Thank you for your report. You've made some excellent points. I think the fact that there is excessive urban sprawl of mostly single detached homes that are dependent on cars to reach workplaces far away is a huge problem. Our communities lack of variety in housing options that lack walkable amenities like human services and retail means we are completely dependent on cars. Better, faster, more frequent reliable public transit seems to be the answer. Its in the works but its years away. Why can't we use some of the larger power transmission corridors that encircle parts of the city to relieve the pressure on the 401. There is new technology to bury high voltage lines safely to free up this space? I think you should do a piece on how mega-developers seem to pull all the strings in what and and how housing development is built. They seem to generate the most profit building and selling single family homes that start above $800K. Why do our municipal and provincial governments have little say in what is being built. How can mix-use zoning development be incentivized?
@Urban_Atlas
Ай бұрын
All excellent points! I agree with everything you mentioned! I love the idea of using the power corridors which essentially serve as linear parks to allow for more transportation options and perhaps more public space even, esp now that we have the technology to move power lines underground. The Main problem I fear is political, large capital projects like the ones mentioned are highly politicized. Govt changes far to often and often disagree on projects such as these. It’s an extremely complex and difficult topic, I could make many videos on this. Many people also disagree with my stance on this topic and I have recieved many negative comments. There is a fine line we must balance on, as a planner getting the public to agree on something like this is almost impossible.
@AricGardnerMontreal
29 күн бұрын
your municipal government absolutely sets the zoning regulations. the reason they do not change these regulations is that it is disadvantageous the the incumbents. we call this NIMBYism
@GPJACKSOGA
Ай бұрын
You failed to mention that the 407 was meant to ease the load, however it's high toll prices make it unusable for most.
@Urban_Atlas
Ай бұрын
Yea I should have mentioned that explicitly, I think I included that the 407 is a paid highway.
@georgefox4982
Ай бұрын
Still 300,000 veh per day in some areas
@craigquann
Ай бұрын
It's not really that expensive. I used to use it. Cost me $2 every time (once maybe twice a day) to get from the 400 to where my job was on keele. Now you're doing the math, $10-20 a week to go 2 kms and took 2 mins. However to take the other way would take 30 minutes or more just to go up keele to 7 and then the 400. So what's a half hour of your life and gas wasted in stop and go traffic worth to you. I'd say the 407 is CHEAP.
@GPJACKSOGA
Ай бұрын
@@craigquann You could damn near walk that distance. most people travel much further and the cost is considerably higher.
@craigquann
Ай бұрын
@@GPJACKSOGA yes. But my point is that it has it purpose
@bobwoods1302
Ай бұрын
As a shift worker I`m always amazed how busy the 401 can be at 7pm on a Sunday night.
@Urban_Atlas
Ай бұрын
It’s actually crazy, the only time I haven’t encountered traffic on 401 is at 3 am lol
@njam101
Ай бұрын
Any 400 series highway and the QEW within GTA can have heavy traffic at almost any time.
@Curling_Rack
Ай бұрын
the drive during the 2020-2021 lockdowns was heaven lol
@Ejb905
Ай бұрын
The 400 series Highways in the limited hours where they aren't jammed are FUN to drive. The 407 is easy to drive fast, you can easily hit 130-150 km if your not careful, 401, 403, QEW the same
@njam101
Ай бұрын
@@Ejb905 Have you had your vehicle seized yet? 😉
@mikelynch-zeroviewz2507
Ай бұрын
The betrayal of the selling of the 407 😢😢😢
@marklittle8805
Ай бұрын
That is a small part of the issue in the end. The fact it was set up as a luxury toll road was always how it went. That wasn't the Cons doing by itself, the Libs set up the parts not run by the Consortium and still owned by the province the same way for the same price . No matter who is running this province, the 407 isn't at close to capacity because of the price and no government will take on bringing that price down
@mikelynch-zeroviewz2507
8 күн бұрын
@marklittle8805 Ernie Eaves stated he sold the 407 for 3 billion because he said the previous NDP was just going to give the 407 away for free .. like that's somehow a good reason or justification for making an incredibly stupid decision.. Sadly, that decision affects everyone who has the displeasure of having to drive in the GTA every single day 😒.. how about making it free for everyone, like the 401, so everyone can use it, and not just those who can afford it ? .. if so, the traffic on the 401 would instantly ease up as those wanting to bypass Toronto (truckers, etc) would take the 407 ... less pollution, more productivity .. greater happiness... If you look at every major US city, you see ring highways around the core that allows traffic to flow and avoid high volume areas if/when needed ... Whereas our myopic politicians allow 100s of condos and housing developments to be built in the GTA without any consideration to existing road infrastructure leading to the inevitable quagmire of never-ending gridlock, also known as "Toronto traffic" .. all these politicians are idiots, but my vote for the biggest one is Ernie Eaves
@marklittle8805
8 күн бұрын
@@mikelynch-zeroviewz2507 I don't disagree it might help the 401, but just about every traffic engineer has stated that you build a freeway, traffic will fill it. As for our former finance minister that sold it, understand the financial vice the province's nuts were in when Harris and his government were elected. This country has an annoying habit of one side burying the government in red ink, getting tossed and then the other guys come in to clean it up and make some quick short term solutions that we wish we didn't do later sometimes. This was one of them.
@Electrify85
Ай бұрын
You also can't forget the fact that the 407 has been tolled to a price point where it is functionally useless for the majority of people. While induced demand most definitely plays a role, the 401 is playing double part of having to connect both central and northern suburbs. There were also plans for more expressways in the south end, such as the Richview, Crosstown, and Scarborough Expressways which were never constructed. I'm not sure how impactful their absence has been since better urban land useage means there is less of a need to travel long stretches across these corridors, but for those who they either need to make their way up to the 401 or take the subway. Hopefully once the LRT opens it will make traffic more manageable, but both rapid transit lines could have been more competitive with fewer stations slowing them down. Regardless their cancellation likely spurred the construction of initial widening projects. Another thing which doesn't help is just how inefficiently the 401 itself is designed. Rather than the collector lanes operating as an expressway for local traffic, in many places they are more like oversized on/off ramps with thru lanes constantly turning into exit ramps, which necessitates a lot of excessive merging and slow downs. By keeping the collector lanes as three to four thru lanes with a right lane merging on/off ramp lane could make driving the highway significantly smoother and safer.
@Urban_Atlas
Ай бұрын
All great points, I love your explanation and critique of the traffic engineering and highway design of the 401 it’s something I actually didn’t give much thought to until I read your comment. And I agree that traffic operations on the highway are significantly impacted by it’s design (ramps, collector/express). I wonder if there have been and studies or simulations of how a change in highway design would impact traffic operations on the highway. Great point! One of the best part of KZitem is having the ability to learn from a community of like minded individuals. Thank you for this comment.
