Item - 2024.MM23.11

Councillor Shelly Carroll, seconded by Councillor Jennifer McKelvie, recommends that:

1.  City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services, to conduct a review of potential alternative delivery models for the School Crossing Guard Program, including partnerships, volunteer-supported programs, technology-assisted solutions, or innovative deployment strategies and provide an interim report to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee by the third quarter of 2025, outlining potential options and budgetary impacts.

The City of Toronto is committed to ensuring the safety of children and other vulnerable pedestrians at school crossings, as demonstrated through our investments in the Vision Zero Road Safety Plan. Recognizing the importance of this work, the City assumed administration of the School Crossing Guard Program from Toronto Police in 2017, with the intention of expanding and enhancing pedestrian safety measures at school crossings. Since that transition, however, the costs associated with managing the program have escalated from $8M to over $30M annually, driven by increased demand due to new school developments and rising operational needs. To sustainably meet these needs, Toronto must explore options that allow the School Crossing Guard Program to grow while managing budgetary impacts effectively.

In other jurisdictions, volunteer-based crossing guard programs have been used to supplement traditional models, often through partnerships or community engagement initiatives. This motion seeks to direct the General Manager, Transportation Services, to explore a range of alternative models for the School Crossing Guard Program that support sustainable growth without compromising the program’s quality and effectiveness. Importantly, this initiative is not intended to reduce or eliminate the roles of existing crossing guards but rather to identify solutions that will ensure these critical services can adapt to Toronto’s evolving needs in a sustainable manner.