Council approves $22 million in new spending to accelerate Vision Zero road-safety plan

Thestar.com
June 27, 2018
Jennifer Pagliaro

After a long day politicking over road safety, council has approved $22 million in new spending meant to reduce the number of accidents and deaths on Toronto’s streets.

The money, approved at a meeting Wednesday night, more than doubles the $21.3 million already budgeted for Vision Zero in 2018.

Pedestrians, cyclists and motorists all try to navigate the complicated and confusing intersection of Bay and Richmond Sts.
Pedestrians, cyclists and motorists all try to navigate the complicated and confusing intersection of Bay and Richmond Sts.  (RANDY RISLING / TORONTO STAR)

In response to pressure from the public over the number of pedestrian and cyclist deaths, Mayor John Tory’s pitch to spend $13 million to accelerate the city’s Vision Zero plan was approved unanimously after a daylong debate. The money will come from a budget surplus identified by staff.

“I am steadfast in my willingness, in my desire, in my determination to find the money and to make the investments sensibly and prudently based on the advice of our professional staff,” Tory said just ahead of the vote.

Several other motions from councillors to further increase spending for traffic calming and other measures and to look at significantly expanding the number of red-light cameras at intersections were also approved.

The vote followed ongoing criticism from members of council that Tory has been disingenuous about his commitment to the road safety plan, previously voting against items that staff say would increase road safety and a motion from Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam in 2016 to accelerate the Vision Zero plan.

Toronto Police issued more than 600 tickets to drivers during a weeklong campaign focused on the Vision Zero promise to end traffic deaths by 2021, police said Wednesday.

In March, council also deferred a plan to remake a northern section of Yonge St., including bike lanes, to a future, undetermined date. Tory, who opposed putting the bike lanes on Yonge St., supported the deferral.

“When it takes four months to approve a new traffic light at Richmond and Simcoe, this council doesn’t treat Vision Zero seriously,” said Councillor Joe Cressy on Wednesday.

“I would argue that the burden and proof in this chamber is the impact on cars as opposed to the impact on safety.”

When it came time to vote, councillors and Tory supported most of the new motions without referring them through the budget process, including one from Councillor Gord Perks to spend $500,000 in 2018 for a consultant to review and improve the way the city does road resurfacing and reconstruction projects so that safety is always considered.

A motion from Wong-Tam to spend up to an additional $4 million to accelerate Vision Zero initiatives in cultural corridors like Bloor St. was also approved.