@haweater1555
Ай бұрын
Eglinton LRT design (when it opens). For a supersized cost that should have bought a full scale subway, we will get a train hobbled by surface level auto traffic.
@jimboi8114
Ай бұрын
@@haweater1555 It's incredible they chose a surface LRT for a city as big and growing as fast as Toronto and for an area as important as eglinton, It's just going to get overcapacity as there's no other mass transit in central and north toronto except for line 1.
@jonm3131
Ай бұрын
Why is everyone talking about the 407 when its not the main issue..
@haweater1555
Ай бұрын
@@jonm3131 Because there is an important relation between the two and this video never mentions the 407.
@johngawrylash7732
Ай бұрын
Remember , every time you're stuck in traffic on the 401 , it was the Cons that sold off the 407 .
@Urban_Atlas
Ай бұрын
It’s part of the problem for sure, but there are a host of other issues at play here as mentioned in the video.
@johngawrylash7732
Ай бұрын
@@Urban_Atlas Now they plan on building another highway due in part because the 407 isn't doing it's job, more money .
@Urban_Atlas
Ай бұрын
@@johngawrylash7732 yep a northern highway, hwy 413, it’s better than doing nothing, it will help relive traffic from 401 but I fear in the long term, we need to invest in better transit infrastructure, and stop the centralization of employment in Toronto, and incentivize more high tech and higher paying jobs in the suburbs and other cities in the area.
@thefozzybear
Ай бұрын
407 the rich people's highway.
@grahamstuart9164
Ай бұрын
No. The 407 was leased. For 99 yrs. The investors that took it over Paid for the construction of the highway. They pay 100% of the cost of maintenance for the highway including snow removal and police patrols. They are responsible for the agreed expansion of the highway over the course of the lease. And at the end of the 99 year lease the highway will be turned back over to the province..... In it's original condition. What that means according to the contract is when the province takes back the highway they will be getting a brand new highway with brand new bridges and brand new foundation and everything. In return for that agreement they get to charge tolls for the people using it. It cost the province absolutely nothing to have that highway installed. It costs the province absolutely nothing to have that highway maintained. It costs the province nothing to have that highway expanded and improved upon. And in the end the highway will be completely free for the province and the taxpayers. I'm not a 100% sure how you do math......... But it is estimated that over the course of the 99 years... The province will have saved upwards of 200 billion dollars..... Of course it was the conservatives that did this. It makes perfect economic sense for the taxpayers. You don't think the liberals or the NDP would have been able to come up with something this brilliant do you? The 413 is going to relieve a huge amount of truck and car traffic through Mississaugastan And the worst part of the 400.
@arrjay2410
Ай бұрын
What? No mention of the 407 Toll way that runs parallel to the 401. I've travelled on both. Traffic on the 407, compared to the 401, is not just light, it's almost non-existent The tolls on the 407 are such that it literally doubles the cost of a trip, making it unappealing, not only to the average commuter but Transport as well. The 407 is the Rich man's Highway that ordinary people cannot afford.
@jonm3131
Ай бұрын
Why is everyone talking about the 407 when its not the main issue..
@chrissiewb721
Ай бұрын
No (or lower) tolls on the 407 would take some of the pressure off the 401.
@repatch43
28 күн бұрын
Good. That way if I choose, if the situation requires it, I can ensure I have a traffic free option.
@repatch43
28 күн бұрын
@@chrissiewb721 Nope. Look up induced demand, and the MULTITUDE of prior examples of where adding capacity did nothing to 'take pressure off'
@jrochest4642
Ай бұрын
GO trains are not slow compared to the highways -- the average speed on the Gardiner is 20 kmh, so 90 for the GO trains isn't bad at all. The biggest problem is that the trains are still 'commuter' rail, designed to take people into downtown in the morning and home to the suburbs at night. Lots of people need to travel from one suburb to another (from Brampton to Whitby, for instance), and for that there would need to be a line running across the city parallel to the 401. Also, the trains need to be increased to every 15 minutes in both directions. Also, the TTC is not a freaking 'bus service", it's the subway system.
@Urban_Atlas
Ай бұрын
What I meant was trains are slow compared to the speed of trains in similar sized cities across the world.
@Transit_ON
Ай бұрын
TTC is not just the subway system. There's bus service, streetcar system, LRT system hense why it's called the Toronto transit commission.
@qwopiretyu
Ай бұрын
The ttc encompasses streetcars, busses, AND the subway.
@paulmorra4424
Ай бұрын
poor video
@Urban_Atlas
Ай бұрын
@@paulmorra4424 poor vwhy? Just because you disagree with my reasons? Planning is a highly subjective and political topic, you may have a particular political affiliation which causes you to disagree with me. But all the points I have mentioned are known and identified by the planning community.
@nevarmaor
Ай бұрын
The problem with the 401 is that there is no viable alternative to traverse the city. 407 should never have been sold and made a high-priced toll route. QEW/Gardiner cannot be expanded as it goes through the downtown area and is an elevated highway.
@keithng2517
Ай бұрын
They need to remove the tolls on Highway 407, its totally underused in capacity and help alleviate the congestion on 401
@Junknown764
Ай бұрын
The government can easily subsidize the cost, they just won't. They just want to give their money to their construction buddies to repair the 401 and build highways far away from the GTA
@jonm3131
Ай бұрын
Why is everyone talking about the 407 when its not the main issue..
@johnnysecular
Ай бұрын
@@jonm3131because people think there’s an easy solution to everything. as if the 407 is anywhere close to the destination of 75% of the users of the 401. And for the other 25% it’s not always faster. People overestimate the proportion of traffic that is just driving though toronto on long haul; and forget that 90% of 401 trips are actually less than 40km
@NoNotThatPaul
Ай бұрын
Good idea, but instead, we'll just build a new highway!
@bobsobie678
Ай бұрын
They who? CPPIB owns 50.1% of the highway, they aren't removing tolls anytime soon. You could say 407 is paying for your retirement.
@shaunpcoleman
4 күн бұрын
Urban area with about 6 million people with barely functioning transit which means most people must drive everywhere. The GO trains are just sad. Suburbs just keep spreading and spreading. It is an urban wasteland. Total planning disaster. Anyone who can get out of the area does. I think the 401 is starting to put the brakes on economic growth. People are simply refusing to make the drive. Businesses are looking for locations further afield due to transportation issues and the cost of land in Toronto. Waterloo Region is developing into a tech hub. Many companies are resorting to remote work. I have simply stopped going to Toronto. It is just too difficult - and I'm only 90 km from downtown Toronto!
@steverempel8584
Ай бұрын
I've lived in southern Ontario, and there's basically 2 reasons for why the 401 is so busy. 1st: it's the only main highway crossing Southern Ontario, so it's practically essential to use if you are trying to travel across Toronto. 2nd: The alternative 407 is a high priced Toll highway, removing it as a Viable Alternative.
