Tory transportation vision for Hamilton includes wider highways, rapid transit to airport
A pre-election transportation plan unveiled by the Tory government shows a lot of Hamilton highway widening and a new rapid transit line to the airport - but very little detail about timelines or funding.
Premier Doug Ford recently unveiled a Greater Golden Horseshoe transportation plan through 2051 that he argued is needed to keep the province moving forward" for the next generation. Hamilton MPP and New Democrat Leader Andrea Horwath, by contrast, dismissed the road map as an election gimmick" just months before the provincial vote.
The $82-billion, 30-year vision includes controversial proposals in the GTA to build the Bradford Bypass and Highway 413. But there are also some local surprises - like rail transit between Burlington and Oshawa, and a new multi-lane link between Cambridge and Highway 403 near Brantford.
There are no new highways planned in Hamilton, but the map shows new capacity expansion" on the Queen Elizabeth Way, Highway 403 and parts of both Highway 6 south and north.
It looks discouraging" to Environment Hamilton head Lynda Lukasik. Considering that we're living in a do-or-die decade for climate action, I have to wonder why this government is obsessed with new highways and highway expansions," she said.
The map also pencils in an A-line" rapid transit line up the Mountain to the airport and reiterates a long-standing plan to extend GO train service to Stoney Creek. Lukasik gave the government credit for getting regular GO service around the bend to Hamilton - but also argued the province risks undermining regional transit gains with induced demand" on expanded highways.
The transportation plan is light on timeline and funding details, but here's what we know about local proposals:
Rapid transit in Hamilton
The map includes a government-funded, 14-kilometre LRT in the lower city and an unconfirmed north-south higher order" transit line to the airport. The city's BLAST network has long called for rapid transit from the harbour to the airport. The previous Liberal government briefly promised a BRT on the A-line" before backtracking to focus on a lower city LRT.
The project has no timeline or funding, but the city is making transit priority" improvements on the Upper James Street corridor and studying future options.
Rail link from Burlington to Oshawa
Not much is known about this new transit link across the top of Toronto other than that it could follow the Highway 407 corridor. The province described it as new rail-based, higher-order transit" meant to link major employment centres and growth areas."
It is separate from a planned Dundas Street BRT between Toronto and Burlington that might link to Waterdown.
Highway widening
The province has talked about Highway 403 widening through Hamilton since at least 2012. The city is independently studying whether to widen the Red Hill Valley and Lincoln Alexander parkways, but planners have warned that project would only make sense if it coincided with an expanded Highway 403.
A widening timeline remains unclear, but a design study for the interchange at Highway 403 and 6 North should be done in October. Separately, Highway 6 South will be widened near the Hamilton airport - but not before an environmental assessment wraps up in 2024.
Morriston Bypass
Gridlock-weary Morriston residents lobbied for years for a Highway 6 North bypass" around their village to connect to Highway 401. The Tory government recommitted to the project in 2020, but there is no construction ETA. A coalition of residents recently criticized the province for deciding to make other projects a priority," like the contentious Bradford bypass.
Cambridge to Brantford corridor
The provincial document offers few details about this conceptual corridor" that would cut north from Highway 403, just east of Brantford, to join Highway 401 near Cambridge. In response to Spectator questions, the ministry said the idea is subject to further analysis, environmental assessment, consultation prior to approvals and funding."
Matthew Van Dongen is a transportation and environment reporter at The Spectator. mvandongen@thespec.com