Drivers in Brampton, Ont., and Mississauga, Ont., are losing close to 100 hours a year to traffic congestion. A growth management strategy update from the Peel Region shows the population is expected to approach two million by 2041. Transportation experts are debating whether congestion pricing could reduce gridlock or place new pressure on suburban commuters.
Major routes such as Highway 401 and Hurontario Street are routinely backed up during peak hours, contributing to rising commute times across the western GTA. As congestion worsens, policymakers are looking at strategies used in other global cities, including congestion pricing, which charges drivers a fee to enter high-traffic areas during busy periods.
Joshua Hernandez, a transportation planner at Metrolinx, says any discussion of congestion pricing in Peel must account for the region’s unique traffic patterns. He explains that Brampton and Mississauga see significant commercial truck traffic, with more than half of Ontario’s commercial trips moving through the area. Managing freight movement, he says, would require a different approach than managing daily commuter traffic.
Hernandez adds that congestion pricing could help reduce vehicle volumes, but only if reliable transit alternatives are available. In Peel, about 15 per cent of trips are taken by public transit, compared to roughly 39 per cent in Toronto. Without stronger service, he says, many commuters will have little choice but to pay the fee.
He also raises concerns about the impact on lower-income residents. Hernandez says governments need to consider measures such as income-based rebates or reduced rates to prevent pricing from disproportionately affecting those who cannot afford higher commuting costs. He points to ongoing transit investments, including GO Expansion plans for more frequent service and the Hazel McCallion Light Rail Transit project in Mississauga and Brampton, as examples of infrastructure that can make congestion pricing more viable.
Congestion pricing is producing measurable results elsewhere. A report from The New York Times shows that in New York City, the program reduced daily vehicle entries by 73,000 in its first year, increased traffic speeds by 15 per cent and generated hundreds of millions of dollars for transit improvements. In the United Kingdom, Transport for London reports show that London has traffic reductions of about 20 per cent following the introduction of its congestion charge. Supporters argue that similar models could ease pressure on roads in the GTA, where congestion is estimated to cost billions of dollars annually.
Frontline transit workers caution that the system may not yet be ready for a sudden increase in riders. Ritesh Sharma, a Brampton Transit operator, says traffic regularly adds 20 to 30 minutes to his routes. He says buses are already at capacity during peak periods and that more vehicles and better coordination with GO Transit would be needed if more residents shift away from driving.
Commuters say their willingness to accept congestion pricing would depend on transit reliability. Sarah Patel, a Brampton resident who drives to work daily, says her 45-minute commute can stretch to 90 minutes in heavy traffic. She says she would consider switching to transit if service were more frequent and dependable. University student Olu McKenzie says limited service on the Milton GO line makes it difficult to rely fully on transit, even if road pricing were introduced.
The Peel Region’s 2026 budget, approved by regional council, commits hundreds of millions of dollars to road improvements, while Metrolinx continues expanding rail infrastructure across the region. Whether congestion pricing becomes part of the solution in Peel will likely depend on how quickly transit service expands and how policymakers address concerns about affordability and freight movement. For now, traffic remains a daily challenge for drivers across the western GTA.