Ontario\u2019s 2026 budget is out and features multiple investments in and around Toronto, including billions for transit and highway projects and money for some of the city\u2019s premier museums. <\/p>\n
While most of the spending measures have been previously announced, they spell out exactly what infrastructure projects are planned and underway in the city.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what you need to know:<\/p>\n
Highway expansions, tunnels and rehabilitations Highway 413<\/p>\n
As part of its 10-year, $210-billion capital plan, the province says it will spend $37 billion in 2026-27 to carry out the \u201cmost ambitious provincial plan in Canadian history.\u201d<\/p>\n
Roughly $31 billion of that money will be spent over 10 years and support the construction of highway expansion and rehabilitation projects.<\/p>\n
Those include Highway 413, a new highway that will span Halton, Peel and York regions to support population growth in the Greater Golden Horseshoe area.<\/p>\n
Construction on the project started last summer<\/a>. Once complete, it\u2019s expected to save drivers up to 30 minutes each way on their commute.<\/p>\n Highway 401 tunnel<\/p>\n Work is underway to determine if a tunnel expressway underneath the Highway 401 is feasible. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has been a vocal supporter of the plan, which he says would relieve gridlock. Fieldwork for the project is expected to being this spring. The study will cost $9.1 million<\/a>.<\/p>\n The province says it\u2019s also enhancing existing 401 infrastructure to improve safety and traffic flow and support economic development through resurfacing, bridge replacements and repairs, as well as interchange improvements and ramp upgrades.<\/p>\n Transportation projects: completed and upcomingThe Ontario Line, the Scarborough Extension and the Yonge North Subway<\/p>\n The province is spending $63 billion over 10 years on a number of transit projects, some of which have recently opened and others that are still in the works.<\/p>\n The province opened the long-awaited Eglinton Crosstown LRT last month and the Finch West LRT late last year. Those projects will serve as a preview for an even bigger slate of projects set to open in the long-term, the biggest of which is The Ontario Line<\/a>.<\/p>\n The multi-billion dollar, 15.6-kilometre project is expected to be complete in 2031 and will run from Eglinton Avenue and Don Mills to the Exhibition GO Station when it opens.<\/p>\n The two other projects include the 9.2-kilometre Eglinton Crosstown West Extension and the eight-kilometre Yonge North Subway Extension, both of which are expected in the next few years.<\/p>\n New TTC trains, refurbished GO trains<\/p>\n Nearly $1 billion has been earmarked to help the TTC purchase 55 new trains for Line 2<\/a>. The federal government is expected to match the provincial investment. The trains will be built in Thunder Bay.<\/p>\n As well, $850 million is being invested to refurbish GO Transit rail cars as part of the province\u2019s ongoing service expansion.<\/p>\n Northlander makes a comeback<\/p>\n