Letter: Automated Streetcar Enforcement

In 2021, the provincial government authorized automated streetcar door enforcement for the safety of transit riders. On September 8, 2024, a woman was struck by a driver while she was exiting a streetcar. Read our letter to the TTC Board urging city councillors to implement automated enforcement on streetcars.

Dear TTC Board members,

TTCriders is a membership-based organization of transit users. We are writing to ask you to advance automated camera enforcement to prevent vehicles from illegally passing streetcars when streetcar doors open to pick up or drop off passengers.

On Sunday, September 8, 2024 the Toronto Police Services reported that a woman was struck by a driver as she was exiting a streetcar at the intersection of Bathurst and College. She was transported to hospital with non-life threatening injuries and the driver remained on scene.

The TTC Board has passed several motions over the last ten years directing staff to explore the use of cameras to prevent such collisions and ensure transit rider safety. In September 2019, the TTC adopted a motion to request the Minister of Transportation to enact amendments to the Highway Traffic Act, 1990 to permit the operation of streetcar enforcement cameras to monitor and enforce traffic violations, as well as to restate the TTC Board's previous requests about enabling auto-ticketing in transit priority lanes.

In 2021, the provincial government passed the Moving Ontarians More Safely Act, authorizing the use of an automated street car enforcement system. The TTC has not yet reported back about potential next steps to implement an automated enforcement system.

We also encourage you to request once again that the province of Ontario allow for the automated enforcement of transit priority lanes. TTC streetcars are already equipped with
forward-facing cameras. A Washington report found that camera enforcement was the most efficient way to enforce transit priority. San Francisco, New York, and London use automated camera enforcement, with New York using a mix of on-bus and stationary on-street cameras. Camera enforcement of bus lanes in New York resulted in increased bus speeds and ridership. We urge you to act quickly to keep transit users safe by implementing automated enforcement.

Sincerely,
TTCriders

Latest posts

Bradford’s budget plan could lead to more slow zones, service cuts

Toronto has spent years dealing with the consequences of underfunded public transit. Aging infrastructure, delayed repairs and subway slow zones have all placed pressure on a system that millions of Torontonians rely on. These problems cannot be fixed overnight and require sustained investment in the workers, vehicles, tracks and infrastructure that keep transit moving.

What Federal MP Candidates are promising for transit in Beaches—East York

TTCriders asked all federal MP candidates about their commitments to public transit. Read their responses to our transit policy survey and see where your candidates stand on improving public transit!

Letter: Automated Streetcar Enforcement

Latest posts

Bradford’s budget plan could lead to more slow zones, service cuts

What Federal MP Candidates are promising for transit in Beaches—East York

The TTC’s subway slow zones are back with a vengeance

Take action

Connect with us

Make a donation