For many years, residents in the area of Yonge Street and Highway 401 have been hoping for a way to ease congestion coming on and off of the highway. Now the city has committed to funding a portion of a yet-to-be-decided solution, but residents and local politicians are saying the provincial government has slowed the process down.

“Just do it,” said West Lansing Homeowners Association vice-president Mike Capotosto. “They’ve been studying it for 20 years, and they’re going to study it for another three or four years.”

He was not optimistic that either level of government could speed the process along. “They’ve been dragging their heels for so long.”

Toronto City Council has committed to funding a portion of a solution; however, the study underway to determine the best solution has not been completed yet.

But Coun. John Filion also lays much of the blame for the delays on the provincial government. “Where’s the provincial co-operation? We don’t know.”

Willowdale MPP David Zimmer affirmed provincial support for the project, but the Ontario Ministry of Transportation wishes to wait until after the study is complete to commit to funding construction.

“Once that study is complete, we will have a better idea of what needs to be done to improve the area.”

That could take awhile.

“The study is expected to run into 2015,” said Stephen Schijns, manager of infrastructure planning with the City of Toronto.

Filion is disappointed with this statement. “I hope that’s not right,” he said. “The biggest issue in this area is congestion. We should be starting construction by 2015.”