(AGENPARL) - Roma, 21 Aprile 2022 - (AGENPARL) – gio 21 aprile 2022 [Ontario Logo]
NEWS RELEASE
Ontario Releases Plan to Build a Stronger Eastern Transportation Network
Highway expansions and public transit improvements key to reducing gridlock, connecting people to jobs and spurring economic growth
April 21, 2022
“Our government is building Ontario by getting shovels in the ground on highways, roads and public transit needed to fight gridlock and keep goods and people moving,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. “Our transportation plan for eastern Ontario will unlock access to housing, employment and tourist destinations, while supporting significant trade corridors and economic growth in the region.”
The plan includes the expansion of Highway 417 to four continuous lanes in each direction between Highway 416 and Maitland Avenue in Ottawa, long-term planning work to widen Highway 401 to up to eight lanes in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, improvements to local and intercommunity bus services, support for the trucking sector by adding truck stops along Highway 401 and the development of a new marine strategy.
To understand local needs and priorities, the plan has been informed by research, technical work, an online public survey, a series of Parliamentary Assistant-hosted roundtables, and a separate roundtable with eastern Indigenous communities.
“Eastern Ontario is a region that is home to over 1.8 million people with diverse transportation priorities,” said Vijay Thanigasalam, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Transportation. “By identifying these local and regional transportation priorities through consultation, we have developed a transportation plan that will address the current and future needs of Eastern Ontario residents.”
“Connecting our smaller communities with the larger centres, creating more job opportunities, and ensuring the safety and efficiency of rural transportation networks are vital to the growth of our local and regional economies,” said Daniel Lafleur, Warden of the United Counties of Prescott and Russell.
“As mayor of Alfred and Plantagenet, I welcome the Ford government’s steadfast dedication to seek the input of the public and local decision-makers to implement its long-term vision for eastern Ontario transportation,” said Stéphane Sarrazin, Mayor of the Alfred-Plantagenet Township and Councillor for United Counties of Prescott and Russell. “Our economic recovery inevitably requires adequate infrastructure and we know that we can count on a government that knows how to get things done while taking our concerns and needs into consideration.”
As part of the evolution of the plan, the province will conduct a long-range technical study of the transportation network. This work will involve broad engagement and will commence in summer 2022.
Quick Facts
– Eastern Ontario is home to 1.8 million people and covers approximately 44,000 km2, extending from the District of Muskoka in the west to the United Counties of Prescott and Russell in the east.
– Eastern Ontario has an extensive transportation network, featuring multiple 400-series highways, Class I railways, several public and private ferry services, international border crossings, an international airport, several ports, and multi-use trails.
Additional Resources
Media Contacts
Dakota Brasier
Minister’s Office
416-904-8384
Simisola Ikotun
Communications Branch
416-327-1158