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Roads: Ontario/GTA Highways Discussion

The 407 ETR has already reached full build out in terms of lane count in some sections, so further widening would require a complete rebuild of the corridor, including many of the interchanges and overpasses.

...That won't happen any time soon as that kind of work would cost a lot of money, last a long time, and lead to some lane restrictions. Also it doesn't make practical sense as the lifespans of the overpasses are still relatively new. They won't need replacement for a long time, especially with frequent rehabilitation work done.

An interium solution involves building one or two auxiliary lanes between interchanges as dedicated entrance/exit lanes. Widening the ramps can help as well. At major interchanges (except the 400) the remaining flyover ramps could be built, removing the inefficient loops.

So once full build out + these projects can't relieve congestion, then tolls will spike to reduce traffic volumes. That means the 401 will get even busier than it is now.

401 needs something to hold the 'busiest highway' title. There is some competition coming :p
 
Drove on the new rebuilt 401 west of London going west at Christmas and feel for people who use this road daily, weekly, monthly or a few times a year as they got more slow going for the next few years. The new road is pour concrete in place of pavement. Next year, they will start building the eastbound lanes before moving onto the next section in 2020/21.

Not impress with new centre wire barrier that should be concrete as well 3 lanes in place of the current 2. Traffic is still a bitch for the 2 lanes west of London as well the 3 lanes from London to 403.
 
Deadpool X said:
Is there a max cap on the annual percentage increase or can the concessionaire hike as they please?
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The government originally tried to enforce a control on toll rate increases (any increase needed government approval), but about a decade ago 407ETR got a favourable court ruling that allowed it to bypass government approval. So no. They could douple rates overnight if they wished.
 
innsertnamehere said:
The government originally tried to enforce a control on toll rate increases (any increase needed government approval), but about a decade ago 407ETR got a favourable court ruling that allowed it to bypass government approval. So no. They could douple rates overnight if they wished.
Click to expand...

so much for a common sense revolutions
 
Deadpool X said:
It is no less than a scam.
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It's not a scam, but it is an unregulated monopoly. And considering that it's an important part of the region's infrastructure, that is a significant problem. And it is sad that the language in the original bill of sale was so poorly written. The intent was there as @innsertnamehere remarked, but the outcome was lacking.
 
It's a little more complex than any of the above, and the real irony is John Tory's begging Kathleen Wynne for a toll on the DVP and Gardiner (which I favoured, but Tory is such a Tory)
Ontario settles Hwy 407 toll rate controversy
STEVE ERWIN
TORONTO
PUBLISHED MARCH 31, 2006UPDATED APRIL 23, 2018

Drivers who regularly use Ontario's only toll highway will get rate reductions under a deal between the province and the road's owners, but opposition critics say that in exchange the Liberals have broken a pledge to roll back toll fees.
Ontario Transportation Minister Harinder Takhar announced Friday that the province has settled a longstanding dispute over rates charged by the owners of Highway 407, which stretches east-west along Toronto's northern edge.
The Liberals promised in their 2003 election campaign to roll back past increases and regulate future tolls. For the last two years, the government has been battling in court to require the private sector consortium that runs the highway - 407 ETR - to receive government approval before increasing rates.
Under the settlement announced Friday, Mr. Takhar said the consortium has agreed to implement a $40-million "customer-benefit program" that will reduce toll rates by up to 15 per cent for 100,000 frequent users of the highway over the next four years. There are also big discounts for truck drivers, especially during evening and weekend travel.
But in exchange, the Liberals backed off on their demands for an overall rate rollback.

The deal allows 407 ETR to raise tolls again once the rebate program for regular users is in place, which is expected before Jan. 1, 2007 and no later than March 31, 2007.
Mr. Takhar said the Liberals couldn't roll back rates because of the contract signed by a former Conservative government. He said that deal sold the highway to private interests but didn't give the province any leeway to influence rate changes.
"This was a very bad contract. If we had to sign this contract, we would have never accepted these kinds of terms," Mr. Takhar said of the 1999 agreement signed by the government of former premier Mike Harris.
"It tied our hands," he continued. "We took this issue to the courts and we fought them but unfortunately because of the way the contracts were, we lost.
"In spite of all that, we were still able to negotiate significant improvements for drivers."

But Conservative Leader John Tory maintained it's another "thoughtless" broken promise Premier Dalton McGuinty made during the 2003 election campaign.https://www.theglobeandmail.com/new...hwy-407-toll-rate-controversy/article1096758/
Mr. Tory said the premier should have read the contract before making the pledge to voters.
"There are many, many promises Mr. McGuinty made solely in an effort to win votes without regard to whether those promises could be kept," said Tory.
Mr. Tory didn't defend the deal reached by his Conservative predecessors, but noted the sale of the highway did give the government money to pay down provincial debt. [...]
Click to expand...
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontario-settles-hwy-407-toll-rate-controversy/article1096758/te]
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/new...hwy-407-toll-rate-controversy/article1096758/

That's so ironic it's dripping rust.....oh, that's not rust, rust doesn't smell like that...it's infectious duplicity of the worst kind...got to go wash my hands even from just typing it, let alone touch it...[/quote]
 
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What were the rates being planned for the DVP and Gardiner?
 
This is kind of highway related, but the 16th Avenue EA, plans to combine the southbound off and westbound to southbound on ramps at the intersection. Is this a way to make the intersection safer? Also, it kind of seems odd that the southbound off ramp only has two lanes at the intersection, even though they're already going to completely move the intersection. Why not add another lane for the common 1 left, 1 right, and 1 left right lanes at most exits?
16th Ave & Highway 404 ramp interseciont.png
 
That's really great to see. The MTO typically requires pedestrians to give way to motorists at highway on and off-ramps, and cyclists are often expected to dismount (which is a ridiculous expectation). By turning it into a right-angle intersection, it gives right of way to pedestrians and cyclists in the path.
 
ShonTron said:
That's really great to see. The MTO typically requires pedestrians to give way to motorists at highway on and off-ramps, and cyclists are often expected to dismount (which is a ridiculous expectation). By turning it into a right-angle intersection, it gives right of way to pedestrians and cyclists in the path.
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Not to mention a sidewalk doesn't exist right now.

I found this (funny) comment in the 16th Ave EA Public Consultation document, I thought I was the only person who thought about this:
1547088665613.png
 
I believe they are doing that at Major Mackenzie and the 400 as well for the eastbound Major Mack to northbound 400 ramp.

MTO typically resists it as it's much lower volume. I'm guessing they allow it for lower volume turn movements.
 
innsertnamehere said:
I believe they are doing that at Major Mackenzie and the 400 as well for the eastbound Major Mack to northbound 400 ramp.

MTO typically resists it as it's much lower volume. I'm guessing they allow it for lower volume turn movements.
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The MTO is heavily biased in favour of motorists over all else. Remember when they promised to pave shoulders of its highways? Apart from sections of Highway 6 between Jarvis and Port Dover, and on the Bruce Peninsula, this was never done. It otherwise only paves shoulders of 400-series highways (where cyclists are prohibited) and some Northern Ontario highways where the speed limit is 90 km/h.
 
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