TTC upload bill passes, new rules for drivers too

Torontosun.com
June 5, 2019
Antonella Artuso

The Ontario Legislature has passed a bill that paves the way for the province to upload new TTC subway lines.

The bill prohibits the City of Toronto from designing, developing, constructing or working on any rapid transit project that now falls under the province’s authority.

The province is still negotiating with the city over the possible upload of existing subway lines.

The wide-ranging Getting Ontario Moving Act will also impact motorists directly, making it easier to convict drivers who pass stopped school buses with lights flashing using evidence from stop-arm cameras.

Transportation Minister Jeff Yurek said he expects the bill to be proclaimed into law shortly, but many of the changes for drivers won’t be in place for several months.

“We’re just going to take the summer to get this right and make sure we can … improve the safety of people on the roads,” Yurek said.

“Our (110 km/hr) speed pilot will start in September.”

Slow pokes in the passing lanes now risk a minimum fine of $150 and as much as $1,000 under this bill.

Driving instructors will need to maintain a zero blood alcohol concentration and have no drugs in their system when on the job, with an exception for drugs that they are legally authorized to use or are for medical purposes.

A new fine of $200 to $1,000, and possible imprisonment of up to six months, can apply to anyone found guilty of damaging or destroying a traffic sign or light, barricade, notice or detour sign.