Ontario explores raising speed limits on more stretches of 400-series highways
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he has directed the Ministry of Transportation to explore increasing the speed limit to 110 km/h on all stretches of 400-series highways "where it is safe to do so."
"I'm going to repeat that: Where it is safe to do so. We're leaving no stone unturned to help fight gridlock on our roads, reduce travel times and allow people to spend less time commuting and more time at home with their families," Ford said at an unrelated news conference Wednesday.
He added that on many parts of major highways, most motorists are already exceeding posted speed limits when traffic allows.
In April 2022, maximum speeds were raised on six stretches of primarily 400-series highways throughout southern Ontario. Those changes where followed in July of this year by increases on 10 additional lengths of highway, including in parts of eastern Ontario.
Higher limits in some areas followed a 2019 pilot project that looked at raising speeds on various roadways. Transport Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said Wednesday feedback from the pilot "came back very positive."
"We're working with our team of engineers ... to continue expanding that" to further stretches of highways, Sarkaria said
Meanwhile, Ford also said his government has not ruled out buying back the private stretch of Highway 407, as it looks more broadly at easing gridlock throughout the Greater Toronto Area.
He said a decision about Highway 407 could be influenced by the results of a feasibility study exploring a traffic and transit tunnel beneath Highway 401. Ford announced the impending study last week and vowed to build some version of the tunnel.
At its longest, the tunnel would run from Brampton in the west to Scarborough in the east, making it the world's largest road tunnel if completed. Various engineering experts who spoke to CBC Toronto said the project would cost at least tens of billions of dollars, and potentially even more.
Critics of the tunnel plan have instead called for the province to buy back Highway 407 or subsidize transport truck traffic on the stretch from Burlington to Ajax that is privately owned.
"All options are on the table," Ford said. Though he added projections suggest Highway 407 will be at full capacity in 20 or so years, even without subsidizing truck traffic.
The Mike Harris Progressive Conservative government sold Highway 407 in 1999 for $3.1 billion to a consortium that included SNC Lavalin, Quebec's provincial pension fund, and Spanish company Ferrovial.
The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 50.01 per cent of 407 ETR, which runs the tolled highway.
The province owns a 22-kilometre stretch on the highway's eastern flank and tolls drivers at a significantly cheaper rate than the private portion of the highway.
