Mayor John Tory has made a promise to press city council for an extra $13 million to add to Vision Zero, Toronto's road safety plan aimed at making Toronto's streets and roads safer, and curbing traffic deaths of all kinds, especially pedestrians and cyclists.
The money would come from last year's budget surplus, which was in part generated by higher-than-expected returns from the land transfer tax.
On Friday, Tory said he will put through a motion to start a push at next week's Executive Committee meeting to bring the city's total 5-year Vision Zero investment to $100 million.
"We have to take responsibility for our collective behaviour as road users, especially drivers," Tory said. "Our city is changing fast, and our roads are shared by an increasing number of drivers, and cyclists and pedestrians."
"Drivers must pay attention. They must drive with the utmost caution to ensure the safety of cyclists and pedestrians," he added. "They are the ones who are surrounded by tons of steel."
Budget Committee Chair Gary Crawford immediately supported the move.
"It's the right thing to do and I'm going to be urging my council colleagues to support this at the next council meeting," he said.
Here are five road safety projects Tory wants to see sped up:
Public Works Committee Chair Jaye Robinson has confirmed that part of the plan involves photo radar, saying officials will be able to deploy automated speed enforcement in school and community safety zones.
She also said the city has also further accelerated the senior safety zone program and the school safety zone program.