@michaelcarter8020
Ай бұрын
I have lived my entire life in this area. You have hit the nail on the head.
@redstone5062
Ай бұрын
Reason #1 is the GTA is overpopulated and the infrastructure was designed for 1960 when it was 1 car per home
@michaelcarter8020
Ай бұрын
If you look at cities with vastly higher populations in the USA, their highways aren't 20 lanes wide... and yet they have significantly less traffic (LA is an exception). The main reason for that is they have like 6 highways to choose from, not 1.
@Urban_Atlas
Ай бұрын
Yes that’s true, the only viable option in Toronto is 407 BUT it’s a toll road, and an extremely expensive one.
@Electrify85
Ай бұрын
@@michaelcarter8020 many of those highways cut through vibrant urban neighbourhoods, causing them to fall into significant decline. This in turn caused people who could afford to move out into the suburbs to do, turning the city into an office park to abandon at 5pm at best and a place to avoid altogether at worst. In the 1960s Toronto didn't build their inner city highway network, but outside of a few areas also didn't build pedestrian and transit oriented development and the infrastructure to support it. To make things worse, Quebec's new laws in the 1970s moved the country's economic centre from Montreal to Toronto and then 50 years of doing less than the bare minimum to catch up, and we have the mess we are in now. Sadly I predict the country's economic centre to shift elsewhere and Toronto and the GTA to see some decline over a few decades before things get better.
@Curling_Rack
Ай бұрын
"one more lane should fix it" lol
@Urban_Atlas
Ай бұрын
@@Curling_Rack 😂😂😭😂
@Electrify85
Ай бұрын
@@Curling_Rack well as pointed out, these cities have larger populations with less congestion. So... 🤷
@nadionmediagroup
Ай бұрын
Can confirm. I moved away because of this exact reason. Found a different job. This was 100% the reason.
@Urban_Atlas
Ай бұрын
Did the commute for years myself, hated it every single day. I would loose 2 hours to traffic every day. So happy I don’t have to drive on the 401 anymore.
@nadionmediagroup
Ай бұрын
@@Urban_Atlas yeah. I was a consultant for GTA car dealers. There is NO good time to drive that road. It’s insane, and it was 10 years ago. I don’t go often and I take a train when I do these days.
@ronparrish6666
Ай бұрын
It's really simple the 401 is basically the same width as it was in the 60,s except for the odd part so rush hour in the 70,swas around 3pm to 5pm and the population was smaller you now have a few million cars more and the hwy is no wider to handle it
@Urban_Atlas
Ай бұрын
Yes! That’s a massive part of it, i mentioned that the highway was not built for this much traffic and the sudden influx of newcomers esp in the last decade of so. There are other systematic issues like poor transit, urban planning and land use choices that just add onto the already stressed highway.
@thinking_out_loud
26 күн бұрын
The mixed-use zoning idea is something that has always been seen as controversial...with a lot of loud voices against this. People have constantly cited (often with no proof) that once you have mixed zoning you will introduce more crime into the neighbourhoods (drunks from bars)...or increase noise (restaurants opening late)...and even more pollution (from waste generated from factories). I have always felt that these voices have kept city politicians from changing zoning laws because they want to keep their jobs.
@coldlakealta4043
Ай бұрын
The Don Valley Parking Lot isn't a heck of a lot better
@Urban_Atlas
Ай бұрын
Agreed! 5 out of the 6 reasons mentioned here also apply to the DVP.
@josephtaylor3857
Ай бұрын
Agree. I believe the 90km/hr speed limit sign on the DVP to be a cruel joke.
@caldera11
7 күн бұрын
It's so busy because the 407 is extremely overpriced and is once again more concerned with draining the wallets of canadians to pad the wallets of foreign owners than with actually providing a good service to canadians canadians are constantly mistreated by international influences. Companies come to canada just to pay canadians shite wages. Brands come to canada to provide canadians with sub-par offerings, often buying up existing canadian companies, then fail miserably and leave canadians with NO options left since they killed the previously canadian one. Companies maliciously buy up housing as an investment ruining the lives of average Canadians who cannot form a family due to housing being unattainable.
@haweater1555
Ай бұрын
1. Geographical factor - Toronto urban core located on a lakeshore, cutting out exactly half the potential area that the city can develop around. 2. Alternative Highway 407 privatized. Tolls kept very high to enrich owners, keep traffic down to reduce maintenance, and capture only the premium market willing to pay to bypass 401. Result is that its contribution to congestion relief is only minimal by design.
@kbdc
28 күн бұрын
God this highway makes me hate driving. Unless it's the middle of the night when everyone is asleep, rush hour is pretty much from 7am - 12am. There's always a crash, construction is everywhere, exit closures appear out of nowhere, and there's always that one braindead driver who goes 80 in the left lane 💀💀💀
@nicolasgainous5936
15 күн бұрын
Me an American thinking why you are complaining about 80 in the left lane until I realize you’re talking about km and not mph 💀
@Arational
8 күн бұрын
Quebec's election of the PQ government in 1976 is why the greater Toronto area has grown so much. More than $1 trillion worth of economic activity moved down the road to Toronto since then. The increasing cost of operating an international company that does most of its business in English but must operate in French in their Quebec facilities has caused many to just write off Quebec.
@Urban_Atlas
8 күн бұрын
Yea good point, that is a often overlooked factor as to why Toronto grew so much so fast!
@rickbullock4331
28 күн бұрын
Hwy 407 should not have been a toll road to start with. It cost just shy of a billion dollars to build and Harris sold it to a conglomerate for 3 billion dollars. Where did he put that money? The cost to use it increases which actually keeps it pretty free of congestion most of the time. 407 is definitely better maintained than the 401 or any other government road system especially come winter. I’ve seen me travelling on 401 from west to east on a very slippery snow covered surface and entered onto the 407 in Mississauga to snow bare road totally cleared, just wet. It was like night and day. Guess who got the jump on Mother Nature that night? Lots of highly paid people to blame, where to start?
@aba1design
29 күн бұрын
What they should be doing is incentivizing work from home policies to reduce commuters. Then take all the extra office buildings and covert them to apartments and condos
@Urban_Atlas
29 күн бұрын
Great idea! There should definitely be some government backed incentivization regarding the implementation or WFH. That should and will make a big difference, think back to Covid and how smooth the traffic was!
@aba1design
28 күн бұрын
@@Urban_Atlas It would help with a ton of issues. Bring more places to live into the market driving down prices in a market where we don't have enough homes. It would give people more time at home which would help them start families when our birthrates are below replacement. It would save us money on upkeep and repair of the roads. The list goes on and on.
@roxorz007
Ай бұрын
There also are too many drivers that paid for their licenses and don't have a clue how to properly drive. I've seen it all from semi's to Tesla's doing really dumb stuff.
