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Toronto Unveils 2026 Congestion Management Plan to Improve Travel Across the City

Toronto 2026 congestion management plan targets traffic delays, transit reliability and construction impacts

The City of Toronto is advancing a coordinated strategy to reduce traffic delays and improve mobility, as Mayor Olivia Chow and city officials provided an update on the Congestion Management Plan on March 27.

The plan outlines progress made over the past year and introduces new measures aimed at improving travel times for drivers, transit users and cyclists across the city.

Measurable Progress in 2025

City officials reported several improvements tied to earlier congestion efforts:

  • Construction-related road closures have been reduced by an average of 2.4 days
  • Transit riders on Line 6 are saving up to 20 minutes per round trip
  • Riders on Line 5 are saving up to 10 minutes per round trip
  • More than 100 traffic agents have been deployed at key intersections to improve flow

These changes are part of a broader effort to better coordinate construction, transit operations and traffic management.

Mayor Olivia Chow said the City is focusing on a unified, system-wide approach.

“Toronto continues to grow, and we are taking a co-ordinated, city-wide approach to keep people moving,” said Chow. “By bringing construction, transit, and traffic management together, we are reducing disruptions and improving reliability.”

Key Priorities for 2026

The updated plan focuses on five core actions:

  • Reducing construction impacts through better coordination and shorter road closures
  • Expanding traffic management with more agents and upgrades to the Congestion Management Centre
  • Improving transit reliability with signal upgrades to prioritize buses and streetcars
  • Using smart technologies, including intelligent intersections and real-time traffic systems
  • Encouraging alternative travel options such as transit and cycling

Technology and Real-Time Traffic Management

Toronto plans to expand its smart signal network to 244 locations and introduce 356 intelligent intersections capable of adapting to real-time traffic conditions.

The City will also upgrade signals at 72 locations to improve travel times for streetcars and buses, building on existing gains seen on Lines 5 and 6.

Andrew Posluns, Toronto’s first Chief Congestion Officer, said the City is taking a more proactive approach to traffic management.

“The Congestion Management Plan continues to drive down travel times in the city,” said Posluns. “This year’s plan expands efforts to address congestion hot spots and explore new tools like digital twins to improve decision-making.”

Focus on Construction Coordination

Reducing the impact of construction remains a central goal. The City plans to continue shortening road closures through improved coordination, stronger enforcement and incentives for timely completion.

Councillor Paula Fletcher, Chair of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee, said the plan delivers practical improvements for residents.

“We’re shortening construction timelines and co-ordinating better to minimize unnecessary disruptions,” said Fletcher. “This plan helps people spend less time waiting in traffic and more time getting where they need to go.”

A Growing City, A Coordinated Response

With congestion a daily concern for many Torontonians, the City’s approach emphasizes coordination across departments and agencies to ensure a more reliable transportation network.

Officials say the updated Congestion Management Plan reflects both short-term improvements and long-term investments aimed at keeping Toronto moving as the city continues to grow.


For ongoing coverage of transportation and infrastructure across the GTA, follow GTA Today.

Alwin Marshall-Squire

Alwin Marshall-Squire is the Editor-in-Chief of S-Q Publications Inc., overseeing editorial strategy for GTA Weekly, GTA Today, and Vision Newspaper. He leads the publications’ mission to deliver bold, original journalism focused on the people and communities of the Greater Toronto Area, Canada, and the global Caribbean diaspora. Also writes for GTA Weekly and GTA Today.

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