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 social and economic costs according to a CANCEA study. It slows down 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. This report, building on last year’s Breaking Gridlock Action Plan, identifies five immediate actions the province can take to alleviate congestion:
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Amend the Highway Traffic Act for Additional Automated Enforcement
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Reduce Lane Closures on Provincial Projects
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Address Critical Bottlenecks Through Provincial Coordination
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Support Seamless Regional Transit Integration
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Support the Rollout of a Comprehensive Smart Signals System
The Province is investing heavily in the future of transit, but congestion demands action now. It is time to use the levers it controls to reduce intersection violations, minimize lane closures, fix highway bottlenecks, modernize traffic signals, and help deliver a truly connected regional transportation network.
