By Gazette Staff
March 17th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
If you are one of those that insists on driving into Toronto – read on
There are people who have learned – GO is a much easier on your nerves way to get to the Big Smoke.
Hardeep Singh Grewal, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Transportation: ” we’re standing up for drivers”.
The Ontario government is proposing a regulatory amendment to the Highway Traffic Act that would allow single-occupant vehicles to use High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes during off-peak hours, making better use of existing highway infrastructure to help reduce gridlock and keep drivers moving on provincial highways. Ministry of Transportation modelling shows the change would improve travel times for all users, with average speeds increasing in both HOV and general-purpose lanes across major highways during off-peak hours. If implemented, this change would take place before the end of 2026, following a period of public consultation.
Changes coming to who can use the HOV lanes
“Gridlock is costing our economy billions of dollars every year and robbing Ontario drivers of valuable time and quality of life,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “By allowing single-occupant vehicles to use HOV lanes during off-peak hours, we would help keep drivers moving across the province, so they can spend less time in traffic and more time with their families and friends.”
HOV lanes are currently restricted to vehicles with two or more occupants, as well as buses, licensed taxis, green-plate vehicles, airport limousines, motorcycles and emergency vehicles. The government is exploring regulatory changes to allow single-occupant vehicles to drive on all existing, planned and future HOV lanes during designated off-peak hours. Existing HOV lane rules would apply outside of off-peak hours, which will be identified through analysis of current traffic data and consultations. These times will not include the busiest weekday morning or evening commute periods. Once finalized later this year, the new off-peak hours will be set out in regulation.
“Expanding the use of HOV lanes would give more drivers the freedom to choose which lanes they use outside of rush hour,” said Hardeep Singh Grewal, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Transportation. “By rethinking our approach to HOV lanes, we’re standing up for drivers and ensuring we get the most out of Ontario’s transportation network.”
Ontario currently has 237 kilometres of HOV lanes, with plans underway to add another 146 kilometres to the network. Expanding the use of HOV lanes would ensure drivers have more choice to reach their destination during off-peak hours.
Quick Facts
- Single-occupant vehicles remain the dominant mode of transportation on Ontario’s highways, representing 72 per cent of vehicles on provincial highways in 2022.
- The proposed use of HOV lanes during off-peak periods will be informed by consultations with stakeholders and traffic data.
- Commercial motor vehicles longer than 6.5 metres would continue to be restricted from using HOV lanes under the proposed changes.
- Single-occupant vehicles with High-Occupancy Toll permits can pay to access HOV lanes on sections of the Queen Elizabeth Way, Highway 403 and Highway 410.
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Ford should just end the HOV lanes, they cause more congestion. The HOV lanes on the QEW between Oakville and Burlington are a prime example. I drive the QEW to work in Oakville and here’s what I see. The slowest moving lane on the QEW is often the left lane next to the HOV lanes and I’ve noted two reasons for this. Cars slow down when a car from the HOV lane cuts into it to move to an exit or cars cut across lanes of traffic to enter the HOV lane. Reason number two is the excessive number of transport trucks in the center lane; these trucks are slow to accelerate so cars stuck behind them cut into the other lanes slowing these down. Want to speed up rush hour traffic? 1. get rid of the HOV lanes and 2. limit trucks to the right lane only. Of course, this is too easy for a bureaucrat at the MTO who sits behind his/her desk all day but doesn’t experience what looks good on paper.
Great. More cars in the HOV lanes driving westbound on the QEW – just to stop and idle at the massive Brant/403-split-exit snarl amongst all the 18-wheelers heading to Niagara.
The only city in North America (probably) to have its main highway thoroughfares clogged by commuters who are not even from the city.
Essentially ending HOV lane restrictions, as most people won’t know when to use or not. Nightmare to enforce.