Beefed up road safety plan approved by city hall committee

Toronto's first detailed, city-wide plan to make streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists got the green light from the public works and infrastructure committee Monday with a few extras added for those who felt the original didn't go far enough.

Mayor John Tory's original Road Safety Plan had been criticized by some for its target of a 20 per cent reduction in casualties within the-five year life of the plan.

He has since said he's aiming for no road casualties at all, and on Monday, public works chair Coun.Jaye Robinson (Ward 25 Don Valley West) put that new goal in writing, with an amendment to the plan.

"Our only goal can only be zero," she said. "There is no acceptable level of fatalities in this city."

Bigger budget proposed

Another of her amendments to increase city funding of the plan, so its goals can be achieved sooner than the five-year mark also passed Monday, although it includes no dollar figure.

The current plan is budgeted at $68 million over five years.The amended versiongoes to city council for final approval next month.

It's built on five pillars: measures aimed at reducing death and serious injury amongst pedestrians, cyclists, schoolchildren and seniorsand it pays special attention to curbing distracted drivers.

To accomplish those goals, the planincludes lower speed limits on major streets all over the city, much stiffer fines for infractions, re-aligning roads in some neighbourhoodsand increased signage, particularly in school zones.

'This is not a light report'

"It's a very exciting moment for our city. We're moving in the right direction," Robinson said. "Is it perfect? Absolutely not.

"It's also a living document that will evolve and develop over time."

To those who suggest the plan is too light on details, Robinson said the plan spells out40 programs that spell outspecific measures to make streets safer.

"So for those who are saying it's a light report, I'm not buying what you're selling. This is not a light report," she said.