This bill is exactly the…

This bill is exactly the wrong direction if the province's goal is to reduce gridlock. Every study on traffic has shown that more lanes may temporarily reduce congestion, but new trips not previously taken will quickly fill available capacity. The only long term solution to congestion is switching the mode of trips away from low capacity ones like single occupancy vehicles to high capacity ones like active transportation by bike or walking or public transit.

Car lanes optimistically carry about 1000 vehicles per hour. Protected bike lanes carry 7500 people per hour. Each bicycle also represents a car that isn't on the road, freeing up more capacity in the car lane. Bus lanes can also support about 8000 people per hour. Rail can move tens of thousands of people per hour. Why are we spending time and money on the least efficient, most dangerous way to move people through our cities? Cars, especially single occupancy vehicles, should be the mode of last resort in our dense urban spaces, not the mode enshrined by this terrible bill.

Vehicle road space needs to be reserved for necessary uses, like large commercial deliveries, trades that need to bring complex tools to a job site, and emergency and other city services. Personal transportation needs to move away from the car.

"Prescribed municipalities would be required to seek provincial approval to allow for the implementation of new bicycle lanes"

What a waste of time and resources. The province needs to leave cities alone to work out the best solution to move their residents around their urban space. If the Premier and Minister of Transport want to manage city streets they should run for mayor or city council. Leave the cities alone.

"exemption from the Environmental Assessment Act"

Highway 413 or any other highway building project needs to undergo all relevant environmental assessment. This is a cowardly way to ignore the fact that highway 413 will not meet environmental requirements.