Feb. 27, 2026
A research report co-sponsored by Environmental Defence and Transport Action Ontario says the province’s current response to the congestion crisis is worsening traffic rather than alleviating it.
“Many rapid transit projects remain unfunded, and the funded ones are plagued by delays, litigation, and cost overruns,” says Environmental Defence. “As a result, new transit capacity has not kept pace with population growth. At the same time, operating support for public transit is shrinking: the Public Transit Fund has lost 30% of its value since its inception, service levels have fallen 18% since 2018, and Metrolinx’s cancellation of its GO Expansion contract with Deutsche Bahn signals hesitation to deliver higher-frequency service.
“Making the problem worse, the province continues to pursue environmentally damaging and ineffective mega-highway projects, including Highway 413, the Bradford Bypass, and a proposed Highway 401 tunnel costing $50-100 billion.
“The concept of ‘induced demand’ reminds us that adding lanes and highways encourages more people to drive, leading to more gridlock. The province is poised to spend roughly $80 billion on highway projects that its own modelling shows will not reduce congestion. At the same time, Ontario is heavily subsidizing driving by eliminating license plate fees, reducing gas taxes, and removing tolls, costing the treasury over $2.5 billion per year. Land-use changes through Bill 185 and the Provincial Planning Statement further entrench sprawl, ignoring expert advice to legalize more density and locking residents into long car-dependent commutes.”
Download a copy of the full report. (Opens in a new tab.)