Greenbelt proponents and other environmental activists are rejoicing after the province suspended work on a proposed new freeway that would have cut through farmland and parts of a protected area around Brampton and Vaughan.

An environmental assessment of the GTA West transportation corridor project — which would include a 400-series highway, a transitway and other "goods movement priority features" — has been suspended while the province reviews the overall need for it in the context of planned transit improvements, new technology and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

"With new emerging technologies and a steadfast commitment to protect our natural heritage in Ontario, including the Greenbelt, it is essential to have a forward looking plan when it comes to relieving congestion," the news release said.

The announcement comes despite the fact that a broad review of the transportation options in the area had already been conducted in the first stage of the EA, and had concluded that a 400-series highway was still necessary even with the province's proposed slate of transit projects.

The next update on GTA West is promised for spring 2016.

The highway, which has been proposed as Highway 413, would have created a route around Brampton starting at Highway 401 in the west and connecting to Highway 400 in the north.

Susan Swail, the Greenbelt program manager for Environmental Defence, said the EA suspension is "welcome news."

"The proposed route of the GTA West Highway – also known as Highway 413 – cuts through local farms, forests and rivers, as well as a portion of the Greenbelt," she said in a statement. "If built, it would encourage more car use, enable further sprawl and contribute to traffic congestion in the GTHA that damages the economy, our health and quality of life."

The province had been holding public consultations and information sessions on the project, but those are now on hold while the broader review is conducted.

The transportation ministry says there will be an additional 100,000 people and 80,000 jobs per year in the Greater Golden Horseshoe over the next 20 years, and that will result in approximately 1.5 million additional passenger and commercial vehicle trips per day in the GTA West study area by the year 2031.

On its website for the GTA West project, the ministry says the first stage of the EA concluded the highway would have to be built even if all of the transit projects outlined in the Big Move are implemented.

"Ultimately, the findings of this work indicated that while there were opportunities to optimize the existing transportation network, improve non-roadway modes of transportation and expand the existing highway network, a new highway corridor extending from Highway 400 in the Regional Municipality of York to the vicinity of the Highway 401/407 ETR interchange in the Regional Municipality of Halton was still required to address the future transportation demands."

To contact the reporter for this story:
bplatt@qpbriefing.com
416.809.3173

Plans for new 400-series highway in GTA put on hold

Read this for free.