[gweed123]

If there is a 5 km of non-tolled portion and 95 km of tolled portion in a 100 km highway, then people will remember it as a toll road. The examples in other parts of the world you have in mind must have some decent non-tolled portion.

To be fair, if the RIRO gap on the 35/115 was upgraded to 400-series standard, it's quite possible that the 407 (untolled) designation would be applied to the 115 route to Peterborough, since that route is already a 400-series standard. That way there would be a direct connection between Hwy 7 and Hwy 407. Hwy 115 would likely then cease to exist.

If that were the case, I would probably renumber Hwy 7 west of Peterborough as well to something else (107?). That way, Hwy 7 would flow directly onto Hwy 407, like Hwy 17 does to Hwy 417 west of Arnprior.

Also, I-90 through Buffalo and Albany is untolled, but the remainder of I-90 in NY State is tolled. Those two stretches probably make up less than 2% of the total mileage of the route in NY State.

 

[DirectionNorth]

To be fair, if the RIRO gap on the 35/115 was upgraded to 400-series standard, it's quite possible that the 407 (untolled) designation would be applied to the 115 route to Peterborough, since that route is already a 400-series standard. That way there would be a direct connection between Hwy 7 and Hwy 407. Hwy 115 would likely then cease to exist.

I think they would rather give the entire 115 a new name. The 407 name has a negative stigma due to its tolled status.

Also, I-90 through Buffalo and Albany is untolled, but the remainder of I-90 in NY State is tolled. Those two stretches probably make up less than 2% of the total mileage of the route in NY State.

They are also probably the most heavily used sections of I-90.

 

[Coolibop]

Let's leave emotions out of numbering a highway system. There are general rules why particular numbers are selected.

 

[Haljackey]

Reviving this thread due to the news that 407E will be toll free soon.

Bringing over a post I made at the general highway thread- https://urbantoronto.ca/forum/threa...ghways-discussion.12233/page-490#post-2233432

---

I think a couple improvements may be needed on 407E near to mid term to handle a significant traffic increase. I would assume a lot of people will be getting off at Brock Road since they want to avoid a bill, causing congestion at this interchange. To relieve this, two additional ramps could be made so Highway 7 directly connects with it.

Rough idea. There is room under the overpass for a new loop ramp connector.

A 6-laning project may also need to be looked into between the 412 and 418 interchanges depending on how much traffic will use it vs the 401.

Hopefully the 401 will flow better to the 35/115 as a result of taking the tolls off 407E!

 

[nfitz]

Hopefully the 401 will flow better to the 35/115 as a result of taking the tolls off 407E!

I'm not sure it will make much difference - unless they extend the toll-free zone to Highway 404. But that will likely create even more congestion on the 404 (and would require MTO to buy a piece of 407 - or pay subsidies).

 

[JasonParis]

It will never happen, but if we were to start from scratch, I think I'd toll The Gardiner, The DVP, and the express lanes of the 401. Keeping the rest "free," including the entirety of the 407.

 

[afransen]

It will never happen, but if we were to start from scratch, I think I'd toll The Gardiner, The DVP, and the express lanes of the 401. Keeping the rest "free," including the entirety of the 407.

I think some sort of pricing on Gardiner/DVP is inevitable. Doing nothing forever is untenable.

 

[Steve X]

I think some sort of pricing on Gardiner/DVP is inevitable. Doing nothing forever is untenable.

PCs will keep it free to win votes.

 

[afransen]

PCs will keep it free to win votes.

At one point is was common knowledge that PCs wouldn't invest in transit. Things change.

 

[nfitz]

PCs will keep it free to win votes.

Once businesses starts demanding tolling, then it will happen.

 

[ShonTron]

It will never happen, but if we were to start from scratch, I think I'd toll The Gardiner, The DVP, and the express lanes of the 401. Keeping the rest "free," including the entirety of the 407.

I'd toll the collector lanes of the 401, personally.

 

[Bojaxs]

I'd toll the collector lanes of the 401, personally.

That would mean some drivers would have to drive on the tolled portion of the 401 to get to the non-tolled portions (express lanes).

 

[Woodbridge_Heights]

Reviving this thread due to the news that 407E will be toll free soon.

Bringing over a post I made at the general highway thread- https://urbantoronto.ca/forum/threa...ghways-discussion.12233/page-490#post-2233432

---

I think a couple improvements may be needed on 407E near to mid term to handle a significant traffic increase. I would assume a lot of people will be getting off at Brock Road since they want to avoid a bill, causing congestion at this interchange. To relieve this, two additional ramps could be made so Highway 7 directly connects with it.

Rough idea. There is room under the overpass for a new loop ramp connector.

A 6-laning project may also need to be looked into between the 412 and 418 interchanges depending on how much traffic will use it vs the 401.

Hopefully the 401 will flow better to the 35/115 as a result of taking the tolls off 407E!

Yeah I think a partial interchange at 7 here is a good idea. It can even be incorporated into the existing Brock Rd ramps.

Hwy 7 West of Brock will probably need to be upgraded to a 5-7 lane crosection.

 

[robmausser]

It will never happen, but if we were to start from scratch, I think I'd toll The Gardiner, The DVP, and the express lanes of the 401. Keeping the rest "free," including the entirety of the 407.

Yes I agree. The 407 should be a bypass.

What you can also do is only toll the off/on ramps of the 407 that come into the GTA.

Basically, if you take the 407 to go around the GTA, its free.

If you want to use it to get to Toronto, you pay.

Effectively this shifts all truck and car traffic that is currently using the 401 but not for the purpose of commuting and getting around Toronto to the 407.

 

[rbt]

Basically, if you take the 407 to go around the GTA, its free.

That seems backward to me. Someone travelling from Montreal to Detroit contributes nothing to the care of non-transcanada roadways in Ontario. That's the last group the Ontario government should be providing a subsidy for.

If you take the 407 to go around the GTA, perhaps you might take the I81/I90 instead.

This could also be taken as an argument in favour of federal funding of major transportation infrastructure used for international commerce: in this case the federal government [Canada Pension Plan] is the majority owner of the infrastructure being discussed.