Markham council on Wednesday endorsed the city's Vision Zero road safety plan and approved spending $896,297 in provincial money on safety improvements in 16 school zones.
The money comes from Ontario's Road Safety Initiatives Fund, which the city has received as interim funding. Council directed that it be used in the 16 school safety zones the director of engineering had identified for automated speed enforcement, with priority for spots with significant safety concerns.
Camera revenue never came
When the plan went to the development services committee on Feb. 3, councillors asked whether money previously set aside alongside speed cameras could go to other safety measures. Treasurer Joseph Silva told them that funding depended on camera revenue that never materialized because the program was cancelled at the provincial level, according to the committee minutes.
Council also authorized engineering staff to apply for more Road Safety Initiatives Fund money as it becomes available and allowed the treasurer to adjust the capital budget if more arrives. Carrying out the rest of the plan will depend on resources, including outside grants and future budgets.
What councillors raised
The plan was prepared with consultants from CIMA+. At committee, members raised concerns about safety around schools at drop-off and pick-up times. Staff said bylaw officers are taking a proactive approach in school zones and issuing tickets through the city's administrative penalty system, and that school safety zone guidelines are being developed with local school boards.
Some councillors were wary of lifting Markham's 2010 moratorium on speed humps and other vertical traffic calming, which has been in place because of its effect on emergency vehicles and snow clearing. The committee deferred that question and asked staff to return to its March 3 meeting with comments from fire services and operations staff and updated data on such measures. Staff also said they had considered a pilot to keep flexible candlestick markers in place year-round, as some neighbouring municipalities do, but believe that would significantly affect winter operations.
Concerns about regional roads also came up. Staff said they continue to work with York Region, which has its own Vision Zero Traveller Safety Plan, and that the region has been invited to present its capital plan to council. The plan will be circulated to York Region, York Regional Police, local school boards and the Ministry of Transportation.
Jumpstart project at Wismer Park
In other business, council endorsed a plan to work with Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities on a project at Wismer Park, with the city's share capped at an estimated $2 million and funded through development charges. Staff can now finalize a list of prequalified bidders to speed up the tender.
