Expanding the "Don't Block the Box" Initiative
Last August, we achieved a significant milestone with the provincial approval to increase fines for blocking signalized intersections. This crucial change saw penalties rise from $90 to $450, underscoring our commitment to improving traffic flow and reducing congestion.
To reinforce these efforts, new "Don't Block the Box" signs have been strategically placed along King Street. These signs support the diligent work of our Traffic Agents and the Toronto Police, who, through their dedicated enforcement, have issued over 100 tickets in just 51 Division alone. This accounts for a third of the more than 300 tickets issued citywide, highlighting the importance of this initiative.
Our Traffic Management Centre has closely monitored these changes via our comprehensive network of traffic cameras. The data reveals that the new signage, coupled with the active presence of Traffic Agents and Toronto Police, has effectively promoted consistent compliance among drivers. Building on this success, Transportation Services will expand the installation of these signs to intersections along 16 new corridors, enhancing our traffic management capabilities.
Looking ahead to this summer and fall, Toronto Police Traffic Services and Transportation Services are planning at least two additional enforcement blitzes. The ongoing collaboration with Toronto Police provides invaluable support, especially as we navigate challenges related to Traffic Agent staffing and training. We remain committed to this partnership, ensuring that our streets remain safe and efficient for everyone.
Expanding the Traffic Agent Program
Our Traffic Agent Program is set for a significant expansion, reflecting our ongoing commitment to reducing congestion and enhancing traffic flow throughout Toronto. Currently, we have 22 dedicated Traffic Agents on the streets, with 45 more recruits in training. By early summer 2025, we anticipate having 67 active agents contributing to smoother and safer commutes.
Transportation Services is actively recruiting additional Traffic Agents, with the goal of deploying a robust team of 100 agents across 13 new corridors by the end of this year. This strategic expansion will bolster our efforts to manage traffic effectively and respond to the city's growing needs.
In Ward 13, seven critical corridors will benefit from this enhanced presence, as illustrated in the map below. This targeted approach ensures that our resources are optimally allocated, addressing the specific challenges faced by each area. Through these efforts, we aim to deliver tangible improvements in traffic management and enhance the quality of life for residents and commuters alike.
Map of the 7 corridors in Ward 13 with Traffic Agents
Advancing Automated Enforcement
We are excited to announce the formation of a dynamic working group dedicated to advancing automated enforcement in our city. This collaborative effort brings together experts from Transportation Services, Toronto Police - Parking Enforcement/Traffic Services, TTC, Court Services, Legal Services, and the Toronto Parking Authority. Our collective focus is on accelerating the integration of new automated enforcement technologies, fostering knowledge sharing, addressing challenges, and maximizing our pooled resources and expertise.
This summer marks an important phase as we embark on testing and piloting various technologies across select locations in Toronto. Our team is currently in the process of interviewing shortlisted applicants to identify the most promising solutions.
In parallel, staff are conducting thorough information management and privacy impact assessments for each applicant, ensuring that all technologies adhere to our high standards of data protection and privacy. We are also evaluating potential deployment sites within the public realm and along TTC bus priority routes. Following rigorous cybersecurity evaluations, we anticipate confirming our selected participants by the second quarter of 2025. During this pilot phase, no tickets will be issued, allowing us to focus on data analysis and system refinement to ensure a seamless implementation.
King/Church Streetcar Track & Watermain Rebuilds
Starting later this month, the intersection at King Street East and Church Street will be temporarily closed until August 2025 for essential streetcar track and watermain reconstruction. This project necessitates diversionary routes for the 503 Kingston Road, 504 King, and 508 Lake Shore streetcars, impacting approximately 7-25 streetcars during peak hours, alongside existing diversions due to the Ontario Line construction.
To maintain reliable streetcar operations along these diverted routes, we are implementing several strategic measures. These include deploying traffic agents, removing on-street parking, adjusting signal timing, and imposing restrictions on Curb Lane CafeTO installations. Our efforts will concentrate on key congestion points along Richmond Street and Adelaide Street, spanning from York Street to Church Street. These proactive steps are designed to minimize disruption and ensure a smooth transit experience for all commuters during this critical infrastructure upgrade.
Helping Transit Move Faster and Reliably
A central focus of our Congestion Management Plan (CMP) is to enhance the speed and reliability of surface transit operations, encouraging increased ridership. Beyond the environmental benefits, promoting transit supports the CMP's ultimate goal: efficiently and safely moving more people through our corridors. As we anticipate significant construction projects in 2025, which will impact TTC surface operations, Transportation Services is committed to deploying a range of targeted measures to support transit during this busy construction year.
