King Street pilot project: ticketing begins for motorists who disobey traffic signs

Motorists who disobey the traffic signals for the King Street pilot project will be hit with fines and demerit points beginning on Monday.

The grace period to adapt to the new road rules on King Street has ended and motorists caught making the wrong turn or going straight through without turning in the right direction will be hit with a $110 ticket and two demerit points.

Sgt. Brett Moore of Toronto Traffic Services told Global News he’s been pleasantly surprised at how many drivers are actually following the signs.

“High rates of compliance. Of course there are folks that are not,” Moore said. “It’s a big change too. So we haven’t yet got the message to everybody. We’re working towards that goal.”

READ MORE: Toronto’s King Street pilot project: what you need to know

Another detail Moore noticed was that traffic seems to be moving well on the side roads.

“Adelaide, Richmond, Wellington and Front streets. I’ve used them all day today and things are moving quite well,” Moore said.

“You’re going to see that traffic just finds another way. Folks are quite resilient and although we’re resistant to change, they change their modes in the way they get around the city.”

The project – which launched last week and will run for a year – aims to give priority to streetcars along what is the busiest surface transit route in the city and one that has been plagued by slow travel speeds and overcrowding.

READ MORE: King Street pilot project leaves some confused, others see positive impact on transit

Vehicles are no longer allowed to drive straight through between Bathurst and Jarvis streets. Meanwhile, left-hand turns are also banned on the stretch of King Street.

Motorists are largely only permitted to drive one block before having to turn right, and there is no on-street parking in the pilot area. Taxis are allowed to travel through the intersections only between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.

READ MORE: ‘It’s a good thing’: TTC riders pleased with new King Street pilot project

According to TTC ridership statistics, the 504 King streetcar has an average daily ridership of around 65,000 people compared to 20,000 vehicles that use the street.

The TTC will prepare a full report at the project’s conclusion, which is slated to end in December 2018, and take it to their board and then city council with recommendations.

VIDEO: King street pilot project a learning curve for downtown drivers

1:44 King street pilot project a learning curve for downtown drivers

-With a file from The Canadian Press