Politics · Canada · 2 hrs ago
Toronto traffic congestion has eased in recent years, city figures show
As Toronto’s mayoral campaign enters its final days, traffic congestion is a major issue for candidates and voters.
City figures show Toronto congestion has declined in recent years, challenging the idea that gridlock is only getting worse.
The city measures congestion by comparing rush-hour travel times with travel times when roads are clear.
The index fell from 1.738 in July 2024 to 1.587 this July, meaning peak trips took less time relative to free-flow conditions.
Toronto also ranked ninth for congestion in TomTom’s North American city rankings in 2025, down from first place in 2023, but it remains a congested city.
The figures do not explain the decline, though the city says it increased traffic agents, reduced construction closures and adjusted traffic signals for transit.
Construction has been a major source of congestion, and some large projects have recently ended.
Candidates are still debating road and transit plans to tackle traffic, a key concern for voters.
Toronto’s city-wide traffic congestion indicator has declined in recent years, according to figures provided by the city.
The Travel Time Index was 1.587 in July, down from 1.698 in July of the previous year and 1.738 in July, 2024.
The city’s figures show a substantial fall from a high of 2.324 in June, 2018.
Toronto also ranked ninth in TomTom’s North American city congestion rankings in 2025, after ranking first in 2023.
The city has not explained the drop, though its chief congestion officer cited more traffic agents, fewer construction closures and adjusted transit signal priorities.
- Who
- The City of Toronto provided the figures. Andrew Posluns, the city’s chief congestion officer, described the trend.
- What
- The city-wide Travel Time Index, a measure of congestion, has declined in recent years.
- When
- The latest figures provided were for July; the article was published on October 17, 2026.
- Where
- Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Why
- The city did not explain the decline. Posluns cited more traffic agents, fewer construction closures and adjusted transit signal priorities.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Toronto recorded its highest monthly Travel Time Index in the 11 full years of figures provided to The Globe and Mail.
TomTom ranked Toronto first among North American cities for congestion.
Toronto’s city-wide Travel Time Index was 1.738.
TomTom ranked Toronto ninth among North American cities for congestion.
The latest city-wide Travel Time Index provided was 1.587, down from 1.698 in July, 2025.
- Latest city-wide Travel Time Index
- 1.587 in July
- Previous July Travel Time Index
- 1.698
- July, 2024 Travel Time Index
- 1.738
- Highest monthly Travel Time Index
- 2.324 in June, 2018
- TomTom ranking
- Ninth in 2025; first in 2023
- INRIX ranking
- 13th-worst among North American cities in 2025
1 source
What people are saying
The trend over the last few years is showing that congestion is decreasing,
Such a mundane statement qualifies as provocation in a metropolis that, just three years ago, had the worst traffic in North America, according to the Amsterdam-based geolocation company TomTom.