Province Introduces Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act

Earlier this week, the Ontario Minister of Transportation, Hon. Prabmeet Sarkaria introduced Bill 212, Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, 2024. The proposed legislation, which aims to reduce traffic congestion and make commuting easier, would:

  • Accelerate the environmental assessment process to speed up the construction of highways such as 413 and extensions of 410 and 427; 
  • Allow the Province to designate highway projects such as Highway 413 and the Bradford Bypass as priority, accelerating access to property and property acquisitions, 24/7 construction, and more; 
  • Freeze fees for drivers tests and make the Tow Zone Pilot, where only authorized towing companies may remove vehicles, a permanent program; 
  • Require municipalities to receive approval from the Province before installing new bike lanes that would result in the removal of lanes for traffic; and  
  • Expedite the expropriations process to establish easements that internet service providers require to install and build new broadband infrastructure. 

Municipalities have jurisdiction over local transportation needs and planning including bike lanes. However, the proposed legislation would allow the Province to insert itself into municipal decision-making regarding new bike lane proposals, as well as review and potentially remove existing bike lanes, in effect overturning municipal decisions. As part of the review, municipalities would be required to submit data for bikes lanes installed over the past five years to the Province. 

While the issue of reducing gridlock is important and we await more information from the Province, we are weary of yet another, potentially burdensome and duplicative, requirement for municipalities to provide data to the Province. Furthermore, we hold firm in our belief that decisions impacting local municipalities should be made locally.  

The Province also plans to:

  • Consult with municipalities to develop a pothole prevention and repair fund to open in the 2025 construction season, particularly geared towards smaller municipalities;  
  • Increase the speed limit on 400-series highways to 110 km/h, where it is safe to do so; and  
  • Evaluate less common construction methods for building roads, bridges, etc. 

The introduction of the bill reflects announcements made by the Province in the last few weeks with respect to reducing gridlock and congestion across Ontario. Corresponding registry postings are available for comment until November 20, 2024:

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