metrolinx green paper 6: roads and highways

DEVELOPMENT OF A REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN FOR THE GREATER TORONTO AND HAMILTON AREA

Green Paper #6Roads and Highways

February 22, 2008

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Outline

BackgroundExisting SystemIssuesOptions for Action: Trends, Incremental, BoldNext Steps

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1943

Our New Roads and Highways Vision…

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1966

Our New and Improved Roads and Highways Vision…

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Our New(er) and (More) Improved Roads and Highways Vision…

2004

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GTHA Major Road Network

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GTHA Reliance on Roads and Highways

HOV (Driver + Passenger)30%

Drive Alone49%

Walk/Cycle/Other9%

Bus/Streetcar7%±

Transit 12%

Subway/SRT4%±

GO Rail1%

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Existing Roads and Highways

Extensive gridBackbone of the existing transportation system95% of 12 million daily trips (including transit) depend on road systemCongestion limiting our competitivenessLimited opportunities for expansion

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Severe Road Congestion in 2031 Without Intervention

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GTHA Road NetworkThe GTHA transportation network shapes the way our communities grow and are designedThe road system we have today is a major part of our transportation system and has tended to foster an over reliance on a car culture and car-oriented neighborhoods, because of a lack of other optionsThe trend is slowly changing and in the future the emphasis will be on “multi-modal” transportation corridors fully integrated as part of a sustainable transportation systemThe GTHA road network’s key function is mobility for people and goods

……(continued)

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GTHA Road Network (cont’d)The existing peak period network is overloaded with single occupant vehicles (+ 90% of car travel on freeways)Continued growth in GTHA population and employment will result in increased congestion without a change in how, when and how often people and goods are movedResponse requires:• An integrated transportation network• Management of travel demand to best match available

system capacity; and• Increase in the people and goods carrying capacity of the

road network.

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Some Key Issues for Roads and HighwaysImproved transportation information systemsHOV network on existing roads and highwaysGoods movement bottlenecksGaps in systemConsideration of road pricing scenarios to manage demand

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Improved Transportation InformationNeed to provide choices• More transit opportunities

Easily accessible travel information to aid in making those choices• Internet, telephone • Real-time advisories• Information available at all major decision points

• Mobility hubs

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Planned / Proposed HOV Lanes in GTHA

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HOV Lanes on Regionally Significant RoadsIncluded in several municipalities and municipal transportation plansMTO has significant HOV plans for 400 series highwaysGood starting pointsNo broad network strategyCoordination required

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Goods Movement

Need to move goods more efficiently • Limits in the peak hours• May need restrictions

Moving people from single occupant cars onto transit frees up road capacity for goodsGoods movement bottlenecks and missing system links will and are being addressed

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Gaps in Regional ConnectivitySome road discontinuity or gaps• Potential impact on transit service coverage

May be caused by • Environmental or physical impediments• Jurisdictional or funding impediments• Community impacts

Example• Taunton Road – Steeles

• Durham transit to York transit and TTC connections

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Road Pricing to Manage DemandVarious road pricing mechanisms will be considered to manage demand including:• Variable Pricing / Dynamic Tolling based on

congestion for an individual facility• HOT Lanes / Managed Lanes• Congestion Pricing• Environmental / Emissions Pricing• Distance-based Pricing

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Scenarios for GTHA Roads and HighwaysTrends• Limited HOV lanes based on widening existing roads• Limited transit priority continues (signal priority, queue jump)• Tolling restricted to Hwy. 407• Improved active transportation facilities

Incremental• Progress towards all transportation facilities being fully

integrated and priorities assessed within common set of criteria and funding tools

• Better coordination and increased transit and HOV priority including conversion of some general purpose lanes

• More facilities employing transportation pricing• Limiting goods delivery during peak periods• Investigation of “clean air corridors” for smog days

………(continued)

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Scenarios for GTHA Roads/Hwys (cont’d)Bold• Full coordination and integration of the prioritization

and design of all transportation facilities based on a common set of criteria and funding tools

• Move to “complete” streets• Increased HOV and dedicated transit lanes with

higher-speed higher-order transit on regional roads/arterials

• Comprehensive transportation pricing strategy to guide demand

• Restrictions on goods movement and delivery in congested area combined with distribution centres

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Three Lenses for Testing AlternativesPeople Environment Economy

Jobs / EconomyAestheticsNoiseCommunitiesHealth & Safety

Fuel UseEmissionsCarbon FootprintUrban Sprawl

EmploymentCongestionEfficiencyAdaptability

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Objectives for GTHA Roads and HighwaysThe RTP will seek to influence the roads and highways of the GTHA in a manner that:• optimizes the utilization of existing infrastructure;• meets the long-term needs of GTHA travelers;• maximizes the capacity of that infrastructure to move people

and goods;• enhances the modal choices offered GTHA travelers;• supports government land use policies;• reduces the environmental impact of road transportation;

and• provides a safe, pleasant, convenient, and attractive

experience for all road users.

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Next StepsPublic input and dialogueIntegration of roads and highways with complementary issues of transit, goods movement, etc.Development and assessment and of best long range plan and policy alternatives

metrolinx green paper 6: roads and highways

Business

greater toronto

regional transportation

hamilton areagreen paper

new roads

highways vision