Item - 2019.TE8.88

The Toronto and East York Community Council requested:

1. Relevant City staff to report on the development of a comprehensive Construction Traffic Safety Management Plan with the specific focus on trying to mitigate construction traffic infiltration on city side streets and in proximity to the Eglinton Crosstown in Ward 8, as per the following:

a. Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Plan for all major construction sites in the Yonge-Eglinton 

     area;

b. The need for Safe City Driving training for all heavy construction truck drivers in this area;

c. Full-time pedestrian crossing guards on site at all major construction projects, paid for by developers, in the Yonge- Eglinton area;

d. Install full-time Crossing Personnel at all intersections on Yonge Street from Castlefield Avenue to the Kay Gardner Beltline Trail, paid for by developers;

e. Immediate implementation of a Construction Traffic Safety Management for the Yonge-Eglinton area; and

f. The need for a Toronto Police Traffic Division and parking enforcement;

2. The City Manager to request Metrolinx not to reduce sidewalk width on Yonge Street to accommodate Construction Stage 8 for the Crosstown LRT project. 

Traffic safety in the Yonge-Eglinton community has been a concern for many years due to the pressure of increasing intensification. Local roads and sidewalks were designed for small-scale residential homes, not large condo developments. The conflict between heavy construction vehicles and crowded streets tragically claimed another pedestrian in our community recently.

The recommendations in conjunction with other needed Vision Zero initiatives, need to be implemented now to help protect residents in the Yonge-Eglinton area