Photo from John Matychuk on Unsplash
Traffic calming is the deliberate slowing of motorized traffic by making physical changes to the street design such as adding speed humps or narrowing lanes. Traffic calming has been proven to reduce collisions in both number and severity, yet implementation in Toronto occurs on a project-by-project basis which is time-consuming and confusing. In May 2018, City Council delegated authority of Community Councils to waive onerous petition and polling requirements, yet barriers to implementation remain. Restrictive technical warrants and a model that is based on a reactive, complaints-driven process continue to impede the implementation of traffic calming initiatives across the city. Toronto needs to continue to reform and streamline its traffic calming process to be implemented equitably across all wards.
