Greater Golden Horseshoe Transportation Plan – Discussion Paper

ERO number
019-3839
Notice type
Policy
Posted by
Ministry of Transportation
Notice stage
Decision
Decision posted
Comment period
June 29, 2021 - August 28, 2021 (60 days) Closed
Last updated

This consultation was open from:
June 29, 2021
to August 28, 2021

Decision summary

This proposal invited comments on Towards a Greater Golden Horseshoe Transportation Plan: Discussion Paper. This feedback informed the development of Connecting the GGH: A Transportation Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe. The plan sets out a vision for mobility in 2051, and highlights key actions that will be taken to achieve that vision.

Decision details

Through this proposal, Towards a Greater Golden Horseshoe Transportation Plan: Discussion Paper was released for public feedback. Feedback received was considered in Connecting the GGH: A Transportation Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, released on March 10, 2022.

Connecting the GGH outlines a vision for mobility in the region in 2051. The 2051 vision includes infrastructure, service improvements and policies, organized under four interconnected themes: fighting gridlock and improving road performance, getting people moving on a connected transit system, supporting a more sustainable and resilient region, and efficiently moving goods. The plan also includes more than 100 actions that the province and its partners are taking, and will take, to make substantial progress towards the achievement of the long-term vision for mobility.

Comments received

Through the registry

36

By email

15

By mail

0
View comments submitted through the registry

Effects of consultation

The Ministry of Transportation reviewed all feedback received during the comment period and considered this feedback in the updated work that resulted in Connecting the GGH: A Transportation Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe.

Comments were received from members of the public as well as municipalities, construction organizations, agriculture organizations, educational institutions, infrastructure providers, manufactures and exporters and citizen advocacy groups, among others.

The role of this plan in supporting sustainability was a major topic of feedback. In addition to the three overarching themes that were carried forward from the Discussion Paper, Connecting the GGH  includes a new fourth theme as part of the 2051 vision, Supporting a more sustainable and resilient region. Within section 4.3, a policy direction was identified to support the reduction of transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions. Near-term actions to support these elements of the vision were also highlighted under section 5.6, Actions to be Future Ready. Section 4.4, Efficiently Moving Goods, was also expanded to include a new policy direction related to using new logistics practices and technologies to improve the environmental sustainability and efficiency of goods movement.

Feedback also identified support for emerging technologies to improve infrastructure efficiency, and a need to leverage the benefits of several new technologies. Additional actions were included in section 5.6, Actions to be Future Ready, to realize the potential economic, environmental, and level-of-service benefits of new technologies, such as electric vehicles and automated/connected vehicles, while ensuring that safety remains a top priority.

Numerous questions arose seeking a more comprehensive explanation of how Connecting the GGH integrates with other planning documents. Chapter 6, Working Together: Next Steps, includes content detailing the relationship between the plan and municipal and Metrolinx transportation planning processes as well as alignment with the provincial land use planning framework. Chapter 3, A Partnership Approach: How We Developed the Plan, along with the Technical Appendix, provide further details related to the approach taken in development of the plan to ensure alignment with municipal land use and transportation plans and the provincial land use planning framework.

Supporting materials

View materials in person

Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.

Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.

System Planning Office, System Planning Branch, Integrated Policy and Planning Division
Address

777 Bay Street, 7th Floor, Suite 700
Toronto, ON
M7A 2J8
Canada

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Original proposal

ERO number
019-3839
Notice type
Policy
Posted by
Ministry of Transportation
Proposal posted

Comment period

June 29, 2021 - August 28, 2021 (60 days)

Proposal details

The Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH) is a dynamic and rapidly growing region that is home to over 60% of Ontario’s population and is the economic engine of the province. A well-functioning transportation system is critical to economic prosperity.

Infrastructure investments haven’t kept up and won’t meet future needs on their own. Over the 15-year period of 2001-2016, travel demand on the highways grew three times faster than the rate of new road construction during this time.

This trend will result in more gridlock unless we have a comprehensive and long-term plan. A range of solutions are needed, including increasing infrastructure capacity, using our infrastructure wisely, and providing options for people and businesses to choose the most effective way to get around.

Mobility in the GGH is provided by a complex system of provincial, municipal and private sector infrastructure, services and programs. There is a need for a common vision for the region, so that all the investments we are making work together.

Over the past several years, the Ministry of Transportation has been engaging with its partners and analysing options, to develop a long-term vision for mobility in the GGH to 2051, and to set out a path to achieve our shared goals for the transportation system.

The discussion paper is being released in order to seek your feedback to inform the development of a long-term transportation plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Links to the discussion paper and supporting materials are provided below.

The paper sets out current and future transportation challenges and the work we have done to date to develop a GGH Transportation Plan. It describes the proposed future transportation system and what’s needed to achieve our vision of an integrated transportation system that provides a safe, seamless and accessible transportation experience for all. It graphically illustrates a proposed approach to new and improved infrastructure, and outlines services and policies to bolster that network. As well, it sets out work that is currently underway or planned in the region – infrastructure, services and policies – that is making measurable improvements to transportation experiences now, to realize our long-term vision. Lastly, the paper discusses next steps and seeks input on on implementation considerations for the future.

Over the next few months, we will carefully consider and incorporate feedback as we work towards releasing the Greater Golden Horseshoe Transportation Plan later in 2021.

Supporting materials

View materials in person

Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.

Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.

System Planning Office, System Planning Branch, Integrated Policy and Planning Division
Address

777 Bay Street, 7th Floor, Suite 700
Toronto, ON
M7A 2J8
Canada

Comment

Commenting is now closed.

This consultation was open from June 29, 2021
to August 28, 2021

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Contact