We need to use all the tools in the Province’s toolbox to improve traffic flow, fix major bottlenecks, and build a more connected transportation network.
Congestion is no longer just a daily frustration for commuters. It has become one of the biggest threats to the Toronto region’s economic competitiveness.
Every year, congestion costs the region $44.7 billion in lost productivity, delayed goods, reduced investment, and broader social costs according to a CANCEA study. It slows supply chains, lengthens commutes, and limits access to jobs across the region.
The tools needed to address this crisis already exist, and many of them sit with the Province of Ontario.
Today, the Toronto Region Board of Trade released Breaking Gridlock: Finishing the Job through Provincial Action, a new report outlining the provincial actions that can reduce congestion quickly and at scale.
This work builds on last year’s Breaking Gridlock Congestion Action Plan, developed by the Board’s Congestion Task Force. The City of Toronto moved quickly to adopt several of those recommendations. The next step is provincial action to address congestion across the region.
The report identifies five immediate actions the province can take:
- Amend the Highway Traffic Act for Additional Automated Enforcement
Automated enforcement for blocked intersections will help prevent gridlock and keep traffic moving. - Reduce Lane Closures on Provincial Projects
Better coordination and making 24/7 construction the norm can reduce the impact of major infrastructure work. - Address Critical Bottlenecks Through Provincial Coordination
Targeted upgrades, improved lane design, and tools like ramp metering can address key chokepoints on highways. - Support Seamless Regional Transit Integration
Aligning service, schedules, fares, and trip-planning across transit agencies can create a seamless regional network and encourage more people to choose transit. - Support the Rollout of a Comprehensive Smart Signals System
Upgrading to smart signals will improve traffic flow, reduce transit delays, and maximize the impact of provincial transit investments.
Read the full report and recommendations here
"The Province is committed restoring vehicle capacity on Toronto’s major arteries and making historic investments to grown and modernize transit, including new subway projects and GO Expansion, but more is needed. We need to use all the tools in the government’s toolbox to improve traffic flow, fix major bottlenecks, and build a more connected transportation network."
—Giles Gherson, President and CEO, Toronto Region Board of Trade