Road Congestion: Niagara Region and Density Targets

road congestion: The province is proposing changes to Golden Greater Horseshoe Growth Plan that would see lower density targets in many areas, including the Niagara region, which planning experts fear could lead to sprawl and the road congestion that comes with it, according to The Toronto Star. Mike Dibattista / Niagara Falls Review The document is intended govern development in the rapidly growing part of southern Ontario that is expected to absorb 85 per cent of the province's population increase over the next 20 years, reaching 13.5 million residents by 2041. The Ontario Progressive Conservative government introduced amendments to the Greater Golden Horseshoe Growth Plan on Tuesday, arguing the revisions would reduce red tape and make it easier to build quickly next to transit stops, a goal seen as key to boosting transit use and reducing gridlock in the region. Local communities need more flexibility over how and where they grow, but they still have to plan for it. But the proposed changes would lower density targets in some communities, which critics say will create new car-dependent neighbourhoods. We will work with municipalities to make the most of our major transit investments by encouraging development, such as housing, nearby, said Julie O'Driscoll, director of communications for Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.