@pkwan962
29 күн бұрын
Just build more subway. Problem solved. Hongkong have the same problem before, but no more with a big subway network.
@Urban_Atlas
29 күн бұрын
Would help tremendously, but I fear further improvements will be difficult as construction projects here take decades, and there is a significant anti-transit sentiment among many residents. But I would definitely buy in to more subways routes .
@maroon9273
29 күн бұрын
Plus, bus rapid and at grade/elevated rapid transit lines
@caldera11
7 күн бұрын
The easiest solution is for people to not need to commute in the first place. 90% of office jobs in Toronto can be work from home. Offer tax cuts for companies who allow people to work from home or impose fines on companies who do not allow people to work from home. It's that simple. Oh look every massive office building in toronto is now pointless and we have massively less emissions, massively less congested roads, and many other benefits. Those office buildings can now be converted to housing. Also helps with the housing crisis. Oh look companies have less control of their employees, resulting in much less stress and burnout. Also a good thing. Office jobs account for around 50% of jobs. This is a simple and extremely influential option.
@Pr13to
3 күн бұрын
This is the second video I’ve watched on your channel, and I want to encourage you to continue-very good job! For this particular video, I think it would be helpful to expand the analysis by considering one more aspect: -How many heavy trucks that are crossing through the GTA, coming from and going to places outside the GTA area? -What would be the impact if those trucks were diverted to the 407 or another highway north of the GTA? Looking into these numbers might reveal some interesting insights. I’m eager to see what you find!
@Urban_Atlas
3 күн бұрын
Thanks man! And excellent questions, I will do a future video to discuss these topics!
@AricGardnerMontreal
Ай бұрын
Three times as many trips are taken on the Montreal metro as cars on the 401 per day
@lannyfromcanada3485
Ай бұрын
I didn't believe you and had to look it up and wow you ain't lying... Under 400k vehicles travel the 401 daily and over 1 million use the Montreal metro daily.
@bryanlloyd6400
Ай бұрын
How many transport trucks take the metro in Montreal?
@tristanridley1601
Ай бұрын
The busiest highway in the world and it's absolutely dwarfed by individuals lines on many metro systems.
@AricGardnerMontreal
29 күн бұрын
@@bryanlloyd6400 are we listing ways in which a highway is not equivalent to a metro system?
@bryanlloyd6400
29 күн бұрын
@@AricGardnerMontreal if we are to compare apples to apples then yes
@jamescox7007
Ай бұрын
401 is a well built highway. Traffic always flows well even during heavy traffic. Construction and accidents are the 2 main problems that hinder flow.
@jepps1021
Ай бұрын
I use the 401 from Oshawa every day to drive into Scarborough for work. Since not everyone works in the city centre i think some sort of rail line should run parallel to the 401 and stop at major roads/hubs . I would take that in a heartbeat but i have no choice but to drive as busses and go train would cost me a fortune and more than double ky commute. The 401 has a purpose and needs to be improved but so does the transit infrastructure around it for regional commuters!!
@MrCyclist
Ай бұрын
Take the GO train. It runs every 15 minutes.
@jepps1021
Ай бұрын
@@MrCyclist like I said I don't work downtown or along the Lakeshore East go line
@elduderino7916
Ай бұрын
“The City of Toronto is not amongst the largest Cities in North America” - that is patently false. It’s the 4th largest city in North America. You literally display a graphic showing that right after that statement. Yes, it’s smaller than the top 3, but so is every other NA city. It’s #4. Otherwise, interesting video and agree that it’s a mess because way too many cars and not nearly enough viable alternatives.
@Urban_Atlas
Ай бұрын
You are right, the way I said it may have been confusing, the point i was trying to make was that there are larger metro areas in North America none of which have a highway with as much traffic as 401, hence population is not the sole factor when it comes to traffic as some people may believe.
@zimbox1234
Ай бұрын
401 traffic can be reduced by making changes in 1. 401 Eastbound Collector to 400 Northbound Ramp & 2. 401 Westbound Collector to Yonge Northbound Exit Ramp/Lane. I find there are a lot of problems with lane markings. If you are in left/right most lane, you should always be able to make a choice between go straight OR use the exit ramp. Many times you are forced to make multiple lane changes to continue going straight. Multiple Lane Changes & Not Leaving Enough Space between you and the car in front = Phantom Breaking. Other places around the world has coloured markings in lanes to show that lane you are currently on will continue straight or will exit. Reducing last minute lane changes. If you check google maps traffic, it's always the same places where there are bottle necks. Highway 410, problem is northbound Queen St exit. Southbound 400 is people cutting off others & making last minute changes at the end between East/West Bound 401 and Black Creek.
@Urban_Atlas
Ай бұрын
I never really considered the highway design during this analysis, def would be interesting to see if there have been any traffic operations studies or micro simulation studies done that assess how altering 401s design would impact its traffic, thanks for this, much appreciated.
@stoddard1953
9 күн бұрын
Wth all the lanes the 401 has, there could've been lanes dedicated for BRTs to run along the GTHA portion of the 401. Would help alleviate car traffic and would encourage more people to take public transit.
@Urban_Atlas
9 күн бұрын
Excellent point, and I don’t see why this hasn’t already been done. There are HOV lanes on many Toronto area highways, but I think a dedicated BRT lane would be a good idea. No risk of delays on a dedicated lane. Would def get more people hopping on the BRT. Could use existing GO or subway stations adjacent to 401 as pick up / drop off points.
@shaunpcoleman
4 күн бұрын
@@Urban_Atlas Uncle Doug is stuck in the 1960s when it comes to transportation planning.
@shaunpcoleman
4 күн бұрын
They could put railway tracks down the middle instead of BRT. More efficient and more passengers.
@1982kinger
Ай бұрын
Mass immigration... that's why the traffic sucks
@leoniebelcher1680
26 күн бұрын
How to tell everyone you are a racist asshole without being overtly racist. We see you, this immigrant from SCOTLAND sees you.
@landmine5610
29 күн бұрын
Great video to watch after sitting in 401 traffic for the past 2 hours🫠
@Urban_Atlas
29 күн бұрын
🤣
@JorgePetraglia2009
28 күн бұрын
Toronto's population has increased almost 100% in merely seven years and that's is exactly the disaster that the 401 has become. Even though we are overpopulated in this place, investors keep building expensive condos that nobody is buying , unless they are a corporation from abroad hoping to rent these places to the immense number of people here. It is very sad to not only see young and qualified people leaving this area due to the high cost of living, but the huge number of homeless that bad administrations, over many years, have produced.. Canada is the second largest country in the world and yet most people live in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal, leaving huge expanses of land completely devoid of human presence. Decentralization and not more highways is what we need here and it seems that the politicians, whom suppose to serve the citizens, are not having any serious intention to achieve. Yet, Canada is a member of the G7, which means that we are considered one of the few richest nations in the world, where its inhabitants (not only retirees) are abandoning this once a wonderful experiment in North America. Greetings from Toronto.
