Ontario Place redevelopment will make traffic congestion worse, report says

The redevelopment plan for Ontario Place will make traffic congestion worse, a new City of Toronto report outlines.

The document says that “traffic is projected to increase between 23 per cent – 40 per cent during the busiest periods which corresponds with an increase in travel times along Lake Shore Boulevard West of approximately one-two minutes and five-six-and-a-half minutes during the typical weekday/weekend peak hours and special event peak periods, respectively.

“It is expected that the Ontario Place redevelopment will increase traffic on Lakeshore Boulevard West in 2032 by up to 27 per cent in the a.m. peak, up to 23 per cent in the p.m. peak, up to 25 per cent on a typical Saturday peak, and by as much as 40 per cent during major events like TFC games and the CNE,” the report says.

The projection of increased traffic also takes into account other factors such as transit projects “such as the Ontario Line, Waterfront East and West LRT, Lakeshore West GO improvements, and SmartTrack,” the report cites.

The ongoing redevelopment of Ontario Place will include a spa by Therme Group, a year-round indoor/outdoor music venue by Live Nation and a new Ontario Science Centre.

The report is in an agenda item which will be heard in city council in the new year.