Item - 2016.PW11.11

The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council request the Toronto Police Services Board to:

a.  Provide a report to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee on the criteria and policies applied for crossing guards throughout the City of Toronto to better understand the process and associated data applied to determine both the placement and removal of a crossing guard on our local streets; and

b.  The report to include suggested improvements to the policy to address the increased number of requests made to City of Toronto Councillors for the implementation of crossing guards within their Municipal Wards.

Crossing Guards have been a stable in many communities guiding area children walk to their local schools.  Over the years my residents have noted a decline in the number of crossing guards in the community and have been requesting that they be reinstated.

Community Crossing Guards build trusting relationships in our local neighbourhoods by safely ensuring that children properly cross with the assurance that vehicles will stop.  The assistance from Crossing Guards also educates the children on the time they are allocated to cross the street, reducing accidents.

Recently, there have been a number of requests for Crossing Guards in my Ward that have been rejected by the Toronto Police Services.  Locations where traffic volumes are high and the avenues to cross are four lanes in width.  In an effort to address this safety matter I believe a review of the policies and procedures applied for determining if a Crossing Guard is warranted or discontinued requires review.