Connecting the East: A Draft Transportation Plan for Eastern Ontario

MTO reviewed all feedback received during the comment period. Feedback received through this process will also be used to inform current and future transportation and planning initiatives in the region, and will be considered in future updates to Connecting the East. Feedback received through this process will also be used to inform current and future transportation and planning initiatives in the region.

Key themes from the comments received include the need for:

• More reliable, accessible, and safe transportation options, including local and intercommunity transit, passenger rail, and active transportation
• Improvements to road infrastructure at key locations to facilitate better connections and improved safety
• Further consideration of the needs of farmers and farmland in transportation planning
• Support for transportation to boost tourism
• Planning for the environmental impacts of transportation

MTO is currently undertaking several actions identified in the draft plan where this feedback has and will continue to be used to inform the Ministry’s work, including: 

Action 4 – Plan for the rehabilitation or replacement of highway structures at 14 locations in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville and Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, including long-term plans for the Maitland Road, Edward Street and Highway 16 interchanges, and planning for six to eight lanes along Highway 401.

MTO conducted a second Public Information Centre in September 2023 to present its technically preferred plans to the public. The study is expected to finish in early 2024, and the environmental assessment receive internal ministry clearance a few months afterwards.

Action 5 – Plan for the rehabilitation or replacement of highway structures at five locations in the area of Brockville and the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, including planning for six to eight lanes along Highway 401 in Brockville.

MTO conducted a second Public Information Centre in Spring 2023. The study was expected to be complete in November 2023 and the environmental assessment receive internal ministry clearance within the following months.

Action 6 – Complete Preliminary Design and Class Environmental Assessment (EA) study to identify rehabilitation, safety, and operational needs, and recommend transportation improvements along Highway 401 in Quinte West and Belleville.

The Preliminary Design and Class Environmental Assessment (EA) study for Highway 401 in Belleville has been completed.

The second study for Highway 401 in Quinte West began in September 2022, examining the replacement of bridges and culverts and establishing the footprint for six and eight lanes in the Quinte West area. The first Public Information Centre is expected in December 2023, with study completion set for the end of 2024.

Action 15 – Undertake a technical study and analysis to support the implementation and further development of the eastern transportation plan, including for the District of Muskoka and Haliburton County.

MTO launched the Eastern Ontario Transportation Planning Study in May 2022. The study will:

• identify current and future transportation needs and opportunities,
• determine the most effective actions to meet these needs,  
• find ways to implement the actions, and 
• build upon the draft transportation plan by further refining our vision of eastern Ontario to take us to the year 2051.

To ensure that the planning study reflects local understanding of the transportation system in eastern Ontario, Indigenous communities and organizations, municipalities, transportation stakeholders, and the public will have opportunities to provide their input.

Comments received in response to this policy proposal are being considered as part of the planning study.

Action 32 – Work with the federal government to advance planning for their High Frequency Rail proposal to provide frequent, electrified passenger rail service from Toronto to Peterborough, Ottawa, Montréal, and Québec City.

On December 15, 2022, the Government of Canada announced the creation of VIA HFR-VIA TGF Inc. (“VIA HFR”), a new Crown corporation. VIA HFR will operate as a dedicated project office for the High Frequency Rail project.

MTO will continue to work with the federal government on their high frequency rail proposal and will take project developments into account as part of regional planning.

Action 51 – Review locations for alternative fueling stations for public use, including electric and hydrogen.

Through the Ivy Charging Network, Ontario has deployed electric vehicle (EV) fast chargers at 20 ONroute stations along the province’s busiest highways, the 400 and 401. These stations are now equipped with at least two EV chargers at each site, with busier areas equipped with more. The chargers are available to all drivers on a pay-per-use basis and serve all vehicle types.

Additionally, in October 2023, the Ontario government launched the EV ChargeON program to support the installation of public electric vehicle (EV) chargers in Ontario communities outside of Ontario’s major cities. The program aims to increase the number of public EV charging stations throughout Ontario to build a more connected network, make public chargers more accessible and affordable, and encourage more people to switch to EVs.