Item - 2019.IE8.8

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:  

1. City Council request the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario, to consult with the City of Toronto before considering increasing the speed limits on the 400 series highways within the City of Toronto, for the reasons cited in the staff report (October 2, 2019) from the General Manager, Transportation Services.

2. City Council reduce the speed limit from 60 km/h to 50 km/h on the following road segments as part of the Speed Management Strategy outlined on page 21 in the (June 13, 2019) Report from the General Manager, Transportation Services and the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services on Vision Zero 2.0 - Road Safety Plan Update:

            a.  Brimley Road from Sheppard Avenue East to Steeles Avenue East;

            b.  Markham Road from Milner Avenue to Steeles Avenue East; and

            c. McCowan Road from Milner Avenue to Steeles Avenue East.

3.  City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services to include as part of the 2020 budget process, the resources that would be required to speed up the installation of:

a. controlled intersections;

b. speed humps and bumps; and

c. bump outs and other pedestrian road safety measures.

The purpose of this report is to respond to five requests made by City Council of the General Manager, Transportation Services concerning the following road safety related items:

- Impacts associated with increased speed limits on 400 series highways;

- A proposal to introduce controlled crossings at all Toronto Transit Commission (TTC Stops);

- Mobile alerts of School Safety Zones through wayfinding providers;

- A motorcyclist lane filter pilot program; and

- Referral of speed limit reductions on three Ward 23 arterial roadways back to staff.
 

Impacts associated with increased speed limits on 400 series highways: Based on staff's review of potential impacts, this report recommends that City Council request the Ministry of Transportation to not increase the posted speed limits on the 400 series highways.

Controlled crossings at all TTC Stops: City staff have assessed the impacts of a policy that all TTC transit stops be provided with controlled crossings. Staff advise that such a policy would be impracticable. This report outlines other existing and upcoming measures to mitigate safety concerns with mid-block crossings at TTC transit stops.

School Safety Zone notifications through wayfinding providers: City staff have been advised by Waze that they are working to develop a feature called "high attention zones" which could provide a mobile alert to the driver that they are entering a school, senior or community safety zone or a pedestrian safety corridor. At this time, Waze has not provided a timeline of when such a feature may be added.

A motorcyclist lane filter pilot program: After review of Highway Traffic Act regulations, consultation with the Ministry of Transportation and review of the potential safety implications, staff advise that the City does not have the authority from the Province to introduce of a motorcycle lane filtering pilot in the City, as this issue is within the jurisdiction of the Province.

Speed limit reductions in Ward 23: Through Vision Zero 2.0, Transportation Services recommended speed limit reductions on about 250 kms of Major Arterial roadways. All but three segments in Ward 23 were approved by Council with the request for further consideration and consultation with the Ward Councillor. After additional review, this report recommends that City Council proceed with the reduction in speed limits on these segments.