@samloudy845
29 күн бұрын
Dvp is worse during rush hour
@mito88
27 күн бұрын
dv parking lot way.
@PrincipalSkinner3190
26 күн бұрын
Absolutely remarkable video and much appreciated from somone born and raises in Toronto.
@Urban_Atlas
26 күн бұрын
Thank you! Glad you liked the video 🙏
@pattaccone
Ай бұрын
People can’t drive ! That’s the reason for all traffic. If people actually used roads properly traffic would be drastically reduced!
@shtakett
Ай бұрын
A small detail that all Torontonians know is how difficult and dangerous it is to drive eastbound during morning sunrise when the skies are clear. All vehicles slow down to 60-80, even if the road is not busy. My beautiful Sun is my main demotivator when I go to work.
@imranjavaidrealtor
Ай бұрын
The smartest and wise politician I ever saw is NDP premier Bob Rae. He had the vision and he delivered 407 within few years. Mike Harris was the dumbest position who sold it for 2 billion 25 years ago. All our traffic issues are based on the fact the Mike cancelled subways and street cars extension back in 90s....so jisy saying PC party of Ontario screwed up Toronto and we are still suffering. This will not change for next 20 years. Only way to made this better was to buy back 407, or subsidize tolls. Perhaps ask Bob Rae to help!!
@ALuimes
28 күн бұрын
Moving to the east end would be smart for this reason as the sun is at your back both ways. Also less populated. I'm amazed nobody thinks of this.
@superx5950
26 күн бұрын
the reason was indeed Torontonian was so stupid to reject Ellington being a hwy in the 70s and qew ended in woodbine beach. the plan was to build three hwys to cross the gta but only one was built.
@Walkerxy
Ай бұрын
Don’t even need to watch to agree how much of a cluster fuck the 401 is. The don valley parking lot isn’t any better and the 410 is fucking terrible too. Ttc violence doesn’t even matter the Toronto traffic makes the buses take so long it’s not worth attempting their use. When I go to Toronto western hospital for epilepsy appointments screw the bus, when I get off the subway at Bathurst station it’s faster to walk to the hospital than take the Damn streetcar.
@ishkaranbrar313
26 күн бұрын
If the 407 didn't have tolls it would be full of same horrible drivers as the 401 and become just as undrivable
@michaelqu
Ай бұрын
The busiest road is the Guangshen Freeway, connecting 2 megacities of Canton and Shenzhen. Average daily traffic on that route ranges from 300000-500000 vehicles a day, on a road designed for 100000 vehicles a day.
@Urban_Atlas
Ай бұрын
Interesting.
@north_of_52
Ай бұрын
Being from SK, I can say I'm quite familiar with the 401, even though I've never been to Ontario. It's in our local news frequently. Good video!
@Urban_Atlas
Ай бұрын
Thanks man! Yea it’s definitely something you don’t want to drive on lol 😂
@wesoree
Ай бұрын
the ontario government asking me to take the 407 (i must pay an extra 80 dollars per kilometer)
@horatiohuffnagel7978
Ай бұрын
They just keep cramming in huge condos next to it too. In the last 5 years ive seen about 50 huge condos go up. I only go to the city for concerts. I could never live there.
@MrGrumblier
Ай бұрын
The wider the highway gets, the worst the congestion gets.
@Urban_Atlas
Ай бұрын
100% induced demand is real
@christopherreynolds1961
28 күн бұрын
The 407 being the most expensive toll hwy in the world doesn't help
@MikeFlynn-e4v
Ай бұрын
Great video! Very thorough. As far as commercial transportation, I’d like to mention the fact Canadas entire auto industry is located in close proximity to the 401 (GM in Oshawa, Ford in Oakville, Stellantis in Windsor). This along with the interconnectedness of the US-Canada auto industry makes the route undoubtedly the worlds busiest trucking corridor. Also worth mentioning is the 401s geography in the big picture of its neighbours. Some routes between large NA metros (say Montreal to Chicago) would travel the 401. Also, some US to US traffic from say New England to the Upper Midwest would use the 401 as a most efficient route.
@tony8074
Ай бұрын
I have travelled the full length of the 401 twice now. I did use the 407 both times too.
@danatmatchvox
Ай бұрын
although your zoning argument is cogent and accurate the real problem begins with allocation and adjacent municipalities 1 the colossal stupidity of the Conservative government selling the 407 without the public debt it generated. Losing control of this public asset is unforgivable. Grossly high User fees have forced casual users away and deterred commercial traffic. Reclaiming the highway for the public and setting proper tolls, including the redirection of commercial vehicles transiting west or east to existing merge points. 2.introduction of zone plating and payment on the don Valley to reduce commuter interference. 3.introduction of local transiting options that reduce the need of the 401 to be a local street...see oshawa et al 4 rezoning of the area north of the 407 to be commercial/farming only
@sblsbl7600
Ай бұрын
The 401 is a great success. Less successful highways have less traffic. Try driving through Chicago. The 401 is well maintained. What businesses should do is move North of Toronto. Maybe to Barie, Newmarket and Aurora.
@HarriG123
29 күн бұрын
The 401 isn’t just bad in the GTA
@Urban_Atlas
29 күн бұрын
Agreed, it isn’t great in other sections as well, but the worst stretch is in the GTA.
@johndefalque5061
Ай бұрын
Two lanes should be replaced by HSR from Quebec City to Chicago! China has an 80 K network of 395 km/hr HSR.
@Urban_Atlas
Ай бұрын
Agreed, multiple studies have shown the feasibility of HSR in Southern Ontario, esp the corridor between Windsor to QC. Like you said it could easily be extended to Chicago, regardless of the studies I doubt it will ever get done.
@impunitythebagpuss
28 күн бұрын
I learned to drive on the 401...from Pickering to Dufferin St. Yorkdale Mall.
@mymanzeesports
Ай бұрын
great video! everything seems pretty spot on! Only thing i never realized until now is that everyone in Ontario calls it THE 401 and not Hwy 401. Idk why but we all do.
@Urban_Atlas
Ай бұрын
Yea I think I said Hwy too many times, it almost sounds unnatural, re watching it again it feels jarring 😳
@rodchallis8031
Ай бұрын
We put "the" before all the 400 series highways. I think it's a way to differentiate between the old two lane highways. For example, we say "Highway 2" or "Highway 89". If we want to express that one is very familiar with a route, we drop the"highway" and just say "2" or "21". But the 400 series, hell or high water, get a "the".
