Ontario is set to launch Canada’s first high-cccupancy toll (HOT) lanes as part of a pilot project on the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) to help ease congestion and offer another option for travellers.

The pilot project on QEW will be taken up between Trafalgar Road in Oakville and Guelph Line in Burlington from 15 September.

Current high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes on the QEW will be designated as HOT lanes.

"A limited number of applicants will be selected to purchase permits through a draw."

While carpools of two or more occupants will be able to use the QEW HOT lanes for free, single occupant drivers will be given the choice to purchase a HOT permit in order to use the lanes.

The city will accept online HOT permit applications from members of the public from 1 to 21 August through ServiceOntario.

A limited number of applicants will be selected to purchase permits through a draw.

Users will have to pay $180 for a three-month permit.

As part of this pilot, Ontario is also issuing a request for information (RoI), seeking innovative technologies that can be used to support tolling, compliance and performance monitoring of HOT lanes.

The pilot programme will help in long-term planning for future HOT lane implementation.