Dan416
Senior Member
For fun I sketched out a routing for this highway, just called it the GTA West Freeway for now, https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msi...ll=43.763656,-79.716797&spn=0.281171,0.676346
Given the recent findings I'd recommend re-signing the N-S portion of the 407 over to the new GTA West Highway (right down to the QEW), and fixing the 403 route signing.
How do you propose to fix the 403 issue? It's not like we're going to renumber the western section of the 407 back to 403 at this point.
I wonder what 400 number the MTO would use for the GTA West corridor? It doesn't really follow an existing provincial highway. Would they go back to numbering them in numerical order? Assuming 408 is used for an upgraded Hwy 7, what 4XX is next?
How do you propose to fix the 403 issue? It's not like we're going to renumber the western section of the 407 back to 403 at this point.
I wonder what 400 number the MTO would use for the GTA West corridor? It doesn't really follow an existing provincial highway. Would they go back to numbering them in numerical order? Assuming 408 is used for an upgraded Hwy 7, what 4XX is next?
I say build it, but make it a toll highway. No new commuter highway (what this would be) should be free. Maybe charge 10-15 cents a km instead of the 407's 20 something cents, but still do it.
And just contract the transponder technology and toll collection to 407ETR, much like how 407 East is to be built (makes sense as there's no need for additional transponders for drivers to use). I don't have any problem with private sector involvement as long as the infrastructure remains publicly owned and controlled.
I'm surprised they aren't planning for any kind of a link between the GTA West Corridor and the Expressway version of Highway 7 between Kitchener and Guelph. It would seem like a good plan to have the 407 "touch and go" at the current 401-407 interchange, and then veer back north to connect with the expanded Highway 7 in Guelph. Or if the whole highway swap with the private ETR firm doesn't work, have the GTA West Highway do that, and number the Highway 7 expansion between Kitchener and Guelph accordingly.
That is to say, the 411 (just using that name for simplicity sake, although it would work well if it went to the 400 and then was co-signed up through Barrie to the 400-11 split, with 11 eventually becoming 411) would run from the 400, through Peel to the 401-407 interchange (or just north of it), and then veer back to the north of Milton, and then cut across to the north of Guelph, and then form the expressway link between Guelph and Kitchener, terminating at the Conestoga Parkway.
Widening the 401 through Milton may seem like the better bet, but when you consider the widening required further west of there compared to a new highway leading towards the north side of Guelph, I'm not sure the 401 widening is the better option.
Neither the Escarpment Plan, nor the Greenbelt plan, completely preclude a new route.A new route would go against the Niagara Escarpment Plan and Greenbelt Plan.
Neither the Escarpment Plan, nor the Greenbelt plan, completely preclude a new route.
I'm surprised they aren't planning for any kind of a link between the GTA West Corridor and the Expressway version of Highway 7 between Kitchener and Guelph. It would seem like a good plan to have the 407 "touch and go" at the current 401-407 interchange, and then veer back north to connect with the expanded Highway 7 in Guelph. Or if the whole highway swap with the private ETR firm doesn't work, have the GTA West Highway do that, and number the Highway 7 expansion between Kitchener and Guelph accordingly.