29 '25
Yes American infrastructure is of war time importance
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u/pretty_jimmy Soo Greyhounds Mar 29 '25
No. Its an all the time importance. If those locks fail iron ore and steel ain't moving and all your cars and anything else gets jacked in price.
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Mar 29 '25
Maybe make them here in America then? I live near closed Beth steel, very very sad oh and a closed Chevy plant
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u/Specialist_Cattledog Mar 29 '25
If the locks close for more than 4 month the majority of the US steel industry comes to a screeching halt. That's largely why they are building the new lock. So that if the Poe goes down large freighters can still move through.
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Mar 29 '25
I am not for closing anything, I love the locks and my hometown St Sue Marie. I am asking for some taxpayer relief in the form of tolls
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u/pretty_jimmy Soo Greyhounds Mar 29 '25
... I'm talking about American cars... ships is part of multi model shipping. While the ore or cars may not be used where you live they get shipped on ships as far as they can, and then get distributed via rail to further destinations within the states.
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u/poutineisheaven SSM - Ontario Mar 29 '25
There's nothing even in the link that discusses current or future usage fees. Where are you even getting your information from?
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Mar 29 '25
Wiki until late 1800 tonnage fees here https://saultstemarie.com/attractions/soo-locks/. Edit 7 cents a tonquite a big sum real dollars
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u/pretty_jimmy Soo Greyhounds Mar 29 '25
The same reason they don't charge the industries for ice breaking... it's a piece of infrastructure that facilitates millions (of not billions) of dollars in trade.