The GTA-West Transportation (GTAW) Corridor, otherwise known as Highway 413, has been under Environmental Assessment (EA) study by Ontario since 2007. The highway portion of the EA was cancelled by the previous provincial government in spring 2018, based on a report by an expert Advisory Panel that found that the highway would deliver few benefits, and could not be justified.
The report concluded that “on its own, the proposed new GTAW highway corridor would deliver approximately savings of about 30 seconds per vehicle trip”. In addition, the panel was concerned that adding highway capacity could induce more vehicular travel, and potentially further undermine complete community policy goals and provincial commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Experts also found that Highway 413 could negatively impact natural areas such as rivers, valley lands, wetlands, conservation areas and forested areas, including approximately 53 river and stream crossings. Its construction would lead to loss of thousands of hectares of prime agricultural lands, including about 1000 hectares of the Greenbelt in Vaughan.
The cost of the transportation corridor was estimated in 2012 to be $4.8 Billion. This cost will undoubtedly be more now due to inflation, as well as increased construction and land acquisition costs.
Nearly every municipality along the route of Ontario’s proposed Highway 413 has withdrawn their support or joined calls for Ottawa to intervene. Peel Region has now recently turned its back against the project, joining the municipalities of Mississauga, Vaughan, Halton Hills, Halton Region and Orangeville.
OSPE welcomes needed investment in infrastructure that is “shovel-worthy”, and able to provide long term benefits to Ontarians. Unfortunately, Highway 413 is not the answer. As the expert panel recommended, the government should assess other alternative actions that can provide benefits equivalent to or greater than the recommended new corridor. These include congestion pricing, priority truck lanes on Highway 407, and growth management, as well as increased investment in public transit systems throughout the GTA.
To build long-term sustainable infrastructure, it is imperative that the government consult appropriately with stakeholders and the communities affected. These consultations must be transparent, and information should be shared throughout the entire process.
Engineers, according to the Professional Engineers Act, must ensure that life, health, property, and the public welfare are protected. Engineers know that protecting the environment is essential to promoting a sustainable and healthy lifestyle for current and future generations. As the advocacy body and voice of the engineering community, OSPE is committed to ensuring that our Province builds sustainably. The current Highway 413 project is not the correct answer to Ontario’s gridlock and climate change concerns.
OSPE has been raising concerns regarding Highway 413 since June 2020.
