John Slobodzian, project manager for a plan in the works to help relieve growing congestion in the Greater Golden Horseshoe, said an environmental assessment currently underway has already determined that some form of rail, public transit, possibly a highway -- perhaps even some sort of marine transportation -- will all have to play a role in the movement of tourists, truckers and goods in the years to come.

"It will not be a single system," he told a roundtable on transportation organized by the Binational Tourism Alliance at Edgewaters Tap and Grill overlooking the Horseshoe Falls in Niagara Falls Tuesday. "We are looking at all the modes."

Ontario's then-environment minister approved what's known as the terms of reference for the corridor in 2006, clearing the way for the years-long environmental assessment, or EA, to begin.

Slobodzian said it's expected the first phase of the EA -- which is examining such things as land use, environmental protection, tourism and the movement of trade and goods -- will determine what those modes will be. He expects that phase, which must examine the advantages and disadvantages of each type of transportation, will be completed some time in 2009. It isn't known at this time how long a second, more detailed phase will take to complete before detailed engineering proceeds will take, he said.

What is certain is that something has to be done to address what is expected to be an additional four million people living by 2031 in the Greater Golden Horseshoe, an area that can already have nightmarish congestion during peak driving times.

"The current transportation system ... is not sufficient to support the growth that is planned," Slobodzian said.

Will MacKenzie, information officer with the ministry, said ministry staff will have a plan in place for a transportation corridor to handle the flow of people and goods for 2031. But just when actual construction will take place will be up to whatever government is in power at the provincial level at the time, he said.