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.

“We are happy to see recognition that a redeveloped Ontario Place will attract millions more people for fun and recreation. The City of Toronto’s report is based on a study that is over a year old and did not take into account the relocation of parking to Exhibition Place. Furthermore, the study started with a baseline of the small number of people who visit the site today, rather than the volumes seen when Ontario Place attracted 3.3 million people a year at its peak in the 1980s. The Province closed most areas of Ontario Place in 2012,” Therme Canada’s statement reads; sent to CityNews on Tuesday.

“As an entertainment district, traffic impacts from events at Exhibition and Ontario Place will be later at night, on weekends and holidays when commuters are not using Lakeshore Blvd for travel to and from work. Finally, massive investments in transit are coming to Exhibition station and Ontario Place, allowing people to visit Ontario Place by subway, GO Train, walking and cycling.”

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