The Vision Zero Road Safety Plan was enacted in 2017 as part of an international movement to reduce traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries on local streets. John’s office continues to collaborate with City Transportation staff to advance road safety measures in Willowdale.
Over the past year, we have been able to greatly enhance the Watch Your Speed Program which piloted in Willowdale in 2014 at John’s initiative. School Safety Zones, including these boards, have been permanently established at Cameron PS, Hollywood PS, Willowdale MS/Churchill PS and Pleasant PS, with additional locations coming in 2019. Mobile WYS boards have also been introduced to the community and can be requested for any local street.
A seniors safety zone has also been established around Yonge Street, paving the way for Photo Radar Cameras which will begin deploying later this year in school safety zones and other community safety zones across the city.
John is working with City staff to establish new signalized crossings in busy areas including Doris/Princess (coming this summer), Avondale/Harrison Garden, Willowdale/Church and Sheppard West/Quilter. He is also working to broaden the number of Red Light Cameras in the community and create better local control of Crossing Guard locations.
Road safety also includes Police enforcement. John has had several meetings with TPS 32 Division, which have resulted in a number of blitzes over the past year to enforce speed limits and enforce laws around street racing. Neighbourhood traffic issues can be reported at www.torontopolice.on.ca/core to help make Police aware of local issues.
- The Toronto Police Service’s “Slow Down Toronto” campaign in school zones focusing on traffic enforcement and driver education on speed, distracted driving and aggressive driving.
- A one-year pilot project to provide new flexible in-road traffic calming signs in 12 school zones across the city. These new signs will be placed in the middle of the roadway as a reminder to motorists that they are in a school zone and to slow down.
- Accelerating the School Safety Zone program retrofitting 80 schools in 2018, up from original plans to retrofit 20 schools annually.
- new school zone safety signs with flashing beacons
- zebra markings at school crosswalks
- examination of placing a school crossing guard at major crossings, and
- traffic calming measures beyond the frontage of schools.
- implementing an automated speed enforcement pilot
- reducing crossing distances via painted curb extensions
- introducing a mobile “watch your speed” program
- installing more senior safety zones and pedestrian safety corridors
