By Al Ruggero
Positive changes are on the horizon for our roads and intersections, with safety taking centre stage in future infrastructure projects. As part of the City of Toronto’s Vision Zero Road Safety Plan, most major road construction will now be guided by engineering standards designed to significantly reduce traffic-related injuries and fatalities.
At the heart of this initiative is a focus on protecting the most vulnerable road users—pedestrians, children, seniors, and cyclists. The plan is data-driven and targeted, incorporating proven safety measures such as:
• Widened sidewalks for greater pedestrian space
• Tactile walking surface indicators at intersections to aid the visually impaired
• Removal of pedestrian-hazardous traffic islands
• Improved intersection design and turning radii
Recent engineering updates include the introduction of mountable curbs to help reduce the turning radius for trucks, encouraging slower and safer right turns. Other vehicles will also be required to take sharper right turns at intersections—part of a design aimed at minimizing turning speeds. Additionally, new medians are planned to serve both as pedestrian safety islands and as a traffic-calming measure to prevent lane drifting and reduce speeding.
While not all road users will welcome these changes—particularly commercial truck drivers, who will need to adjust to the redesigned roadways—the City remains firmly committed to the Vision Zero mandate: traffic fatalities and serious injuries are preventable, and the goal is to reduce them to zero.
The Emery Village BIA is involved in project planning and discussions for the repaving of Weston Road from Steeles Avenue to just south of Finch Avenue West. This project will incorporate several Vision Zero design elements, bringing upgrades to intersections, curbs, and driveways.
We believe that initiatives which renew and revitalise our streets while enhancing safety are not just improvements—they’re essential investments in our community’s future.
Construction is expected to begin next year—look to this space for updates.