Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Ontario government’s draft transportation plan for Northern Ontario released last week outlines more than 60 actions to expand highways and transit services, create Northern economic opportunities, keep people safe and provide reliable travel options for remote and First Nation communities.
“Northern Ontario has unique transportation needs and this draft plan will make real improvements to transportation in the region,” said Caroline Mulroney, minister of transportation.
The plan will help create a well-connected transportation network for the North to make it easier for people to get to critical services like healthcare, while supporting more well-paid jobs through investments in infrastructure.
“We recognize that the North has unique transportation challenges. Vast distances between communities, winter storms and the natural landscape can make it harder for people to get around,” Mulroney said.
Work will include improvements to rest areas, expanding bus service and moving forward with highway widening projects on key corridors in the region, such as Highway 11/17. It also includes actions to make further progress on our plan for passenger rail service in the North.
According to the minister of infrastructure, it recognizes the unique needs of Northern families, Indigenous communities and businesses.
“This is part of our government’s plan to promote economic recovery across the North and build a modern, connected transportation network that brings opportunities to the hardworking people of Northern Ontario,” said Greg Rickford.
The government calls the strategy a 21st-century vision for a Northern transportation network. It includes a plan for providing passenger rail to get people where they need to go, bolster the economic recovery of the whole region, and create new and exciting jobs for workers and families.”
“This plan will help create a reliable and modern transportation network to connect people to jobs, services and tourism destinations in Northern Ontario.”
The province will work closely with the federal government, municipalities, Indigenous communities and organizations, transportation agencies and local businesses to gather input and feedback on the plan.
Ontario is developing regional plans that will help build a better transportation system across the province. Regional planning is also underway for the Greater Golden Horseshoe and Eastern Ontario. In January 2020, Ontario released Connecting the Southwest: A Draft Transportation Plan for Southwestern Ontario.
Northern Ontario is the region that extends from Parry Sound and Nipissing to the shores of Hudson Bay and James Bay and all the way to the border with Manitoba in the west.