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The Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has initiated Phase 1 of the Niagara to GTA Corridor Planning and Environmental Assessment Study. This study has been carried out within the context of the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (June 2006) released by the Ontario Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal. The MTO is working to provide for the efficient movement of people and goods to meet the objectives of the province's Growth Plan.

The purpose of this website is to provide interested parties with access to information and access to the Project Team that is carrying out the planning and Environmental Assessment (EA) study.

Over the past number of years, MTO has undertaken a significant amount of technical, forecasting and strategic planning work in the Niagara, Hamilton and Halton areas. This planning work (which has been revisited and updated during this study) has indicated that the existing transportation system does not have the capacity to support the planned population and economic growth of the area from the Niagara Peninsula to the Greater Toronto Area.

In order to proactively plan for future infrastructure needs, MTO commenced the formal Environmental Assessment (EA) process to examine transportation problems and opportunities and consider alternative solutions in the Niagara, Hamilton and Halton areas.

The Niagara to GTA Corridor Environmental Assessment Terms of Reference (October 2005, As Amended February 16, 2006) outlines the minimum considerations and study framework to be followed in completing this environmental assessment. The Ontario Minister of the Environment approved the Terms of Reference on June 9th, 2006.

As outlined in the Terms of Reference, a two-phased approach is being utilized to conduct this study. Phase 1 (the current focus of this environmental assessment) includes the development of a study plan, examining transportation problems and opportunities (need for transportation improvements), identifying and assessing transportation planning alternatives (i.e. alternatives to the undertaking), identifying preferred transportation planning alternative(s), and recommendations for future work in the Niagara to GTA corridor.

As part of our commitment to consulting with stakeholders and the public, MTO released a draft Transportation Development Strategy in March of 2011. The draft Strategy was developed using a "building block" approach and includes recommendations for improvements to both transit and highways. Recommendations to optimize the existing transportation network were developed first, followed by transit improvements and then consideration was given to new highways as necessary.

Based on the feedback received, a commitment was made to complete some additional analysis of highway expansion options. The NGTA study team has completed the additional analysis, including the identification of preferred options for expanding the highway network. Please refer to the “Reports” page for the final Transportation Development Strategy Report, which includes a summary of the additional analysis of the highway expansion recommendations documented in the draft Strategy (March 2011), and the final recommendations. The completion of the Transportation Development Strategy Report represents the conclusion of Phase 1 of the EA study.

We encourage you to review the contents of this website and provide us with your feedback. Details on public consultation activities to be undertaken in preparation of the Niagara to GTA Corridor Planning and EA Study will be included in the Meetings & Events section of this website.

If you wish to be added to our mailing list or submit comments or questions please go to the Contact Us section of this website.