Transportation

The Town of Ajax is strategically located within Canada’s large urban region known as the greater Toronto Area (GTA). The GTA is the driver of economic growth in the industrial heartland of Southern Ontario. Ajax is one of the emerging engines of that growth and offers a variety of reliable and efficient transportation options.

Distance to Major US Centres

New York 818 km (508 miles)                       

Boston 906 km (563 km)

Detroit 412 km (256 miles)

Chicago 867 km (538 miles)

Washington 947 km (588 miles)

Road Network & Highway Infrastructure

Ajax benefits from a well developed road network allowing local businesses easy access to major highway corridors including Highways 401, Canada’s premier transportation corridor and Hwy 2. The opening of the Salem Rd. interchange in December 2003, has allowed for direct access to Ajax’s Carruther’s Creek Properties. These vacant employment properties are prime locations for businesses to locate in Ajax. The creation of the Salem Rd. Interchange coupled with available land has led to major investments including the 1 million sq. ft. distribution centre by Loblaws (estimated to open in Fall, 2007).

Below you will find some key facts about Ajax’s newest and emerging highway enhancements.

Highway 401 - Salem Rd. Interchange

The Highway 401 - Salem Road interchange officially opened on December 2, 2003. The new interchange offers direct access to Highway 401, the premier transportation corridor stretching from Windsor to Quebec City.

Highway 401 - Lane Widening

In 2006, two new lanes were added to Highway 401 between Westney Road and Harwood Avenue, expanding this stretch from 8 lanes to 10 lanes. This is a welcome announcement for much of Ajax's business community that use the Highway on a daily basis to truck goods.

Highway 407

The extension of Highway 407 from its current terminus at Brock Road in Pickering is of vital importance for the Town of Ajax. The extension, which is envisioned to connect at Highway 35/115 in Clarington, will accommodate existing and future residential and business growth in Durham Region. A north-south route, running east of Lake Ridge Road, has been selected as the technically recommended alternative for a proposed Highway 407 West Durham Link. Click here to read the recent press release.

Airports

Lester B. Pearson International Airport

Located just 45 minutes from Ajax, Lester B. Pearson International Airport is Canada’s largest and busiest airport, handling over 28 million passengers annually. A total of 65 carriers operate out of the Airport’s three terminals, providing plane service to over 140 destinations in 44 countries around the world. Air cargo operations are carried out in two separate cargo areas, the infield facilities have three buildings totaling approximately 750,000 square feet by 67 air carriers and by over 100 freight forwarders and custom brokers. Over 40% of Canada’s air cargo passes through the airport every year. Pearson Airport operates with 4 runways and 30 taxiways.

On Dec. 2, 1996, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), the operating for Pearson Airport, assumed responsibility for the management, operation and maintenance of Pearson International Airport. The mandate of the GTAA is to operate Toronto Pearson International Airport within a regional system of airports to enhance the economic growth and development of the Greater Toronto Area.

In order to meet this goal, as well as the growing air travel needs of the region, the GTAA has developed a comprehensive redevelopment plan that will allow Toronto Pearson International Airport to keep pace with the rapidly growing travel needs of southern Ontario.

The Airport Development Program (ADP) is a 10-year, $4.4 billion plan that includes four major projects:

1) Terminal Development Project

Designed to replace Terminals 1 and 2 with a single terminal building to be constructed on the site where the Terminals currently exist.

2) Airside Development Project

Designed to increase airfield capacity and to improve operational efficiency, includes the construction of three new runways.

3) Infield Development Project

Designed to meet demand for ancillary aviation facilities and/or relocate tenants displaced by certain program projects.

4) Utilities and Airport Support

On April 6, 2004, Phase 1 of the new state-of-the-art terminal at Pearson Airport was opened. The new terminal replaced the old Terminal 1, and will also replace Terminal 2 within two years. Until then, the new Terminal 1 will handle Air Canada domestic and international flights, while terminal 2 and Terminal 3 will continue to operate as normal.

Oshawa Municipal Airport

Located 20 minutes from downtown Ajax, the Oshawa Municipal Airport is the only full-service commercial and general aviation facility in the Greater Toronto Area east of Toronto. There are also several companies in the airport providing passenger and cargo charter air services, including the Canadian Flight Academy, Enterprise Air Inc, Roaero Inc., and Air Express Ontario.