@tyleryoung306
26 күн бұрын
One other factor that I think many overlook is how during covid lockdowns, there was a very big exodus of people to the suburbs. Many of whom believed that the whole narrative in the media that the "Work From Home" era was here to stay. I always thought that was very shortsighted, and it was easy for writers to spin that since they pretty much could always work from home... but to think that all of these companies were just going to allow WFH to happen forever, especially when they have invested so much into their workplace (whether they own it, or have 10-20 year leases), is incredibly dumb. Now many of these people are having to drive in to work every day from places as far as Barrie. In my opinion, that's one of the biggest contributors to this explosion in traffic density post lockdowns.
@bevascah8875
Ай бұрын
I never have problems with thr 401, just know where you are going, and relax.
@DanTheCaptain
Ай бұрын
The main issue is that the 407 was leased to wealthy billionaires and were allowed to hike up the tolls making it too expensive fleet most people especially truck operators. The 407 is one of the most expensive toll roads in the world. The vast majority of the traffic on the 401 is through traffic trying to get through Toronto. This is why this is so significant. The tolls on the 407 need to be lower or non existent to allow those going through Toronto to drive around it. Building a new highway, Highway 413, isn’t the solution and would have a lot of negative impacts on the environment in the protected Green Belt.
@Arational
8 күн бұрын
I recently had to pass by Toronto. The 407 would have cost about $70 plus the extra kms to bypass the 401 so, not an option. Due to circumstances beyond my control, I reached the western end of the GTA at 4:30 pm. I finally got up to highway speeds east of the GTA at 6:30 pm.
@Urban_Atlas
8 күн бұрын
Yep sounds like regular day on 401. The crazy thing is I’m starting to see similar Trends on other highways now, 403, 400, 404,427 weren’t as busy historically but now they are all absolute nightmares .
@MSCH1954
Ай бұрын
Great video, Other reasons are : Never ending construction. Stupid drivers causing accidents even when highway is too slow. Authorities taking too long to clear highway after accidents.
@Urban_Atlas
Ай бұрын
Yes those all definitely impact flow!
@williamschweitzer6910
28 күн бұрын
Politicians are the biggest reason.
@jimclarence5441
Ай бұрын
The 401 is a good highway. The problem is is really the only East/West highway through Toronto. Just too many people/cars/trucks using the highway. I drove 150 kms from Midland to NW Toronto today. Easy drive. But when I reached the 401, all lanes east and west were plugged.
@jonm3131
Ай бұрын
Why is everyone talking about the 407 when its not the main issue..
@Urban_Atlas
Ай бұрын
Makes you wonder doesn’t it 🤔
@hdufort
Ай бұрын
Autoroute 40 in Montréal for the 3 km where it is merged with highway 15, is the absolute worst design in Canada.
@burrybondz225
Ай бұрын
half the population is on the quebec city- windsor corridors.
@Ejb905
Ай бұрын
Presto from Hamilton to Union is $22.88, and if u jump on anotjer system like the TTC is free. $30 is incorrect and a large mistake
@Urban_Atlas
Ай бұрын
Depends on the day and age/student status, as a masters student I paid $30 return on my last trip during the weekday.
@koskos758
24 күн бұрын
407 has to be free of charge.
@kovicrisi1726
Ай бұрын
Used to Live in Toronto but now live around it and the 401 is everywhere I go just because it's along the way where I'm going. But whenever my mother goes home from work she has to go onto the Highway 401 specifically the area next to Yorkdale Mall. and when she leaves work for home it's around 3pm. That's when rush hour really peaks and every part of the highway is jammed. Also I've seen sometimes the Collecter lanes are faster than the Express lane LMAO. But yeah, it's awful they should really try to incentivize people from taking the 401. I mainly use GO transit to get around, atleast from Niagara falls to Toronto Area. And the service is atleast very reliable and extremely time accurate, Sure it may be slower but I find it just as quick as taking a car minus the waiting time though.
@anjumqureshi7093
Ай бұрын
Great video! Thanks for this.
@rebel_12
25 күн бұрын
Sure.. mixed use but I for one do not want it. I feel like I’m being forced to rent, buy a condo or small townhouse [which most have no backyard or extra fees] because a detached single family home (which also has barely any backyard) starts at 1 million. I live in the middle of nowhere. Anyone working in the industry around my area isn’t making 6 figure salary, so why the 7 figure house numbers is beyond me. GTA is over an hour drive from me with no traffic. Government at all levels and political sides has failed my generation massively.
@Urban_Atlas
25 күн бұрын
Yea housing costs is another thing, that’s is a different topic altogether. However, the one thing about mixed use is that it will help increase housing supply, (we need a lot more homes to support our crazy growing population). In the long run an increase in housing supply will increase inventory and help drive down housing prices as a whole.
@airborne63
22 күн бұрын
All of the communities/towns you have mentioned, have GO Transit rail transit into and trough Toronto, controlled by Metrolink.
@dukezap1
Ай бұрын
12:18 The Metro areas being comapred here are much larger in physical boundaries. Not really a fair comparison for population density.
@Urban_Atlas
Ай бұрын
Not comparing population density, though, just pointing out that the traffic is not a direct result of the population.
@stephenramos2824
6 күн бұрын
You don't need to refer to it as highway 401 everytime.
@Urban_Atlas
6 күн бұрын
I know it sounds odd, will do better next time.
@richardsimms251
29 күн бұрын
Very interesting Vidi. Thank you
@Urban_Atlas
29 күн бұрын
Thanks!
@silversurfer3457
Ай бұрын
Personal transportation , mobility , and the automobile are the principle drivers of ontario's progressive economy , fueling education, real estate, and diplomacy
@palco22
Ай бұрын
Could an estimated population of over 7 million people, ... be considered a small factor.
@Urban_Atlas
Ай бұрын
I mentioned the population (reason 6) but, there are much larger cities that don’t have anything near this level of traffic 🤔. There’s more to this than just the population.
@MegaLive25
Ай бұрын
Pretty good video. I do wonder about a few of the points, for example is there data showing that the TTC's ridership has declined because of violent incidents? I agree that anecdotally some people have been avoiding it. Additionally, the 401 has been a congested highway for a long time, including before the pandemic and the associated rise in security incidents on the TTC, so are those really related? Finally, even if people did want to take the TTC to avoid traffic on the 401, there isn't really any fast east-west TTC routes that far north, there are buses and a stub of a subway line, not much of a replacement. I agree with most of the other points. One final piece of feedback, I think you need to be careful in your script, you repeated 'Highway 401' a huge amount of times. For example you say 'Highway 401' nine times in the first minute of the video. Quite a few of those could have been replaced with 'the highway' or 'the 401', it would have made the script smoother and less jaring.
