As housing prices soar and GTA residents grapple with limited options, a new proposal for a high-speed rail network offers a bold solution. The plan envisions connecting cities across Ontario—such as Ottawa, Windsor, Sudbury, and North Bay—to Toronto through rapid rail infrastructure, reshaping how people live, commute, and work across the province.
Transit-Oriented Communities
Current projects like the Downsview West development in Toronto and York Regions, Vaughan Metropolitan Centre are leading the charge for high-density housing. Canada Lands Company’s Downsview West plan, covering 30 hectares and housing 8,800 units, is a prime example of how transit-oriented growth is possible beyond Toronto’s borders. The development promises housing for 17,000 residents, along with green space, pedestrian pathways, and affordable units. Similarly, in York Region, Vaughan’s Metropolitan Centre continues to grow with its master-planned development, offering a blend of residential, commercial, and transit-oriented spaces. This ambitious project is centered around accessibility, sustainability, and mixed-use spaces, with a focus on creating a well-connected urban hub. With enough units to house 20,000 residents, Vaughan’s development will significantly enhance the area’s capacity to accommodate new residents while maintaining a focus on sustainability.
Innisfil’s “Orbit” project is set to add 20,000 housing units, potentially accommodating 100,000 residents. Designed as a smart city with cutting-edge technology and green spaces, Orbit aims to provide affordable living within commuting distance of the GTA, supported by a new Go-train rail station.
“These projects demonstrate a promising solution to the housing crisis in the GTA. Combined with high-speed transit, they could set a precedent for developments outside the city core. With rail access, towns beyond the GTA could become affordable, family-friendly options, easing congestion within Toronto,” explained a housing expert.
The high-speed rail vision aligns with the provincial government’s housing agenda, which aims to build 1 million new homes over the next decade. By connecting Ontario cities at speeds up to 300 km/h, destinations like Kitchener-Waterloo, London, Peterborough, and Kingston could be reached in an hour or less, reducing urban density and costs. With developments poised to house between 17,000 and 100,000 residents each, new transit-oriented communities around the following stops on a proposed Ontario high-speed rail network could house over 1 million new residents:
Proposed Stations Included in an Ontario High Speed Rail Network
- Ottawa
- Kingston
- Peterborough
- Toronto
- Hamilton
- St. Catherine-Niagara Falls
- Kitchener-Waterloo
- London
- Chatham
- Windsor
- Barrie
- Parry Sound
- Sudbury
- Huntsville
- North Bay
Experts in urban planning note that high-density housing and high-speed transit projects require significant investment, careful planning, and phased development. Such projects unfold over several years and require integration of transit, green spaces, and amenities as neighborhoods grow. Thoughtfully integrating housing and transit could create interconnected communities with improved access, offering affordable residential options and alleviating congestion across the province.
As Ontario looks to the future, high-speed rail and smart, transit-oriented communities could transform the entire province. By enhancing transit, communities like Sudbury, Parry Sound, Huntsville, and North Bay may attract homebuyers drawn by affordable housing options and short travel times to the GTA. High-speed rail could lead to a more affordable, interconnected, and balanced Ontario.
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