In 1992, the airport’s equipment for instrument flight and navigation was upgraded with a precision approach system that increases efficiency and safety for aircraft. In 1996, a new state-of-the-art 16,000 square foot passenger terminal was officially opened on the airport’s north field. This multi-million dollar redevelopment project included the lengthening of runways to 4,000 feet, new taxiways, new aprons, new grass and paved tie-down areas, and upgraded lighting and landing aids. These upgrades allow Oshawa Airport to accommodate more efficient aircraft that facilitate freight and passenger traffic for both scheduled flights and carrier service.

Pickering Airport Lands

In keeping with its responsibility for serving the Greater Toronto Area’s aviation needs, the GTAA has been asked, on behalf of Transport Canada, to undertake the planning work which is required before the federal government decides whether to proceed with a regional/reliever airport on the Pickering lands. The Federal government has acquired 18,600 acres in north Pickering, Markham and Uxbridge for the future development of such an airport to serve the eastern Greater Toronto Area. At the present time, the size, type and timing of the development of the Airport are being discussed. Once developed, the Airport will greatly add to the transportation infrastructure of Durham Region.

The GTAA has developed a Draft Plan for development of the Pickering lands that is based on numerous technical studies and reports, incorporating activity projections and expected interactions between surrounding airports and future trends in aviation and technology. In conjunction with the local, regional, provincial, and federal governments, the GTAA also conducted an Economic Development Study for the area surrounding the Pickering lands. This study identified strategies and policies that would maximize the economic development of a potential regional/reliever airport in Pickering. All of these documents, along with comments from public consultation, will be recognized in the Project Description required for an environmental assessment.

Ultimately it will be the Government of Canada that must decide whether an airport is built in Pickering. Should such a facility be deemed necessary by the federal government and can be justified as sustainable, it is anticipated that the earliest an airport could be operational is 2012. The scope of the planning process is very broad and will be undertaken over a considerable length of time. As we move forward, the GTAA is committed to including the community in this planning process.

Rail

Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway

The Canadian National and Pacific Railways provide a vital connection between businesses and a network of customers and suppliers throughout North America. Both railways have lines that run through the Town of Ajax. Canadian National Railway operates in eight provinces and 14 U.S. states. It supplies both national and international shipping services - a definite advantage for Ajax companies.

The Canadian Pacific Railway also offers services to benefit every major industry from resource-based to manufacturing. It serves major ports and cities from Montreal to Vancouver and key centres in the U.S. Midwest and Northeast.

VIA Rail

VIA Rail operates a daily passenger service with connections to all points in Canada and the United States. Commuters from the Town of Ajax can board VIA rail trains from the station in the City of Oshawa.

Sea Access

Oshawa Harbour Commission

Port Oshawa is within close proximity to the Town of Ajax. Strategically located on the north shore of Lake Ontario, Port Oshawa is a fast and cost efficient mode of transporting goods to the highly industrialized centres of south-central Ontario, the north eastern United States, and overseas markets through the St. Lawrence Seaway System that provides access to the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean.

The Port is capable of accommodating any size or type of vessel entering the Seaway System, Port Oshawa provides shippers with a wide range of cargo handling equipment, from heavy lift cranes to fork lift trucks. The harbour has three berths and bulk and open storage cargo facilities. The harbour provides point of entry customs service, a specially designed ro-ro ramp with a fully paved, fenced and lit compound and the largest crane on the Great Lakes.

Transit

Durham Region Transit

As of January 1, 2006 Municipal transit amalgamated into a Regional transit system known as Durham Region Transit. The amalgamation of Transit will bring together Transit authorities from across the Region including Ajax/Pickering Transit, Oshawa Transit, Whitby Transit, Clarington Transit and Handi Transit to form one new Transit authority. The plan is to enhance service level and convenience for riders. The amalgamation will make transfers easier for riders as they can travel throughout the Region of Durham. Additionally, the amalgamation will allow for more consistency across the municipalities.

GO Transit

As one of North America’s premier transportation systems, GO Transit links the Greater Toronto Area to the downtown core. It carries approximately 45 million passengers a year and accommodates the transit needs of a population of 5 million. GO Transit offers service throughout the day between Ajax and Downtown Toronto. During the morning and afternoon rush-hour, commuters can travel between these two destinations in just thirty minutes.