@Urban_Atlas
Ай бұрын
Thank you for the feedback much appreciated, you are right recwatching it now I agree I said “hwy 401” too many times. I’m going to try and improve upon that in future videos. And while there’s no real evidence that security concerns are affecting ridership on the TTC, what the data does tell us is that ridership overall is not really increasing and is still below pre pandemic levels on most routes, regardless of the fact that we have seen an increase in population in the GTA post COVID
@nevarmaor
Ай бұрын
I used to work in Scarborough while living in Mississauga. I'd joke that if I left work at 4 I'd be home by 7, if I left at 5 home by 7, left at 6 home by 7. If a tractor trailer jackknifed I'd be home by 2am. This was in the '90's.
@klambs
Ай бұрын
Yup, moved away and everytime I come back to Brampton I deal with the 401 Westbound traffic in Oshawa and North York. Also interesting stuff on the Land Use Planning aspect.
@Urban_Atlas
Ай бұрын
Thanks! I’m actually a Transportation Planner during the day 😂. I wanted to make content related to it! Glad you found it interesting.
@jasondrummond2335
Ай бұрын
I think you failed to capture the poor planning that individuals have that adds to this. When I lived in Toronto, there were numerous people that I knew that worked in Mississauga and lived in Durham because "I can just take the 401" it never made sense to me
@stephenolan5539
Ай бұрын
As far as I can Jane Jacobs was a smart urban planner but Toronto took her ideas and implemented them extremely badly.
@Devan1191
29 күн бұрын
Really enjoyed this video. I think you should do more urban planning videos especially about transit in North America. It’s so unfortunate we had such a vast network of rail infrastructure in the country with passenger service and now there’s very little. I know some service is slowly coming back but this is nothing close to what it once was. It’s such a shame when you compare North American long distance transit to Europe that have kept most of their rails and even expanded significantly over the past decades. Last weekend I had to drive 4 hours each way to visit parents. I would have much preferred to take transit even if it would be slightly longer. No one wants to drive that long. And I don’t see why this couldn’t be done. Like when I visit my family in Switzerland I can go long distances no problem by train and bus. In some ways it’s even quicker. You can’t tell me Canada couldn’t maintain what it had while Switzerland’s systems literally go through 1000s of kilometres of tunnelling and bridging. It would be amazing to see Canada to get frequent long distant transit again.
@Urban_Atlas
29 күн бұрын
Thanks for the comment! I totally agree that we are not utilizing our rail infrastructure to its full potential. There is so much that can be improved upon in this regard. I fear there are many political reasons behind the disregard regarding transit and rail on a greater scale. I agree there are improvement taking place but it’s been quite slow. Keep in mind the role that the car lobby has in these large capital projects. There have been feasibility studies regarding a high speed rail route along the Windsor to QC corridor, but the political will isn’t there. I wonder if all the car manufacturing in the area has a role to play is that 🤔. Moreover, even now there is still residents who believe more highways and highway widening is the answer to all our traffic problems, I see it all the time as a planner.
@ranterraver5959
29 күн бұрын
Great video, excellent points. I take issue with the supposed cost of the TTC though, I would be interested to see who paid for the study showing how expensive it is to build. Highways are constantly being built and rebuilt and no one batts an eye when that clsts billions, but special interest groups are always happy to pick up on cost overruns with transit lines.
@Urban_Atlas
29 күн бұрын
That’s actually a great point! One that I admit I overlooked, it would be interesting to see how expensive our 400 series highways were to build and maintain as well as what the final cost vs. Initial estimates were.
@cthree87
28 күн бұрын
You say it's failing yet it's always jammed full of cars and servicing the people who use it. Would you consider the 407 more of a success because it has so few people who benefit from it?
@Urban_Atlas
28 күн бұрын
It’s failing because it has a poor level of service, in traffic engineering terms, as well as significant delays. Basically it’s above its current capacity. The answer isn’t more highways or more lanes.
@jasperli
Ай бұрын
The real problem is that it isn’t tolled. If you congestion charge Toronto & toll the 401 congestion on the 401 will disappear overnight. The 407 is the perfect example of this. We have this overly expensive infrastructure that takes up precious real estate, is costly to maintain & moves less people than TTC Line 1. Why is this thing free for anyone behind the wheel of a motor vehicle?
@wainber1
Ай бұрын
There certainly aren't enough toll roads that in Ontario, and given the right-wing nature of the government of that province, I don't see that changing for as long as that government is in power.
@peterrussell3470
Ай бұрын
And the cost of everything will go up. If you build a highwaythen build a city around it guess what. Close some of the on ram0os,not every street need one, and get some damn enforcement on this road. Too manypeople just out for a drive, that is what a congestion charge will help. Do not put more cost on trade, almost everything you use travels on that higway
@jasperli
Ай бұрын
@@peterrussell3470 generally that does not happen. Logistics companies value time, & local businesses are price sensitive & flexible. Logistics companies save time on the road by not being caught in congestion & are able to complete jobs faster. Local businesses switch to off-peak deliveries to take advantage of a lower toll. This is observable in Singapore & London where congestion charging is in place, as well as Tokyo where highway tolls are in place.
@nevarmaor
Ай бұрын
That would immensely exacerbate the congestion of every other road in Toronto.
@jasperli
Ай бұрын
@@nevarmaor you missed the congestion charge.
@garbuckle3000
Ай бұрын
You forgot one: Politics Any time there's been a plan for updating infrastructure, the next party that comes into power tends to strike it down. That's how we get decades of little to no improvement. Just look at the joke of a subway system for example.
@Urban_Atlas
Ай бұрын
This is a huge one. Urban planning and transit projects are highly political, and as you can see through the comments not everyone agrees with me which is fine, it’s a matter of personal preference of car dependent infrastructure vs. Improved land use and better transit. We just have to look at research to see which works better.
@mrrock1243
Ай бұрын
JUST my opinion and observation. Southern Ontario has (had) massive ties to the automotive industry. Ford motor company pitched in to help fund parts of the 401 and parts of a short expressway in London. Hence our mass issue with car dependencies. Including other facts this video explains. Look at cites not close to the auto industry. Edmonton, Winnipeg. All have ring roads. It's normal for western cities to have this type of system.
@Urban_Atlas
Ай бұрын
Great observation, to add to your point funding and infrastructure development is extremely political and decisions may be made in the interests of those who have money and not the general public.
@markryan2475
Ай бұрын
Thanks for this video. You've hit a nerve. Two more reasons for constant congestion on the 401: incompetent drivers and poorly maintained vehicles. It is too easy to get a driver's licence in Ontario, so there are many terrible drivers who at best drive in a way that constricts efficient traffic flow and at worst cause frequent accidents. There are no consequences for driving a vehicle that is poorly maintained, which means that traffic is frequently blocked by broken down vehicles. These two factors mean that the capacity that is available on the 401 gets blown constantly due to accidents and breakdowns.
@Urban_Atlas
Ай бұрын
Great point, it’s true, driver behaviour and vehicle maintenance is definitely a factor and yea I admit I overlooked that for this video, but it is something I could have easily added. Thank you for sharing!
