Item - 2026.IE30.1
Tracking Status
- This item was considered by Infrastructure and Environment Committee on June 10, 2026 and was adopted with amendments.
IE30.1 - Enhancing Coordination with Navigation Platforms for Road Closures
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
Committee Decision
The Infrastructure and Environment Committee:
1. Requested the General Manager, Transportation Services, in consultation with the Chief Information Officer and the Geospatial Competency Centre to immediately engage with navigation platform providers, including those responsible for Google Maps, Apple Maps, and Waze, to establish a direct communication channel for the consistent, timely, and accurate representation of City road closure, construction, and traffic management data, and official City asset renamings within their platform, and emphasize that, as widely used public-facing services relied upon for mobility, these platforms have a social responsibility to the public to maintain current and accurate information.
Origin
Summary
City of Toronto residents, businesses, and visitors increasingly rely on navigation apps such as Google Maps, Waze, and Apple Maps to guide their daily travel. Unfortunately, there have been recent instances where these platforms have failed to accurately or promptly display road closures related to construction, special events, or other traffic management activities. As a result, motorists have been directed into heavily congested areas or even routed onto streets that are effectively closed, creating confusion and delays for drivers.
The City makes significant efforts to provide accurate and timely information through its Road Restrictions and Closures website and an automated data feed for these navigation providers. Despite the City's efforts, these platforms do not always reflect City-provided updates, even when staff follow up with platform operators to flag discrepancies.
As we welcome the world to Toronto for the FIFA World Cup this summer, it is crucial that these navigation apps consistently incorporate City-issued road closure and traffic management information into their systems. Google Maps, Waze, and Apple Maps, along with the City of Toronto, have a shared responsibility to ensure the public have accurate and timely information about road closures and traffic delays.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2026/ie/bgrd/backgroundfile-287380.pdf
Communications
Motions
That:
1. Recommendation 1 be amended by adding the words "in consultation with the Chief Information Officer and the Geospatial Competency Centre", "to establish a direct communication channel for the ", and "and official City asset renamings", and also removing the words "to request their", so it now reads:
1. The Infrastructure and Environment Committee request the General Manager, Transportation Services, in consultation with the Chief Information Officer and the Geospatial Competency Centre to immediately engage with navigation platform providers, including those responsible for Google Maps, Apple Maps, and Waze, to request their to establish a direct communication channel for the consistent, timely, and accurate representation of City road closure, construction, and traffic management data, and official City asset renamings within their platform, and emphasize that, as widely used public-facing services relied upon for mobility, these platforms have a social responsibility to the public to maintain current and accurate information.