Watch above: Should traffic lanes in Toronto be narrowed? Mark Carcasole reports.
TORONTO – Toronto’s transportation services department is planning to shrink the city’s traffic lanes in a bid to improve road safety and reduce congestion.
A report in The Globe and Mail on Tuesday says city staff have recently finalized a new policy for lane widths which will range from 3 to 4.3 metres.
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Stephen Buckley, general manager of the city’s transportation services department, tells the newspaper the city’s goal is to reduce the speed of traffic which will in turn make more room for cyclists and wider sidewalks for pedestrians.
Buckley also says the slower traffic will be mitigated by enhanced signal schedules, which will get vehicles moving quicker through intersections.
Depending on how busy the street or roadway is, the narrow lanes can mean additional space for bicycle lanes, installing centre medians, additional parking spaces, or new left turn lanes.
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Traffic congestion has been a top priority for residents and a major platform issue during the recent municipal election.
Mayor-elect John Tory has vowed to beef up traffic enforcement rules and get delivery vehicles to stop less during rush hour in downtown Toronto.
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