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Sustainable and integrated transportation

There will be significant pressures on the transportation network in the future.

Peel consists of some of the most diverse and fastest-growing communities in Canada.

Key factors contributing to Peel's diversity and growth include direct access to:

Current travel trends show that Peel is expected to see more than 300,000 new trips during the morning peak by 2041. This will have significant pressures on the transportation network. Gridlock and lost productivity threaten to stall this momentum without ongoing investments in more sustainable and integrated transportation by the provincial and federal governments.

Goods Movement

The efficient movement of goods continues to play a significant part in Peel's economic success. An estimated $2 billion worth of goods travels to and from and through Peel every day. The industry is a significant job creator, accounting for 43% of jobs in Peel and contributes billions to the province and country's gross domestic product.

Highway 413

Peel Region strongly opposes the construction of Highway 413.

We believe that the provincial government should focus on more sustainable transportation modes, including efficient use of existing provincial highways, such as the extension of Highway 427 to Highway 9 and better use of Highway 407 for the movement of people and goods throughout the GTA.

Vision Zero

The City of Brampton, Town of Caledon, City of Mississauga, and Peel Region have all adopted or supported Vision Zero, which outlines that no loss of life is acceptable as a result of a motor vehicle collision.

Actions we're taking

To address these pressures, there is a need to adopt a balanced approach that maintains the level of service through shifting travel modes and greater emphasis on sustainable infrastructure investments.

To help support the growing transportation needs of Peel residents and businesses, the Region continues to work with the provincial and federal governments to increase community safety, improve mobility, and reduce climate impacts.

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Policy opportunity and solutions

To help support the growing transportation needs of Peel residents and businesses, the Region of Peel and the Province can work together to advance several key transportation initiatives to increase community safety, improve mobility and reduce climate impacts. These initiatives will require the Province to:

  • Support strategic transit projects across Peel
  • Extend Highway 427 to Highway 9 and beyond
  • Invest money currently budgeted for Highway 413 into regionally connected transit, active transportation, and other sustainable modes of transportation
  • Improve driver education through the license and testing program on safe interactions with pedestrians and cyclists and through micro-mobility services and systems
  • Convene a stakeholder task force to develop and implement a province-wide Vision Zero strategy

Background

Peel region is one of the largest and fastest growing and diverse communities in the Greater Toronto Area. With the population of nearly 1.5 million residents, it provides 700,000 jobs.

By 2051, Peel’s population and jobs are expected to grow to 2.3 million people and 1 million jobs.

In response to expected growth pressures, the Region continues to plan, design, and build a safe and connected future-ready transportation network.

Sustainable transportation

The full potential of provincial investments in transportation intended to support Peel's growth can only be achieved if lost productivity and limited mobility, resulting from congestion, are adequately addressed.

Investing in a sustainable and enhanced transportation network will help support our post-pandemic priorities of economic recovery and increased housing. For example, to help support current and future transportation needs of the town of Caledon and surrounding areas, the Province should extend Highway 427 to Highway 9 and beyond.

The Region recognizes that the transportation challenges associated with Peel's expected growth cannot be met simply by adding more road lanes. We continue to seek the provincial government's support to achieve a target of 50 per cent sustainable mode share inclusive of walking, cycling, carpooling, and transit.

The Metrolinx's Cost of Congestion Report states that, by 2031, the cost of congestion to commuters will be $7.8 billion and the costs of congestion to the economy (GDP) will be $7.2 billion dollars.

While the Region also appreciates the various ways in which the Greater Golden Horseshoe Transportation Plan aligns with several of Peel's priorities, including improved transit connectivity and strategies for the efficient movement of goods, advancing other key transit projects in Peel will require provincial support, including:

  • A firm commitment on timing for two-way all-day 15-minute services along the Milton GO line and the Kitchener GO line
  • Advancing the business case for future rail service at the Bolton GO station in Caledon
  • Dedicated transit connections to Toronto Pearson International Airport, including the Eglinton Crosstown West LRT extension

To further advance sustainable transportation objectives, the Region also continues to encourage investment of provincial funds currently budgeted for Highway 413 into regionally connected transit, active transportation, and other sustainable modes of transportation.

Addressing and enhancing road safety across Peel

The Region of Peel, and its local municipalities, together with community transportation safety partners, welcomed the discussion on critical road safety priorities raised during the Peel Road Safety Roundtable in March 2022. They included:

  • Implementation of a province-wide Vision Zero strategy
  • Automated enforcement
  • Administrative Monetary Penalties regulatory framework
  • Excessive vehicle noise
  • Vulnerable road users

The Region is committed to advancing these priorities to help enhance safety across Peel's transportation system. A Province-led stakeholder task force should be convened to advise on how a province-wide Vision Zero strategy can be developed and implemented in Ontario. This strategy should unify areas that are under provincial jurisdiction, such as the Highway Traffic Act, municipal infrastructure funding programs, roadway design guidelines, safety regulations, and education under one umbrella and ensure municipalities have the support and guidance needed to develop their own local plans.

In addition, the Region appreciates provincial efforts to move forward with an AMPs regulatory framework for red light cameras, automated speed enforcement, and school bus camera enforcement programs. This will provide a faster and more flexible process for payments, appeals, and collections of penalties, and will help reduce the burden on the local court system, while also advancing our shared priority to increase road safety across Peel and throughout Ontario.