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[jakeroot]

Yes, there is certainly a reduction in induced demand, but by converting to 2+ HOV (let alone 3+) essentially you're cutting capacity by 80% of a full lane on roads that are already overloaded. It's not sustainable, practical, or useful.

The HOV lanes are there to clear a path for the games. Not to provide any benefit to the people trying to live their everyday lives.

Would you support HOV lanes if they were on all GTA freeways, with a setup akin to Seattle or Los Angeles (with things like Texas T's and HOV-to-HOV ramps)? Like I just said a few posts ago, they seem to work well if there's additional HOV lanes on other area freeways.

[cl94]

The HOV lanes in the GTA work when they are added on. Taking a lane away has basically angered everyone who lives in Toronto to the point where people are putting dummies in their cars or driving in the lanes alone even with the risk of a ticket. Heck, even the former mayor/current city council member uses them when the cops aren't looking. They were especially useless before the games began, when nobody was in them.

[AsphaltPlanet]

Yes, there is certainly a reduction in induced demand, but by converting to 2+ HOV (let alone 3+) essentially you're cutting capacity by 80% of a full lane on roads that are already overloaded. It's not sustainable, practical, or useful.

The HOV lanes are there to clear a path for the games. Not to provide any benefit to the people trying to live their everyday lives.

Would you support HOV lanes if they were on all GTA freeways, with a setup akin to Seattle or Los Angeles (with things like Texas T's and HOV-to-HOV ramps)? Like I just said a few posts ago, they seem to work well if there's additional HOV lanes on other area freeways.

The GTA has experienced a fairly significant increase in HOV lane mileage since their debut in 2004.  In just over ten years the province has added about 40km of HOV lanes to the GTA's network, with another ~20 or so km currently under construction.

In all of the cities listed above, HOV lane networks were added over many decades of construction.  Specifically in LA, most of the lanes were added simply by converting the inner shoulder to an HOV lane.  In all cases, the low hanging fruit came first, with more expensive construction and HOV specific connectors coming afterwards.  I am sure that Toronto will continue to add to its HOV lane network, and will follow similar practices to other centres.  It should be noted as well, that Toronto also has a much more comprehensive transit system than virtually all cities with comprehensive HOV lane networks.  In 2011, nearly a quarter of all trips within the Toronto CMA were made on public transit.

It should be noted that within the Toronto CMA from 2006 to 2011 (the most recent figures) the amount of people who traveled to work as a passenger actually dropped during that time period.  In 2006, approximately 7.5% of people traveled to work as a passenger compared to only 5.4% who did so in 2011.  During that time, the modal share of people using public transit increased by a similar amount.  While I understand that correlation doesn't imply causation, it certainly is a reasonable conclusion to assume that at least some of the carpool traffic was cannibalized by the improvements to local and regional transit that were taking place during that time.

Transportation Modal Share information is available from StatsCan:
http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/as-sa/99-012-x/99-012-x2011003_1-eng.cfm

[cbeach40]

The HOV lanes in the GTA work when they are added on. Taking a lane away has basically angered everyone who lives in Toronto to the point where people are putting dummies in their cars or driving in the lanes alone even with the risk of a ticket.

I definitely agree with you on that front, however...

Heck, even the former mayor/current city council member uses them when the cops aren't looking.

I don't think Rob Ford is exactly the best gauge of behaviour for the city. 

[AsphaltPlanet]

You do have to give the driver marks for creativity:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/man-charged-for-driving-with-2-mannequins-in-hov-lane-1.3143701

[AsphaltPlanet]

A few photos of some ongoing construction along the 401 in the eastern GTA:

Construction at the 404/DVP interchange has exposed the concrete road base of the westbound collector lanes.  The collector lanes have been reduced to two lanes through the construction zone, while a fifth lane has been temporarily added to the express.

http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/Ontroads/401_cl_376_west_WB_C_Jul15_24x16.jpg

At Warden, the joints of the concrete are indicative of when the westbound collector lanes were only two lanes wide through the interchange.

http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/Ontroads/401_dv_378_west_C_Jul15_24x16.jpg

Half of the Lakeridge Road has already been demolished.  I suspect it will be sometime before the section over the rail lines comes down.

http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/Ontroads/401_structure_407_southeast_Jul15_24x16.jpg

View looking easterly as Highway 401 passes beneath the future ramp to the eastbound 401 from Highway 412.

http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/Ontroads/401_dv_408_east_Jul26-15_24x16.jpg

[SignGeek101]

Half of the Lakeridge Road has already been demolished.  I suspect it will be sometime before the section over the rail lines comes down.

http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/Ontroads/401_structure_407_southeast_Jul15_24x16.jpg

View looking easterly as Highway 401 passes beneath the future ramp to the eastbound 401 from Highway 412.

http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/Ontroads/401_dv_408_east_Jul26-15_24x16.jpg

Will the 401 be widened at some point here? I'm surprised it's still 6 lanes, even with the new interchange being built.

[AsphaltPlanet]

There won't be any widening to the 401 as part of the interchange work itself, but the cross-section is being designed for an eventual width of six lanes per direction west of the 412, and five lanes per direction to the east.  Eventually the collector lanes will start at the 412 interchange.

[amroad17]

I have been on the 401 twice in my lifetime (once from Hamilton to the 402 in 1998 and once from the QEW to southwest of Toronto in 2001).  The Toronto-bound traffic then was something.  I cannot imagine the difficulty of driving from Hamilton to the other side of Toronto now with the additional roadwork going on up there.  I am concerned about driving I-75 through Cincinnati with the reconstruction going on there and we do not have anywhere close to the amount of traffic that the 401 in Toronto has.

