Local vehicle decals inconsistent with an 'inclusive city,' says report (

Torontosun.com
January 8, 2020
Bryan Passifiume

It may require more than a proper signal to turn on to some city streets.

A report from city staff has thrown cold water on a proposal to restrict all but local traffic on certain neighbourhood roads, via decals affixed to cars belonging to local residents.

The proposal came from Ward 43 Councillor Paul Ainslie, who cited concerns over traffic volumes and speeding by drivers using local roads as shortcuts to bypass congested thoroughfares.

“While turn prohibitions and traffic calming measures assist in addressing the motor vehicle short-cutting through communities, some local residents feel penalized,” Ainslie said in a letter.

“A simple sticker affixed to the vehicle would alert traffic enforcement to allow residents to access their community.”

A report on the proposal was requested by one of the city’s committees. In Thursday’s report, municipal officials expressed concern over unequal access to public roads under such a program.

“Similar to other traffic bylaws, turn prohibitions apply equally to all road users,” the report stated.

“The proposal to exempt local residents from certain traffic bylaws through a vehicle identification program would create an unequal level of access to public infrastructure.”

This, says the report, conflicts with the city’s “quality of life, which is diverse, equitable and inclusive.”

Neither Toronto Police nor the city’s transportation department support local vehicle decals.

Determining what constitutes “local traffic” is another concern.

“Each neighbourhood within the city is unique and not all people will define a neighbourhood or ‘local’ traffic as being the same thing,” the reports reads.

Assuming similar costs to existing street permit parking, a city-wide decal program would cost anywhere between $6-million if a quarter of city-registered vehicles participated, to upwards of $18-million if three-quarters took part -- not including start-up costs, administration or new signs.

Then there’s the issue of enforcement.

In November, the Toronto Police Service Board was told the police force lacks officers dedicated to traffic enforcement, and front-line patrol units spend their shifts going from one radio call to another.

Enforcing turn violations, the report says, are considered low priority -- complicated by anticipated exemptions for delivery or service vehicles which have a need to enter neighbourhoods.