The Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) and the rest of Ontario face mounting challenges from worsening traffic congestion. With the region housing over half of Ontario’s population, the GTHA experiences congestion that significantly increases travel times and diminishes economic productivity. Travel delays due to congestion profoundly affect residents’ quality of life, restrict access to jobs and essential services, and escalate infrastructure costs. As a result, the cumulative effect of congestion undermines the region’s capacity to sustain growth and erodes the prosperity of its communities. With the GTHA standing as one of North America’s fastest-growing regions, understanding the full impact of congestion on residents’ well-being and business productivity is instrumental in elevating the importance of this pressing issue.
The research indicate that the impact of congestion in Ontario is approximately $56.4 billion in 2024, including an economic impact of $12.8 billion. The remaining $43.6 billion represents the substantial loss in social value due to the negative impacts of congestion on commuters’ daily lives and well-being.
| Economic Impact | Social Value Impact | Total Impact | |
| GTHA | $10.1B | $34.6B | $44.7B |
| Rest of Ontario | $2.7B | $9.0B | $11.7B |
| Ontario | $12.8B | $43.6B | $56.4B |
Over the next 20 years, the population of Ontario is expected to grow by 4.2 million people, reaching 20.4 million. Within Ontario, the GTHA is expected to accommodate half of that growth, with its population increasing by 2.1 million people (or 25.9%).
If congestion levels remain unchanged, the annual cost of congestion could rise to $108 billion by 2044, equivalent to 6.2% of Ontario’s potential economic output and representing a 95% increase over today’s congestion costs. Of this total cost, almost 80% ($85.5 billion) would be incurred within the GTHA, with $42.5 billion (50%) representing social value costs due to the impact on resident’s well-being.
Congestion in the GTHA and Ontario is not merely a transportation issue:
- It is a fundamental economic and social challenge
- It undermines both quality of life and business productivity.
Tackling congestion is essential to:
- Unlocking Ontario’s economic potential, and
- Improving the well-being of Ontarians
The analysis underscores the urgent need for:
- targeted transportation infrastructure investments,
- improved public transit and transit options,
- innovative congestion management strategies