@monkeytime9851
24 күн бұрын
I think it is the constant building of new housing without the building of new roads. Of course its going to get busier and busier. It should be obvious.
@Urban_Atlas
24 күн бұрын
More roads won’t solve traffic.
@ShadowEagle5219
3 күн бұрын
they have to buy back the 407
@rickywinthrop
Ай бұрын
I drive it daily as an emergency service plumber by no choice of my own. Worst traffic ever but I have had time to listen to thousands of hours of books, lectures and videos(just audio of course) on philosophy,science, technology, comedy and whatever else (including learning basic spanish) interests me so I make sure not to waste that dead time in a state of extreme frustration but turn it towards personal enrichment. I only have a grade 10 education so can't afford to waste that time. What's in the way becomes the way!
@Urban_Atlas
Ай бұрын
Love this! Well said, use the lost time to learn something new 👍
@TehPwnerer
29 күн бұрын
There is no adequate public transportation
@burrybondz225
Ай бұрын
30-60 minutes is so short for a commute time. It used to take me 1 and a half to 2 hrs to get from etobicoke to york using public transportation
@zachkorinis3935
Ай бұрын
I think you forgot about "bad drivers"
@Boog_masskway
16 күн бұрын
7:03 other than having more stops along the route how does urban sprawl around the train tracks affect a travel time of a train that travelling from point A point B?
@Urban_Atlas
16 күн бұрын
Urban sprawl increase the distance between destinations leading to greater travel time. A more compact urban design leads to faster travel time. Esp if your trains are prone to delays.
@primeechoes8297
Ай бұрын
The 401 occupies both the role of Ontario’s most important transport corridor, and the GTA’s most important commuter corridor. This can easily be chalked up to the lack of a proper bypass around the modern GTA boundaries (the 407 could have been it, but the tolls are way too high for most people), and because the GTA naturally follows an east-west development pattern with the 401 running right through the midpoint between Lake Ontario and the current northern limit of development, meaning this highway captures a huge amount of commuters. It also does not help that the busiest airport in the country is also located in the middle of it all, which in itself lacks many good direct rail/transit connections. I also cannot express how much I hate the 407 and how expensive it is. I live in SW Ontario and sometimes have to drive east of the GTA for work trips. The 401 adds so much time to my trips (even at early or late hours) that the tolls of the 407 are worth it. I drove the section from Milton to HWY 115 to Peterborough and back in a day and my bill was $134 when it came in the mail. I am lucky enough to be able to expense it but it is still a crazy high bill. Absolute insanity.
@redstone5062
Ай бұрын
That is deliberate and creates a 2 tier or class society. It keeps the poor from using it. Same with all other fees, tolls and taxes. A multimillionaire is barely inconvenienced with paying a road toll, a higher parking fee, a carbon tax on their gas..especially if it keeps their route empty. But for someone earning minimum wage, it is the difference between using it or not.
@GaryCooper-lh2ej
Ай бұрын
Reason #7 was the death of the Gardiner Expressway east end extension to the 401. Look into it and maybe make a video as to why it didn’t happen like it was planned to. Local residents and opposition killed the project and the city has paid for it ever since.
@DGL-LDG
Ай бұрын
Learning how to drive on the QEW, was like fighting the final boss in DarkSouls while on a SL1 on my first playthrough... I don't fear driving anywhere else (except maybe downtown Montreal)
@Urban_Atlas
Ай бұрын
I agree the QEW isn’t much better, the gardiner as well. Love the dark souls analogy tho 😅
@larryhammond5907
Ай бұрын
your arial shots at around 2 minutes are of the QEW, not the 401
@Urban_Atlas
Ай бұрын
Sorry 😞
@clifflayne9073
Ай бұрын
Interesting start to discussing a very large and complicated topic. I will complicate it even more by giving my viewpoint on your stated six causes as well as suggesting an out of the box solution. 1) Urban sprawl - this may have had a causation effect from the 60's to 90's when urban sprawl saw it's rampant growth, but is no longer an issue with land use in Toronto pretty well maxed out and most of the surrounding municipalities tightening up their control to pretty well eliminate Toronto's growth. With Toronto implementing multi-use zoning in pretty well all wards and the introduction of multi-plex housing in all ward areas, currently zoned for single family, urban density increases will go a long way to retarding the sprawl, although quality of life may deteriorate. 2) Population growth - this is a huge problem, with the only real solution being reducing immigration targets and goals. When the Federal Government and many provinces apparently committed to a Canadian population of 100 million by the year 2100, it will take a government with huge cojones to dial that target back. So, it's a major federal change to alter that policy, so Toronto alone cannot do much to alter that fact. 3) Poor land Use - too late to worry about poor land use now. That happened in the 20th Century and we are stuck with the results now. All I can do personally is eventually tear down my Toronto home, on a sprawling suburban lot and build a four unit condo, to increase the density and then build new, 100 miles away with the $2 million profit. 4) Centralization of employment - again, that is Toronto, it will always be Toronto. Without all those businesses locating in Toronto, the city could not afford to provide the services for residents. 5) Insufficient Public Transit - always been a problem that could have been solved in the 60's and 70's for 10% of today's cost. With all the transit building and approvals over the past 10 years, the transit should be adequate for the next 25 years, although the same people who are complaining and claiming it is insufficient will still be claiming that even after it's up and running. 6) Primary Transportation Corridor - no avoiding that now. Land values are way too high now for Toronto to ever be able to build another parallel highway system, so we are stuck with the busiest highway in North America. My suggestion is fairly simple, fairly complicated and possible quite expensive. Simply get rid of 80% of the 18 wheelers on the 401 corridor. You could accomplish this in a couple of different ways. I don't know which way would be cheaper, that's really complicated economics. Suggestion 1 - add two separated (trucks only) lanes to the west and east bound 401 from Windsor to Montreal, sidestepping Toronto by using the 407. There is enough land to the north and south of the 401 within the already purchased and paid for right of way to accommodate these extra lanes, even on the 407 section. There would only be a few constricted areas to problem solve for, that being through Kitchener and the Whitby/Oshawa constriction. The only trucks allowed on the 401 in Toronto would be consigned loads, bulk carriers and flatbeds. This should eliminate the majority of trucks on the entire corridor, not only Toronto. Suggestion 2 - my personal preference. Eliminate all 18 wheelers on the entire 401 corridor as per suggestion 1, again, not including flatbeds and bulk carriers. Then build an electric powered rail system that runs parallel to the existing highway. Standardize rail car sizes for consolidated shipments, power each car individually with computer control navigation between a series of dedicated DC's so that the distribution centres along the route could ship randomly 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. The rail cars could run separately at minimum spacing distance, so that shipments could be routed at any time to the DC's. Again, sidestep Toronto by running the rails north and south of the 407.
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