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 unturnedto help fight gridlock on our roads, reduce travel timesand allow people to spend less time commuting and more time at home with their families," Ford said.

He made the comments at an unrelated news conference Wednesday, where he also said "all options are on the table" when asked if his government would consider buying back the private stretch of Highway 407 to reduce traffic on Highway 401.

Ford 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 throughoutsouthern Ontario. Those changeswherefollowed in July of this year by increases on 10 additional lengths of highway, including in parts of eastern Ontario.

Higher limitsin 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 easinggridlock 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 vowedto build some version of the tunnel.

At itslongest, 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 billionto 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.

Ford held the news conference Wednesday to announce the province has signed a contract to begin construction on two bridges that will transport Ontario Line trains across the Don Valley in Toronto.

WATCH | Construction underway across entire length of Ontario Line:

Construction underway on bridges set to carry Ontario Line across the Don Valley

11 days ago

Duration 4:20

Construction is now underway for every portion of the Ontario Line, the Ontario government announced Wednesday. As CBCs Chris Glover reports, the work includes building new bridges that will carry the transit line across the Don Valley.