Traffic is always on our minds here in Toronto. If it feels like it’s at an all-time high right now, it’s not just your imagination. Toronto is North America’s busiest city for construction. Our congestion crisis is being exacerbated by rapid growth, infrastructure renewal, and transit expansion. All those things are part of life in a growing city, so how do we deal with the resulting traffic? That brings me to today’s E-Blast topic: Toronto’s Congestion Management Plan.
The Congestion Management Plan has been in place for a year now, and its aim is to tackle congestion on every front. It uses a mix of traditional and innovative strategies, along with a healthy dose of common sense. Let’s take a look at the steps the City is taking to reduce congestion and how we can help as drivers.
Construction: The Source of Congestion
Toronto’s construction boom really does lie at the heart of our traffic problem. Whether it’s housing developments, transit expansions, road resurfacings, or other projects, the resulting lane and road closures make navigating the city a real challenge.
The Congestion Management Plan Update prepared for this Council session reveals that nearly half of road closures in 2023 were the result of City-led infrastructure projects as we catch up on long-deferred state of good repair work. The plan in place requires that staff thoroughly consider the timing of a project and ensure that any disruptions to major routes happen for the shortest duration possible.
While the City accounted for the greatest number of road closures, Provincial transit developer Metrolinx accounted for the longest duration of road closures throughout 2023 and 2024 due to projects like the Eglinton Crosstown, Ontario Line, and Scarborough Subway. We want to make sure these projects proceed as efficiently as possible, and at the same time we want to minimize disruptions to traffic. City staff are bringing these lane closure concerns to Metrolinx for greater action and coordination.
It's essential that our approach to managing congestion is proactive, not just reactive. The Congestion Management Plan uses a new Strategic Capital Coordination Office (SCCO) to deliver better sequencing of capital projects and avoid unnecessary overlap. This will be especially crucial as Ontario Line work continues. The SCCO has had early success managing work along King Street, which finished 10 weeks ahead of schedule. I look forward to seeing this new office continue to deliver more efficient construction coordination for the city in the months ahead.
Managing Special Events and Neighborhood Mobility
Beyond construction, special events have surged in Toronto in the past couple of years. Festivals, marathons, and fundraisers do a lot to strengthen the city’s vitality, but there has to be coordination. The City is developing a new framework to review and approve event permits that will weigh the positive impact of the event against its impact on traffic and public resources.
The Congestion Management Plan also proposes utilizing a traffic simulation model powered by artificial intelligence to show the impact of special event road closures. I know it might sound a bit spooky and futuristic, but it will allow us to plan for these events more accurately and objectively. The City aims to roll out this system by 2025, which should immediately improve how we manage the congestion that comes with special events.
Congestion Management Comes at a Cost
The City will also be introducing a new congestion management levy for developers and private contractors. This levy will apply to road, sidewalk, and boulevard closures caused by construction, and the charges will be based on the location and duration of the closures. This will incentivize private companies to design their projects in a way that results in the lowest possible fees, minimizing the amount of time they occupy the right-of-way.
As a trade-off for the new fees, the City will introduce a Road Disruption Activity Reporting System (RoDARS). This new digital permit system aims to reduce conflicts and streamline road occupancy applications.
This new levy creates a system where those who contribute to road closures—whether developers or utility companies—are responsible for covering the municipal costs of the traffic disruptions they cause. That reduces the burden on taxpayers for the whole of the Congestion Management Plan. The City is also allowing contractors to work extended hours and utilize technology to better manage project timelines in an effort to speed up their work and further reduce traffic impacts.
Enhancing Public Awareness and Compliance
The first year of the Congestion Management Plan saw parking fines increase across the board. To further change driver behaviour, fines for key traffic infractions are increasing. For example, the penalty for stopping on a signed highway during rush hour will be raised from $190 to $300. This is part of a broader strategy to improve compliance with the traffic regulations that have the biggest impact on congestion, particularly at critical times of day.
The City is planning to launch educational initiatives in collaboration with Toronto Police Services, starting with warnings before escalating to fines. I support this warning-first approach because I know that a warning from an enforcement office can be very impactful. If you’ve been complaining about congestion and then hear from a police officer that you’re part of the problem, that’s a helluva wake up call.
Automated Enforcement and Traffic Management
In the same vein, the City is exploring new uses for automated enforcement to improve traffic flow. These include fixed cameras and dashcam systems. They’ll be used to address infractions like blocking intersections, occupying bike lanes, and driving in dedicated bus lanes. We’re even exploring mounting cameras on TTC buses and City vehicles, following a successful program in New York City that used bus-mounted cameras to significantly reduce traffic violations. It’s high time we tested the viability of new technologies to reduce congestion and ensure compliance with road rules.
We have also started a very successful Toronto Traffic Agent Program. In partnership with Toronto Police Services and our Transportation department, these agents are already managing intersections and keeping traffic flowing during peak times in the downtown core. We hope to expand this program further once we clear some legislative hurdles with the Province. I can already think of a few intersections here in North York that could benefit from a Traffic Agent’s supervision.
A Balanced Approach to a Complex Problem
The reality is that congestion can never be entirely eliminated in a growing city like Toronto, but it can be mitigated. By improving coordination, embracing technological solutions, and holding private contractors accountable, City staff are doing everything they can to ease the daily burden on Torontonians while allowing the city to continue to grow and thrive.
I also have to add that we, as drivers, can make a big difference. Our behaviour matters. Blocking intersections or racing to the front of an on- or off-ramp is never worth it for the cost to other drivers. We need to be considerate of everyone on the road and do our part to reduce congestion. This also means looking at opportunities to leave the car at home when we can, or use it for just part of our journey. Often times, a trip downtown can be a lot less painful and less expensive if we hop on the subway or GO train.
There’s no single solution to our traffic problem, but all of these measures work together to make meaningful improvements to congestion in our city. Rest assured City staff will continue to find innovative solutions to keep Toronto moving as smoothly as possible.