Councillor calls for changes on Dufferin St. following cyclist death
A downtown councillor is pushing for the city to speed up consideration of road safety measures on Dufferin Street after the death of a young woman there last week.
Coun. Ana Bailao (Ward 9, Davenport) wrote to constituents Wednesday saying she had submitted a motion to the Dec. 16 meeting of council that asks staff to expedite the review or implementation of measures like red light cameras, speed enforcement cameras and traffic signals on Dufferin.
The motion, which is seconded by Mayor John Tory, asks staff to speed up and co-ordinate traffic studies on the street, including a review of a potential TTC bus priority route that is already in progress, and ensure any changes on the corridor protect cyclists and pedestrians.
The motion also requests an assessment on the connectivity of existing cycling routes on Lappin, Hallam and Lindsey Avenues, and asks Toronto Hydro to review street lighting on Dufferin.
Bailao told constituents some of the work was already underway but she wants the city to move more quickly.
Her motion follows the death of Alex Amaro, 23, who was struck by two drivers while riding her bike on Dufferin near Sylvan Avenue on the evening of Dec. 2.
Sylvan is one of five intersections listed in the motion as a potential or future site of traffic lights along with Lindsey, Geary, Goodwood and Cloverlawn Avenues.
“Dufferin Street is one of the most heavily travelled roadways in the city with buses, cyclists, pedestrians and motor vehicles sharing a relatively small and congested street,” reads the preamble to the motion, which says the street has daily twoway traffic volumes of about 35,000 vehicles.
“Cyclist and pedestrian safety is a paramount concern which requires further expedited attention.”