Highway Corridor Management

Anyone planning to construct on or adjacent to a provincial highway may require a permit from the Ministry of Transportation (MTO). MTO issues permits under the Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act and administration of the permits is the responsibility of the Corridor Management Office. The Corridor Management Office reviews applications from developers, municipalities, utility companies, and the general public for adherence to policies and impacts on the highway system, resolving conflicts, issuing permits, and enforcement of violation of policies.

To clarify the respective responsibilities of MTO and proponents where land development necessitates highway improvements, a guideline is provided. The guideline outlines the procedures for proponents who must deal directly or indirectly with MTO and the responsibilities with regard to the design and construction, as well as the financial responsibilities:

• A Guideline for Highway Improvements Associated with Developments

Effective June 1, 2008, all TIS’s shall be undertaken by a firm approved under the Ministry of Transportation’s consultant Registry, Appraisal and Qualification System (RAQS) under the Traffic Impact Analysis specialty category. Also effective June 1, 2008, TIS’s shall be signed and stamped by a Professional Engineer registered in the Province of Ontario taking responsibility for the TIS contents.
The Ministry of Transportation has prepared these guidelines to provide guidance to developers and consultants in the preparation of Traffic Impact Studies (TIS); the details required in a TIS would be considered acceptable to the ministry. Compliance with these guidelines and discussions with appropriate Ministry staff in the preliminary stages of the development planning process will provide for a more consistent and efficient review process.

• A General Guideline for the Preparation of Traffic Impact Studies

The Corridor Management Office administers control over the following activities on and adjacent to provincial highways:

• Commercial Signage
• Building Construction and Land Use
• Entrances to Provincial Highways
• Encroachments on the MTO Right-of-Way

In addition, the MTO is a mandatory reviewing agency for the following Municipal applications, which are administered under the Planning Act.

Regional Corridor Management Offices Consents (Severances) Site specific official plan amendments Site specific zoning by-law amendments Variances Plans of Subdivision/Condominum (files received after April 1, 1999)

Corridor Policy Unit (St. Catharines) Official Plans and Non-site Specific Amendments Official Plan Updates Secondary and District plans Comprehensive Zoning By-laws Plans of Subdivision / Condominium (files existing before April 1, 1999 and all subsequent revisions) Niagara Escarpment Plan Amendments Parkway Belt Amendments