The 401

[1overcosc]

^ That would be absurdly expensive.

If they're going to do this, the express lanes in this new portion should be tolled for 30 years to make back at least part of the construction cost.. or ideally, they'd use the fact that this would eventually lead to continuous express lanes from Whitby to Milton to toll the entire express section of the 401. (Not excessive tolls like the 407, but tolls nonetheless).

[haljackey]

As long as there is never a need to access the 401 express, you could make them HOT lanes. Carpools would not be tolled, but solo drivers would. Could help move more people and help make some money for the province too.

[sonysnob]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

^ That would be absurdly expensive.

If they're going to do this, the express lanes in this new portion should be tolled for 30 years to make back at least part of the construction cost.. or ideally, they'd use the fact that this would eventually lead to continuous express lanes from Whitby to Milton to toll the entire express section of the 401. (Not excessive tolls like the 407, but tolls nonetheless).

I was in Dallas/Fort Worth earlier this year. Dallas has a growing network of toll roads that have been constructed to supplant their existing highway network. I was quite surprised to see how popular the toll lanes were with trucks. The 820 Express Lanes in particular were very well utilized by trucks. Contrast that to the 407 which sees pretty limited truck traffic relative to the rest of the 400 series network.

[Dengler Avenue]

Am I the only one that wants 407 to have as little traffic as possible? This way traffic flow can still be maintained even during rush hour. Heck I’ve even done 130- kph on 407 at 8 am before.

For me, 407 should be an expensive but quick alternative to 401 when mayhem happens on the latter.

[haljackey]

That's the 'one for all' vs 'all for one' approach.

Keeping tolls high on 407 means it isn't carrying its best carrying capacity or is close to it. However what it does carry flows very efficiently. 401 remains a mess.

Lowering or gutting tolls on 407 means it would reach or exceed its best carrying capacity. It would flow less efficiently, but 401 would flow more efficiently as a benefit.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by haljackey

That's the 'one for all' vs 'all for one' approach.

Keeping tolls high on 407 means it isn't carrying its best carrying capacity or is close to it. However what it does carry flows very efficiently. 401 remains a mess.

Lowering or gutting tolls on 407 means it would reach or exceed its best carrying capacity. It would flow less efficiently, but 401 would flow more efficiently as a benefit.

This is the lever that was lost when the 407 was sold off. Perhaps that was considered in the case for the sale, perhaps not. But the 407's "could have been" role providing more balance in the transportation network by using pricing dynamically to optimize network travel time has become an unfortunate regret. More so now that the 407E and better connections to the 401 in Durham have been and are being built.

[TownGuy]

Must be a long weekend...



The backup used to start west of Cobourg but now that they've widened it to 6 lanes through Cobourg it starts to backup to the east. Poor people thinking that now that they're out of the GTA it should be smooth sailing and then wham, nope!

I should've checked earlier it was probably worse.

[Dengler Avenue]

I was surprised to see that Highway 7’s backed up west of Marmora as well.

[TownGuy]

You just know that there's those people, in their beater car with no AC, just sitting there absolutely roasting.

[haljackey]

I was in Windsor for Canada Day. The 401 is such a different animal there.

[Dengler Avenue]

Google Map right now shows (extreme) congestion on 401W in Hastings County, a little bit of break, then congestion again from Brighton to Grafton, then basically from Newcastle to Ajax.

[Innsertnamehere]

Days like today are what make me hope Doug's promise of widening the 401 out east will be delivered. The 400 is already in process of widening - Now MTO needs to address eastern cottagers drives.

[Dengler Avenue]

This is what I’ve been wondering though: should the 3rd lane in each direction be HOV?

[manny_santos]

Originally Posted by sonysnob

An up to date view of the 401 expansion through Mississauga. This view looks east from Creditview Road, and was taken by me last evening:


http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_4...5-18_24x16.jpg

That area has changed so much. I remember in the 90s when this was out in the country.

[sonysnob]

Originally Posted by Dengler Avenue

This is what I’ve been wondering though: should the 3rd lane in each direction be HOV?

Definitely not.

[sonysnob]

Originally Posted by manny_santos

That area has changed so much. I remember in the 90s when this was out in the country.

That's why I still go out and take photos like this. It's a neat way to chronicle the changes of the province. It's hard even to remember when the 401 didn't have collector lanes through the Hurontario Street interchange now.

[Dengler Avenue]

I have seen pictures where 401 bypassed Toronto with only 4 lanes. It was already farmland around the highway.

[tyeman200]

Originally Posted by sonysnob

That's why I still go out and take photos like this. It's a neat way to chronicle the changes of the province. It's hard even to remember when the 401 didn't have collector lanes through the Hurontario Street interchange now.

My favourite is Vaughn (around Canada's Wonderland). I remember the only thing around there was the park, now it's a fully developed neighbourhood.

[haljackey]

Breaking down the pros and cons of cable and concrete medians

https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/..._autoplay=true

[Dengler Avenue]

https://mobile.twitter.com/OPP_GTATr...06578835427328