The Ontario government has introduced new legislation aimed at accelerating the construction of key highways, including Highway 413, to reduce gridlock and save drivers time and money. The Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, tabled on Monday, would implement a faster approval process for major road projects, and the province estimates that drivers could save up to $72 million over the next decade through fee freezes and faster traffic flows.
Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria emphasized the urgency of addressing Ontario’s gridlock, which has some of the worst traffic congestion in North America. He added that new highways like Highway 413 and the Bradford Bypass are critical to alleviating pressure on the province’s roads.
A key component of the legislation is the creation of a new Highway 413 Act, which would streamline the environmental assessment process, allowing the government to fast-track construction while still adhering to environmental protections. Certain preliminary works on Highway 413 that are near existing infrastructure would be exempt from the full environmental review, in an effort to expedite the project.
The legislation also proposes a permanent freeze on fees for knowledge and road tests, extending the measure that has saved drivers $35 million since 2021. The province claims this freeze, if legislated, will prevent $72 million in additional costs over the next 10 years.
Additional provisions include a requirement for municipalities to seek provincial approval before implementing bike lanes that could reduce lanes for vehicles, and the introduction of a pothole prevention and repair fund to support smaller municipalities starting in 2025. The government is also moving to make the Tow Zone Pilot—currently operating on four sections of 400-series highways in the Greater Toronto Area—a permanent program. This initiative restricts towing services to authorized companies to ensure faster and safer removal of vehicles.
The bill would also allow for 24/7 construction on priority projects, such as the Bradford Bypass, Highway 413, and the twinning of the Garden City Skyway bridge, under the new Building Highways Faster Act. According to the government, Highway 413 is expected to cut travel times by up to 30 minutes each way for commuters.
The legislation comes as Ontario prepares to raise the speed limit to 110 km/h on all 400-series highways, where it is deemed safe to do so. This follows a pilot that has seen speed limits increased on one-third of provincial highways to date.
While the government is promoting the benefits of the legislation for drivers, the environmental implications of Highway 413 remain a contentious issue, with previous versions of the project facing opposition over potential impacts on farmland and sensitive ecosystems. The government insists that the new accelerated environmental assessment process will maintain “stringent oversight.”
The proposed bill also aims to expand infrastructure development across sectors. The legislation would streamline processes for installing broadband infrastructure in underserved communities and introduce new measures for financing public infrastructure projects through Infrastructure Ontario.
Ontario has committed $28 billion over the next decade for road and highway projects, including the construction of Highway 413 and the Bradford Bypass. The government estimates that these projects will not only reduce commute times but also provide long-term economic benefits through improved transportation links across the province.