Tory takes traffic action

Dec 4, 2014 | News

Courtesy Twitter via @reporterdonpeat

Courtesy Twitter via @reporterdonpeat

By Hannah Hollingsworth

Newly elected mayor John Tory says he’s the new sheriff in town when it comes to traffic.

On his fourth day in office, Tory spoke to media in the city’s Don Mills Transportation Operations Centre alongside new Public Works Chair Jaye Robinson and outlined a six-point plan he says is designed as a quick remedy to the city’s traffic congestion issues.

The plan includes towing for cars blocking lanes on major traffic routes, starting Jan. 1. “You will be towed,” he said. “If I have to chip in and drive a tow truck myself, you will be towed.”

Tory announced he’ll chair the city’s road closure committee for the next six months in an attempt to improve the tactfulness and timing of closures.

He gave an example of the weekend shutdown of the Gardiner Expressway for routine fall maintenance although there were four home games scheduled that weekend between Toronto sports teams.

“It’s insensitive and it can’t have any part of life in Toronto,” the mayor said.

Other planned changes include re-timing 350 traffic signals in 2015 and installing 80 new traffic cameras through the next two years with a price tag of $20,000 to $30,000 apiece.

Tory’s plan also tackles construction. He promised to speed up public construction with extended work hours and attach more stringent criteria on private construction, which is responsible for many road closures.

Tory says increasing fees for private developers will “attach a real price” to the length of a construction project and encourage faster progress.

The mayor also vowed to do away with older practices such as communication for road closures by fax. There was no mention of public transit in the speech.

Torontonians are taking to Twitter to voice their opinions.