The Ontario government has released Connecting the East: a draft transportation plan for eastern Ontario, which contains more than 50 near- and long-term actions, including highway expansions and public transit improvements, that will help address gridlock, connect more people to places and support economic growth.
The plan includes the expansion of Highway 417 to four continuous lanes in each direction between Highway 416 and Maitland Avenue in Ottawa, long-term planning work to widen Highway 401 to up to eight lanes in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, improvements to local and inter-community bus services, support for the trucking sector by adding truck stops along Highway 401 and the development of a new marine strategy.
As part of the evolution of the plan, the province will conduct a long-range technical study of the transportation network. This work will involve broad engagement and will commence in summer 2022.
Quick Facts:
- This is the final of four regional transportation plans – including Connecting the Southwest, Connecting the North, and the Greater Golden Horseshoe – covering all regions of the province.
- Eastern Ontario is home to 1.8 million people and covers approximately 44,000 km2, extending from the District of Muskoka in the west to the United Counties of Prescott and Russell in the east.