Police to help combat gridlock at 10 intersections across the city

Police officers will be at 10 main intersections across the city starting on Monday as Phase 2 of Mayor John Tory’s congestion plan pushes forward.

The focus isn’t only on vehicle traffic, but pedestrians.

“Especially down by the commuter stations (police will) stop the pedestrians from crossing the street,” Tory explained. “It allows them to be safer and it allows cars to do some turning.”

The intersections in question are Queen and Bay, Front and Simcoe, Yonge and Sheppard, Front and University, University and Adelaide and Bay between Front and Bloor.

Const. Clint Stibbe said officers will not be continuously directing traffic, but rather step in to help out during congestion situations.

“They’re going to step out into traffic and manage traffic during points in which they have identified a gridlock situation developing or excessive pedestrian volumes that may be not following what the light directions are. Cyclists maybe disobeying the lights as well,” Stibbe explained.

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Tory said they have looked at the data collected from Phase 1 of the project and found that when it comes to pedestrians — more education is needed on the proper use of the countdown clocks at intersections.

“The biggest lesson is one we should have known from the beginning, and I suppose we didn’t do a good enough job conveying the message, but you’re actually not supposed to walk across a crosswalk when those numbers are counting down,” Tory said.

“I think a lot of people take it as a contest to see if they can get across and in fact that time is meant to provide for people to finish crossing the intersection and to be safe and then cars can turn at that point,” he continued.

Tory said data shows drivers are less likely to make prohibited turns or block intersections when a traffic officer is on scene.

The mayor’s long term hope is for the city to be able to hire civilians to watch over traffic, leaving police officers free to focus on other work.

“They’re more available to us and, frankly, they’re less expensive than a fully trained police officer,” Tory said. “Police officers can do their work and these people can help us with the traffic.”

However, for this to happen the province would have to pass new legislation.

The project will last until the end of October.

Last year, Tory unveiled his 6-point plan aimed at combating Toronto’s gridlock problem.

The plan included accelerating traffic signal timing, faster completion of construction projects and cracking down on street parking during rush hour.