Toronto expands Traffic Agents Program to increase road safety

A total of 30 Traffic Agents are budgeted to be deployed this year.

The program employs traffic agents at the city's key intersections during the morning and afternoon peak traffic periods to ensure all road users comply with traffic laws and regulations including clearing roads for emergency services, public transit and assisting with traffic management during events or road closures.

A total of 14 traffic agents – including 11 new employees – will be placed based on evolving traffic demands and deploying one or two agents to a single location depending on the size and complexity of an intersection.

While continuing to observe traffic volumes and peak traffic times, Toronto is in the process of hiring additional agents to reach the full approved complement for 2023 and training and deploying them as quickly as possible.

Successfully piloted in 2016, the traffic agent program was responsible, during the pilot period, for at least a 90 percent reduction in blocked intersections and a 70 percent reduction in blockage of intersections by pedestrians.

The Toronto Police Service (TPS) is also supporting the traffic agents program on a six-month pilot basis by assigning Police and Special Constables to strategic intersections during peak traffic periods this spring and summer.

While on-duty resources will reportedly not be used for the pilot project, up to 20 Special Constables and Police Constables per day can find staff locations on a call-back basis during rush hour, with some assignments on weekends.

Current TPS members with Special Constable designation with specific Highway Traffic Act training in traffic direction have the authority and ability to perform traffic direction assignments.

Traffic direction is a component of special constable new hires, including in-class and practical training.

As part of MoveTO, the Traffic Agents program is aligned with the City’s Vision Zero Road Safety Plan.

Using piloted and proven techniques and technologies, MoveTO manages vehicle, pedestrian and cyclist traffic along key corridors and intersections in Toronto.

Other actions by the City of Toronto include Smart traffic signals, Intelligent Intersections, Advanced Transit Signal Priority (ATSP), and The Construction Hubs Program

City staff are working closely with MLSE, Rogers and other partners to establish Event Traffic Management Zones that comprise major venue blocks such as the Rogers Centre, Scotiabank Arena, the CN Tower and Exhibition Place grounds.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)