[AsphaltPlanet]

A few new photos taken of the construction along the Highway 407 corridor in Durham Region.  Construction is moving along well, but I am still not certain if they can finish the highway by the start of winter this year:


View of the then un-opened Brock Road interchange from the future Highway 407 overpass.  (The Brock Road interchange opened the day after these photos were taken).



View looking easterly approaching the Sideline 14 overpass.


Easterly view from the Sideline 14 overpass


Not everyone is excited about the extension of the 407.


View of the Lake Ridge Road overpass with the temporary Lake Ridge Road diversion operated adjacent to the new overpass


This steel structure will carry the ramp from Hwy 412 north to Hwy 407 west.


View looking westerly approaching the Hwy 12 overpass.  Paving operations had just commenced in this area when this photo was taken.


Easterly view approaching the Simcoe Street overpass.


Additional view of the Simcoe Street overpass from the future southbound to eastbound loop ramp.

For the full set, and full resolution versions of the above photos, click here:
http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_407-409_images/407E/Hwy407_ConstructionImages.htm#Aug15

[SignGeek101]

A few new photos taken of the construction along the Highway 407 corridor in Durham Region.  Construction is moving along well, but I am still not certain if they can finish the highway by the start of winter this year:

I suspected the same. Judging from your pictures, Streetview from cross streets from April, and satellite from June, I'd say this road won't open until next Spring or even Summer.

Not everyone is excited about the extension of the 407.

  Could be NIMBY's. They'll probably remove that before the road opens.

Once again, excellent pictures. I don't know how you manage to get onto the site (I know I couldn't), but great pictures as usual. It doesn't look like signage has been installed yet. I know it's quite early in the construction stage though.

[rickmastfan67]

A few new photos taken of the construction along the Highway 407 corridor in Durham Region.  Construction is moving along well, but I am still not certain if they can finish the highway by the start of winter this year:


View of the then un-opened Brock Road interchange from the future Highway 407 overpass.  (The Brock Road interchange opened the day after these photos were taken).

Did they close off that 'traffic light' intersection at the same time?

[AsphaltPlanet]

The pictured westbound off-ramp to Highway 7 is still in use, but yes, the traffic signals are no more at that location.

And, to signgeek, I just generally just park the car in a safe spot and then just walk onto the site.  I tend to go out on weekends when no one (or very few) are working.  I've been asked to leave a few construction sites over the years, but generally have never had any real trouble.

[rickmastfan67]

The pictured eastbound westbound off-ramp to Highway 7 is still in use, but yes, the traffic signals are no more at that location.

Guess it's time to update both ON-7 & ON-407's files for the TravelMapping (former CHM) project.

New exit numbers up for the Brock Road interchange ramp going EB?

[AsphaltPlanet]

It's Exit #105.

[SignGeek101]

Looks like a section of the newly twinned highway 69 has been opened. It runs from highway 64 to the Murdock River (9 km). Another section will open next year.

http://news.ontario.ca/mndmf/en/2015/09/ontario-continuing-to-expand-highway-corridor-in-the-north.html

[haljackey]

401/403/410 loop going in!



https://www.flickr.com/photos/vaughanweather/21210842219/sizes/k/

[SignGeek101]

401/403/410 loop going in!



https://www.flickr.com/photos/vaughanweather/21210842219/sizes/k/

I never noticed there was no westbound on-ramp onto the 401 from the 403. Glad they're putting that in. Any information on when it will be complete?

[haljackey]

I never noticed there was no westbound on-ramp onto the 401 from the 403. Glad they're putting that in. Any information on when it will be complete?

There is one, but it's like 100km away:
https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.1217978,-80.6924639,14.75z?hl=en

Technically this is a ramp from 410 NB to 401 WB (I think?)

Completion is late 2018:
http://news.ontario.ca/mto/en/2014/09/improvements-begin-on-highway-410.html

[SignGeek101]

I never noticed there was no westbound on-ramp onto the 401 from the 403. Glad they're putting that in. Any information on when it will be complete?

There is one, but it's like 100km away:
https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.1217978,-80.6924639,14.75z?hl=en

Technically this is a ramp from 410 NB to 401 WB (I think?)

Completion is late 2018:
http://news.ontario.ca/mto/en/2014/09/improvements-begin-on-highway-410.html

Touché. That doesn't really count though 

I don't really know where the 403 ends and the 410 begins. I'm sure the MTO has an official boundary but I don't know where it is.

[cbeach40]

I don't really know where the 403 ends and the 410 begins. I'm sure the MTO has an official boundary but I don't know where it is.

Well, for Highway 410, km 0.000 is at the centreline of Highway 401. For Highway 403, its end point is at that interchange.

This ramp would be for northbound 403 to westbound 401.

[cl94]

I don't really know where the 403 ends and the 410 begins. I'm sure the MTO has an official boundary but I don't know where it is.

Well, for Highway 410, km 0.000 is at the centreline of Highway 401. For Highway 403, its end point is at that interchange.

This ramp would be for northbound 403 to westbound 401.

That's what I thought. Ramp breaks off before the centreline. On a different note, it's about flipping time they built these ramps.

[Transportfan]

Is the 401E to 403S ramp part of the project too?

[cl94]

Is the 401E to 403S ramp part of the project too?

Yes. Grading is evident on Google Maps.

[AsphaltPlanet]

A couple of photos of construction on Hwy 400 at the Hwy 9 interchange near Newmarket, north of Toronto.  Construction is underway to widen the highway through the interchange with the medium term goal of constructing HOV lanes on the 400 from Hwy 9 southern to Major Mack: