Ford says ‘it’s time to sit down’ with Hwy. 407 executives to discuss next steps

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has been considering buying back portions of Highway 407 to address congestion in and around Toronto. However, he has not yet met with the executives responsible for the private road.

During a press briefing on Thursday, Ford acknowledged the need to have a conversation with the operators of Highway 407. He stated, “I have not yet, but I think it’s time to sit down with them and really take a look at different options.”

In September, Ford initially mentioned the idea of repurchasing Highway 407, which was privatized by the provincial government in the late 1990s. He mentioned considering making an offer for the route but ultimately decided against it.

Ford criticized the previous government for selling Highway 407 for $2.3 billion, calling it a major mistake. He mentioned that the highway is now valued at approximately $35 billion but indicated that the government opted not to buy it back due to projections indicating that all 400 series highways would reach full capacity in the next 25 years.

In late November, the Ministry of Transportation confirmed ongoing discussions with Highway 407 without disclosing specific details.

While Ford expressed his intention to meet with the toll highway’s executives, he did not elaborate on potential options, which could include subsidizing fees for certain vehicles or repurchasing the infrastructure entirely.

Meanwhile, progress is being made on Ford’s plan to construct an expressway tunnel beneath Highway 401 to alleviate congestion.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Transportation informed Global News that the initial phase of studying the tunnel project would commence in the coming weeks.

“As we’ve stated, we’ll be proceeding with a market sounding in the next couple of weeks,” they stated.

Ford’s proposal to tunnel a 50-kilometre expressway under Highway 401 was announced in September. While the plan is not finalized, Ford expressed his determination to pursue it.

He mentioned, “Nothing is 100 per cent, but we’re pushing forward. We want to get the environmental assessments done, we want to ensure we’re working with Metrolinx because it’s not just the road. We’d love to put a rail line down the centre.”

The market sounding process will be followed by a request for qualified companies to bid on the study, leading to a comprehensive report to guide the government’s final decision.

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