Item - 2012.HL13.1

The Board of Health:

1.         Referred the following Recommendation 1(a)(i) in the report (April 16, 2012) from the Medical Officer of Health to the Medical Officer of Health and the General Manager of Transportation Services to jointly examine specific approaches to enhance pedestrian and cycling safety and to report back to the Board of Health on the possibility of a pilot program, including measures identified in this report, such as reduced speed limits, traffic calming, safer intersections, etc. in selected residential neighbourhoods, as identified through public outreach and consultation and an evaluation of public safety and transportation needs:

"1.        The Medical Officer of Health work in collaboration with the General Manager of Transportation Services to support the increased us and safety of walking and cycling by:

a.         Enhancing the implementation of Toronto's active transportation initiatives such as the City’s Walking Strategy and Bike Plan based on measures identified in this report, including:

i.          Reducing vehicle speed limits to 30 km/hr on residential streets and adopting a city-wide speed limit of 40 km/hr on all other streets, unless otherwise posted;"

2.         Requested the Medical Officer of Health to work in collaboration with the General Manager of Transportation Services to support the increased use and safety of walking and cycling by:

a.         Enhancing the implementation of Toronto's active transportation initiatives such as the City’s Walking Strategy and Bike Plan based on measures identified in this report, including:

ii.         Installing leading pedestrian signal intervals and markings for cyclists (such as bicycle boxes);

b.         Using the findings in the report to inform cycling and pedestrian studies/undertakings, and to set goals and targets for active transportation safety and mode shares;

c.         Increasing investments in pedestrian and cycling infrastructure that increases safety; and

d.         Working with other Greater Toronto Area municipalities and Metrolinx to develop an Active Transportation network.

3.         Forwarded the report (April 16, 2012) from the Medical Officer of Health to the Chief Planner and Executive Director of City Planning to support Official Plan policies and inform all planning studies in areas of Toronto with low bike-ability and walk ability.

4.         Requested the Ontario Ministers of Health and Long-Term Care, Transportation, Infrastructure, Municipal Affairs and Housing and the Environment as well as the federal Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and the Minister of State (Transport) to support coordinated federal and provincial active transportation strategies that include:

a.         Providing long-term, dedicated funding to municipalities for building walking and cycling infrastructure; and

b.         Strengthening the Planning Act Provincial Policy Statement on active transportation to emphasize the need for connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists, as part of municipal transportation systems.

5.         Forwarded the report (April 16, 2012) from the Medical Officer of Health to Metrolinx, the Ontario Minister of Education, the Directors of Education of the Toronto District School Board and Toronto Catholic District School Board, Conseil scolaire Viamonde and Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud to encourage and support their collaboration in achieving the regional and municipal active transportation goal in The Big Move for schools (i.e., 60% of children in Toronto and walking or cycling to school by 2033).

6.         Forwarded this report to:

a.         The Chief Coroner of Ontario, the Ontario Public Health Association (OPHA), the Urban Public Health Network,  the Heart and Stroke Foundations of Canada and Ontario, the Canadian Diabetes Association, the Ontario Medical Association (OMA), and the Ontario Lung Association;

b.         The Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI), Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP), the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI), and the Cities Centre at University of Toronto;

c.         The Toronto Police Services Board, Toronto Board of Trade, Conference Board of Canada,   the Toronto Transit Commission, the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA), Transportation Association of Canada, Canadian Institute for Transportation Engineers, Greater Toronto Area Clean Air Council, Toronto Centre for Active Transportation, Toronto  Cyclists Union; and

d.         The City Manager; the General Manager of Toronto Employment and Social Services; the General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of Toronto Community Housing Corporation; the Director of the Toronto Environment Office and the Executive Director of Social Development, Finance and Administration.