WELCOME TO THE 401RT EXPRESS WEBSITE

Population growth will increase overall travel demand by up to 40% over the next 30 years. Road congestion will worsen.  The government of Ontario has proposed the construction of a new underground multi-level Highway 401 to increase the highway’s capacity along its most congested portion.  It may cost up to $90 billion to construct.  The end result would be to ease congestion on that portion of the highway, but will increase traffic everywhere else − including on municipal roads that may already be congested yet cannot be widened further.

This website proposes the 401RT Express − a single, continuous, relatively high speed east-west rapid transit line across the suburban middle of the GTA, from Pickering Town Centre through northern Toronto to Derry Road in Mississauga, elevated along the south edge of Highway 401, plus a branch to Pearson International Airport and its adjacent employment areas, and from there through downtown Mississauga. Altogether, 85 kilometres in length, 50 stations. Please access the downloadable "401RTX Summary" and "Rapid Transit Rescue Blended" files (below) for detailed descriptions. 

The cost to build the 401RT Express is estimated to be $70 billion for a basic system, and may be cost-shareable at up to 40% with the government of Canada.  The proposed Highway 401 Tunnel project will not be shareable. Several current rapid transit initiatives would be rendered unnecessary by the 401RT Express, saving up to $13 billion (see the downloadable files for detailed information).  A northward extension of the Ontario line – needed to prevent the 401RT Express ridership from overcrowding the Yonge Street Subway (this extension is already included in provincial transit plans). Funded via public debt, the 401RT Express may cost the average Ontario income tax payer just 23 cents per day once it is completed.