The Ford government’s plan to build new a 400-series highway and transit corridor across Halton, Peel and York regions is attracting attention across the province.

While critics argue the project is unnecessary and clashes with public-policy goals of reducing carbon emissions, at least one construction group is looking forward to the opportunity to get to work.

The Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario (RCCAO) has released a study that looks at the economic impact of construction of the proposed Highway 413.

The corridor will extend from Highway 400 in the east to the Highway 401/407 express toll route interchange area in the west and will include a four-to-six-lane 400 series highway, separate infrastructure dedicated for transit and passenger stations, and intelligent transportation and truck parking.

In its analysis of the project, RCCAO suggests the work will support up to 8,000 jobs annually in construction and other industries over a five-year construction period, generating up to $2.3 billion of earnings for workers in Ontario. It would also create up to 600 apprenticeships. 

“The GTA West Corridor is a transformational project for the economic success of the province, ensuring a reliable transportation corridor to help move people and goods across this fast-growing region of Ontario,” said RCCAO executive director Nadia Todorova. “Constructing Highway 413 will generate much-needed jobs while improving the long-term economic competitiveness of our province.”

The population of the GTA is expected to grow by 2.8 million people over the next 25 years, with more than half of that growth occurring in York, Peel and Halton regions. The construction of Highway 413 will create a transportation corridor for additional future transit development to serve a growing region where more than 80 percent of people commute by vehicle. The project would also generate nearly $1 billion in tax revenues for governments. The report estimates were assessed using 2019-dollar values.

“This highway for the future will be built for the people and goods of tomorrow, facilitating much needed housing and solidify Ontario’s position as the economic engine of Canada,” said Todorova. “Establishing this transportation corridor is a forward-thinking mix of transit and transportation infrastructure that the province needs for its future growth.”

This report adds to the recent momentum of support for Highway 413 and the transportation corridor it would create in a fast-growing region of Ontario. RCCAO is urging the federal government to work collaboratively with the provincial government so Ontario can get shovels in the ground and get Highway 413 built. 

The province has yet to assign a dollar value to the Highway 413 project. In its recent economic outlook and fiscal review, the province announced it has allocated $2.6 billion in funding for 2021–22 in support of the Ontario Highways Program, which features more than 580 expansion and rehabilitation projects, including funding to advance Highway 413.

Featured image: RCCAO’s Jobs and Economic Impact of the GTA West Corridor report cover. (RCCAO)