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Ontario’s Growing Crisis

Ontario is growing faster than ever — but our infrastructure isn’t keeping up.
Toronto’s subways are overcrowded, running on 1950s foundations with patchwork fixes.
Highways like the 401 and QEW are choked with daily gridlock, slowing families and commerce.
Housing costs are skyrocketing, forcing students and young families out of cities.
Building more highway tunnels or short-term patches only deepens dependence on cars and pushes the crisis further down the road. families, and newcomers are priced out of urban life.

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About the Founder

Tarek ElBaradie
Tarek ElBaradie Founder | Ontario Connected
From working around the world in the petroleum industry to a long career in photography and now operating TTC subways, Tarek ElBaradie founded Ontario Connected to advocate for smarter transit, housing, and growth across Ontario. Visit the ABOUT page to learn more about Tarek.

The Stats

Toronto’s subway and highways are already over capacity, straining daily commutes.
Without bold expansion, congestion, housing pressures, and costs will only grow worse.

0%
GTA population increase expected by 2051
0X
Transit demand growth since 1990, no new core tunnels
0M
Housing units Ontario must build by 2031
0%
GTA commuters still rely on cars daily
0B
Annual cost of gridlock to Ontario’s economy

The Vision at a Glance

Transit Grid

Transit Grid

High-capacity north–south and east–west underground corridors connecting the GTA, Simcoe, Durham, Hamilton-Niagara, and Tri-Cities.High-capacity north–south and east–west underground corridors connecting the GTA, Simcoe, Durham, Hamilton-Niagara, and Tri-Cities.

Parallel Cities

Parallel Cities

Underground hubs for retail, culture, recreation, and services — warm, walkable, climate-resilient spaces.

Housing Innovation

Housing Innovation

Affordable undergroundmicro-housing near hubs for students, newcomers, and families — preserving nature above, building below.

Ontario needs High-Speed Rail — now!

HSR at 200–300 km/h connects our cities faster, cleaner, and more reliably than highways—freeing people and the economy from gridlock.

  • 40–60% faster than driving on key corridors
  • All-weather reliability and real capacity
  • Lower emissions, better access to jobs & housing
Compare Trips Now
Try Toronto ⇄ Hamilton, K-W, Guelph, Vaughan, Barrie, Oshawa, and more.
Ontario Connected concept of a future transit hub
Ontario Connected’s vision of a future transit hub

Quick FAQ

A 50-year plan to build deeper subway tunnels, regional high-speed links, and transit-linked housing hubs across Ontario.
Ontario’s population is set to surge, but transit and housing are lagging. If we don’t scale up, congestion, costs, and commute times get worse.
It’s non-partisan and long-term, designed to outlast election cycles and avoid the short-term thinking that derails big projects.
A mix of public investment, dedicated infrastructure bonds, municipal partnerships, and land-value capture around new hubs—transparent and phased.
Comment on blog posts, share ideas, and spread the word. Real feedback shapes priorities and builds momentum.

Indigenous Partnership First

Ontario Connected begins with Indigenous consultation and partnership — respecting treaty rights,

Including Indigenous leadership in planning, creating training and jobs, and integrating culture, sports, education, and design — connecting communities and recognizing Indigenous heritage as a living world culture woven into Ontario’s shared future.

Why This Matters

Ontario Connected isn’t just about building subways — it’s about shaping a province that works for people, the planet, and the future.

Congestion Relief

Move millions by subway, not highway.

Climate Action

Cut emissions by shifting commuters off cars.

Housing Support

Fast transit makes affordable living possible across the region.

Economic Growth

Jobs today; mobility for generations.

🌱 Climate Action at the Core

Ontario Connected’s vision is more than just transit — it’s climate action.
Every new subway corridor reduces highway traffic and emissions.
By building underground hubs and housing, we protect Ontario’s farmland and forests.
And by creating resilient, weather-proof “parallel cities,” we prepare for the future of harsher winters and hotter summers.

🚉 Fewer Cars

Every expanded line means thousands fewer cars on the 401 and QEW.

🌲 Protecting Nature

Underground building preserves farmland, forests, and conservation areas.

☀️ Future-Proof

Parallel underground hubs give Ontarians warm, resilient spaces during extreme weather.

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