Changing Commuting Trends in Halton

Cars in a traffic jam

How people travel to work shapes everyday life[1] – affecting access to jobs, transportation costs, and time available for family and community. In Halton Region, commuting patterns have shifted in recent years, first disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and now evolving into a new, more complex reality[2].

The Transportation Tomorrow Survey (TTS) 2022[3] provides a detailed snapshot of these changes. The survey took place in two phases (Fall of 2022 and Spring of 2023). Conducted during a period when workers were returning to workplaces, often in hybrid arrangements, the survey captures a moment of transition. As a result, it offers valuable insights into emerging trends, while also requiring careful interpretation.

More people working closer to home

Between 2016 and 2022, commuting patterns show a clear shift toward more localized travel within Halton. Across all municipalities, the share of residents working within their own community increased:

• Oakville: 30% → 36%

• Milton: 28% →34%

• Halton Hills: 36% → 42%

• Burlington: 40% → 44%

This suggests a growing role for local labour markets, where more residents can find work closer to home. At the same time, this shift is partly influenced by the pandemic, when fewer people were commuting daily.

Reduced commuting to major centres

Commuting to key external destinations particularly Toronto and Peel Regions have generally declined:

To Toronto from

• Halton Hills: 11% →7%

• Oakville: 17% →13%

• Milton: 13%→11%

To Peel from

• Halton Hills: 39%→33%

• Milton: 34%→31%

• Oakville: 26% → 23%

These changes point to a reduced reliance on long-distance commuting to major job centres, likely influenced by hybrid work and fewer daily trips to centralized workplaces. However, some patterns remain stable. For example: Commuting form Burlington to Hamilton remains steady (24% →23%). Halton Hills to Peel continues to be a major commuting flow.

At the same time, these changes should be interpreted with caution, as the 2022 data reflects a period when working from home reduced the number of commuting trips capture in the survey.

Commuting is also rebounding beyond the pandemic period. Recent data[4] from Statistics Canada show that the share of Canadians working primarily outside the home has been rising again, reaching over 82% in 2025, while the proportion working mostly from home continues to decline.

This suggests that while the 2022/23 TTS captures a period of reduced commuting, more workers are now returning to workplaces, and commuting activity is increasing. As a result, some of the more localized patterns observed in this analysis may continue to evolve as travel demand rebounds.

Shorts trips and long commutes

Changes in where people work are closely reflected in how far they travel. Between 2016 and 2022, work trip distances from Halton show a modest shift toward shorter commutes. The share of short trips (1-5 km) increased from 19% to 23%, while mid-range trips (6-19 km) also rose slightly (14% to 15%). Longer distance commuting declined, with trips of 30+ km dropping from 31% to 28%. Overall, while lone commutes still account for a significant share, the data shows a partial shift toward shorter, more local travel, likely influenced by pandemic-related changes and reduced long-distance commuting.

How people travel in a car-dependent system

Between 2016 and 2022, commuting modes in Halton remained overwhelmingly car-dependent, with the share of auto use increasing from 91% to 93%. At the same time, public transit use declined across all categories, GO-based commuting saw the most notable drop, with GO only trip falling from 3% to 1.5% and combined GO and local transits from 1.3% to 0.8%. Walking remained relatively stable (2%).

This highlights the region’s strong reliance on automobiles and points to ongoing challenges in expanding sustainable transportation options. It also raises important equity concerns, as not all residents have equal access to a car or the ability to drive. Youth, older adults, and people with disabilities may be less likely to hold a driver’s licence or have access to a vehicle, limiting their ability to accessing jobs.

For transit-dependent workers, access employment is also shaped by timing. Many jobs require early, late, or weekend shifts when transit service is limited. This mismatch can restrict job options and create additional barriers, particularly for those without access to a car.

Commuting across the life course

Commute distance and mode of transportation vary significantly across age groups, reflecting differences in life stage, employment patterns, and mobility options.

For those aged under 16 years (largely students and part-time workers), about three-quarters (75%) travel less than 5 km. Virtually, there is no long-distance commuting (30+ km). This suggests strong reliance on local schools and nearby activities.

For youth and young adults (17-29 yrs), There are more evenly distributed commute distances. However, there is still higher share of short trios (28%). Some remain locally connected. Others begin accessing regional job markets.

Workers in the core working age (30 – 64 yrs) travel the furthest. About 30% travel beyond 30 km (highest of all groups). Only about 20% commute less than 5 km.

Other adults (65+ yrs) shift back to shorter commutes. They have the higher share of short commutes (32%). Their share of long-distance is lower compared to the core working age group.

Mode of travel also changes with age. Car use increases with age (over 90% for adults). Transit use is highest among youth but remains low overall.

Where the jobs are matters

Halton is not just a residential community; it is also a major employment hub. In 2022/23, over 137,000 work trips stay within Halton. This is more than double the next largest destination (Peel-53,000). It also explains why a large share of workers have shorter, local commutes.

Peel and Toronto remain key regional destinations (Peel- 53,000 trips, Toronto-25,000 trips). These regions continue to attract large numbers of workers, particularly in the Professional/management/technical category (Toronto - 17,700 trips, Peel - 33,700 trips).

Local jobs are more diverse and more accessible. Halton has rich job mix (Professional/management/technical: 74,000 trips, Retail sales and service: 29,000 trips, Manufacturing/construction/trades: 22,000 trips, and General office/clerical: 11,000 trips).

Final thought

Commuting patterns are more than just travel, they reflect how communities are connected to opportunities. As Halton continues to grow, understanding who travels, how far, and why will be key to building a region that is accessible, inclusive, and connected for everyone.

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[1] Montazer, S., & Young, M. (2024). The Long Haul Home: The Relationship between Commuting Distance, Work Hours, Work-to-Family Conflict, and Psychological Distress. Socius: Sociological Research for a Dynamic World, 10.

[2] Statistics Canada, Has the COVID-19 pandemic changed commuting patterns for good? The Daily, 2022-11-30, https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/221130/dq221130c-eng.htm

[3] Transportation Tomorrow Survey, https://dmg.utoronto.ca/tts-introduction/

About TTS 2022

The Transportation Tomorrow Survey (TTS) is a major regional survey that tracks how people travel throughout the day. Conducted every five years, it provides detailed insights into where people go, how they travel, and how far they commute. The 2022/23 survey reflects a period of transition following the pandemic and offers a valuable, real-world snapshot of changing travel patterns across the region.

[4] Statistics Canada, Number of Canadian commuters increase for fourth straight year in 2025, August, 2025 https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/250826/dq250826a-eng.htm