Item - 2024.IE18.1

City Council considered the following Items together:

IE18.1 headed “Updates on Vision Zero Road Safety Plan”; and

IE18.5 headed “Feasibility of Requiring Side Guards on All Commercial Trucks Operating in the City of Toronto, Including Retrofitting the City's Fleet”.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:

1. City Council designate Community Safety Zones at the locations set out in Attachment 1 to the report (November 14, 2024) from the General Manager, Transportation Services.

2. City Council delete Subsection (3) of §950-400B of City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 950, Traffic and Parking, and insert a new Subsection (3) generally as follows:

"(3) (a) Within 15 metres of a pedestrian crossover on the approach side to a pedestrian crossover;

(b) Within 10 metres of a pedestrian crossover beyond the crossover; or

(c) Where authorized signs are otherwise posted on the approach side of a pedestrian crossover or beyond a pedestrian crossover, within the area designated as no stopping by the authorized signs.”

3. City Council delete Subsection (4) of §903-6A of City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 903, Parking for Persons with Disabilities, and insert a new Subsection (4) generally as follows:

"(4) (a) Within 15 metres of a pedestrian crossover on the approach side to a pedestrian crossover;

(b) Within 10 metres of a pedestrian crossover beyond the crossover; or

(c) Where authorized signs are otherwise posted on the approach side of a pedestrian crossover or beyond a pedestrian crossover, within the area designated as no stopping by the authorized signs."

4. City Council establish new offences and establish new associated penalties and amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 610, Penalties, Administration of, generally as follows:

a. By deleting from Schedule A, Table 10:  Chapter 950, Traffic and Parking, the following:

b. By inserting in Schedule A, Table 10:  Chapter 950, Traffic and Parking, the following:

5. City Council authorize that the amendments in Recommendations 2, 3, and 4 be implemented effective February 10, 2025.

6. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce the necessary bills to give effect to City Council's decision and City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make any necessary clarifications, refinements, minor modifications, technical amendments, or by-law amendments as may be identified by the City Solicitor or General Manager, Transportation Services, in order to give effect to Recommendations 1 to 5, inclusive, above.

7. City Council request Members of Council to share the submission by Councilor Mike Colle titled "Trends in Serious Injuries and Fatalities" with their constituents.

Since Vision Zero was first adopted by the City in 2016, it has incrementally grown to provide extensive, proactive, systemic and directed initiatives, informed by data and targeted to ensure that serious injuries and fatalities are eliminated on Toronto’s streets. This report provides an update on the Vision Zero Road Safety Plan and outlines continued and new programs, initiatives, and countermeasures.

This report provides status updates and recommended improvements to various components of the Vision Zero Road Safety Plan in the following areas:

1. Trends in Serious Injuries and Fatalities: describing changes over time for each emphasis area of the Vision Zero Road Safety Plan as well as comparison to other leading jurisdictions;

2. Speed Management Initiatives: providing updates on various ongoing and upcoming programs and initiatives under the speed management strategy that help address the frequency and / or outcome of relevant collision scenarios, including recommendations for a number of Community Safety Zones;

3. Improving Crossings for Pedestrians: providing updates on measures to address pedestrian crossing protection and recommendations to improve visibility at Pedestrian Crossovers;

4. Improving Intersection Safety: providing updates on measures to address safety of all road users at intersections; and

5. Other Updates: describing other enforcement measures, progress on other complementary City initiatives and an update on the School Safety Zone program.

This report recommends enacting 20 new or extended Community Safety Zones to support installation of Automated Speed Enforcement cameras focused on improving safety for older adults as well as expanding one existing location in Ward 16 as requested by the local Councillor that staff have reviewed and support. This report also recommends revising stopping prohibitions around Pedestrian Crossovers to meet current Provincial guidance.

Since 2016, the Vision Zero annual budget and spend rate has increased incrementally reflecting the demand for improved road safety as well as the capacity to deliver. The 2025 proposed budget of $99.1 million - $31.7 million in capital and $67.4 million in operating - is the largest annual budget for the Plan since inception and further demonstrates the importance of this initiative and Transportation Services’ ability to deliver the varied aspects of the work.