MoveTO - The City's Plan to Combat Congestion

Traffic congestion is a major issue in Ward 15 and across the City of Toronto. In 2013, the C.D. Howe Institute estimated that gridlock could be costing our City up to $11 billion a year in lost productivity. At City Hall, I have repeatedly pushed to advance our Congestion Management Plan (CMP) to better manage gridlock, improve traffic flow, and promote road safety through new policies, programs, and technologies.

Last month, the City launched MoveTO, an updated CMP comprised of five strategies, for implementation in 2021:

• "Smart" Traffic Signals that automatically adjust signal timing based on traffic demand.

• "Intelligent" Intersections that improve pedestrian and cyclist safety at intersections through the implementation of leading pedestrian intervals and extended walk times.

• Advanced Transit Signal Priority that detects buses running behind schedule and extends green light times when necessary to improve surface-level transit on key TTC corridors.

• Continuation of the Construction Hub Pilot Program which manages traffic and reduces congestion caused by constriction around work zones, improves communication with local communities, and enhances safety. As you may know, Toronto's first-ever Construction Hub Pilot was implemented in the Yonge-Eglinton neighbourhood in response to significant advocacy from the local community.

• Transportation Demand Strategy that builds on the existing Smart Commute program to streamline workplace commutes and identify site-specific strategies to combat unique, localized congestion issues.

As a City, we must continue to identify opportunities to alleviate congestion and improve travel times on our streets. The innovative infrastructure solutions included in the MoveTO program are a step toward improving the efficiency and functionality of Toronto's transportation system.

You can find more information about MoveTO in the staff report.