A notable addition to the CMP in 2025 is the implementation of a Travel Demand Management Strategy, particularly focused on major events. This strategy aims to encourage the use of transit and other sustainable transportation modes among event attendees. We successfully piloted this approach during the Taylor Swift concert series, promoting the use of TTC or GO Transit for visitors traveling to the downtown core. This initiative not only alleviates congestion but also enhances the overall event experience by providing convenient and efficient transportation options.
Through these strategic efforts, we aim to ensure that transit remains a viable and attractive option for all Torontonians and tourists, even amidst a challenging construction season. By prioritizing swift and reliable transit solutions, we are making strides toward a more sustainable, efficient, and transit-friendly city.
Proactive Planning and Coordination of Construction Projects
Transportation Services is developing traffic mitigation strategies for the 2025 construction season. These efforts aim to alleviate congestion around major construction zones. Building on the successes of 2024, the City is launching new technology tools like the Road Disruption Activity Reporting System (RoDARS) Online Booking System, enhancing our ability to manage road closure requests efficiently, especially for development-related and utility construction initiatives that arise outside the broader capital program.
Last year, our Work Zone Coordination team managed an impressive 11,652 RoDARS requests. To streamline this intensive review and approval process, we've introduced an online booking tool, simplifying operations for everyone involved. The introduction of the online booking system is complemented by new RoDARS Fees, ensuring fair cost recovery for the City's traffic management services. This fee structure is designed to mitigate the impact of construction closures on traffic flow.
The City has also launched a new public-facing Road Restriction web page. This platform will offer real-time updates on construction closures, featuring an interactive map that details how these closures affect all road users, including vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians.
Additionally, starting in the second quarter of 2025, QR Code-enabled construction signs will be deployed citywide. These signs will allow residents to access detailed information about construction sites directly from their smartphones. Compliance with these signs will be mandatory from April 1st, with a fee of $306.04 levied on constructors who do not adhere to this requirement. The City ia also collaborating with CNIB on a project co-funded by OVIN to develop solutions for visually impaired individuals.
Transportation Services is exploring the possibility of exempting affordable housing projects from RoDARS fees in consultation with the Executive Directors of the Housing Secretariat and Development Review. Furthermore, Transportation Services is considering escalated fees for prolonged temporary road occupancy. These fees would help cover the costs associated with rescheduling or deferring City projects due to extended private sector use of public rights-of-way. Using data from this summer's construction season, we will refine our fee escalation strategy, with a detailed proposal expected in the fall following comprehensive analysis.
Measuring the Effectiveness of our Efforts
In 2020, Transportation Services introduced the Travel Time Index (TTI), a metric designed to gauge congestion levels in Toronto using data from a third-party vendor. This index serves as a vital tool for comparing pre- and post-pandemic congestion and evaluating the effectiveness of our congestion management strategies. For a detailed view, please refer to our Congestion Management Dashboard.
Our efforts are yielding positive results. The deployment of Traffic Agents along the King Street Priority Corridor has significantly reduced streetcar travel times by 17 to 21 minutes. Additionally, Toronto Police have issued over 300 tickets city-wide to drivers obstructing intersections, reinforcing our commitment to keeping traffic flowing smoothly.
From January 2023 to March 2025, several major construction closures, including the Queen Street closure starting in May 2023, the Adelaide construction closures beginning in November 2023, and the Gardiner - Dufferin to Strachan closure in May 2024, posed challenges, particularly in the downtown core. However, our traffic mitigation measures delivered tangible benefits, achieving travel time reductions of 10-20% in these heavily impacted areas.
The collaboration between Transportation Services and the TTC is enhancing our ability to monitor and improve travel times city-wide. We are equipping major surface street routes with advanced technology, including video analytics devices and Bluetooth readers, to measure travel times and delays at intersections affecting transit. This technology not only tracks transit delays but also identifies bylaw violations, such as unauthorized motorists in dedicated bus lanes or making prohibited turns.
The data collected informs our traffic simulation models, providing critical insights into maintaining transit reliability amid construction impacts. Furthermore, it offers a clear picture of the effectiveness of our traffic management measures, helping us refine our strategies and ensure efficient movement throughout Toronto.
