

Codi Wilson, CP24.com





You will soon see Toronto police officers managing traffic at some of the busiest intersections across the city.

Mayor John Tory told reporters Monday morning that as part of a pilot project that begins on June 13, “traffic assistant personnel” will be placed at eight key intersections at peak times to help improve the flow of traffic as well as pedestrian and cyclist safety.

Officers will be deployed to the following locations:

•Bay Street and Queen Street

• Front Street and Simcoe Street

• Lake Shore Boulevard Parklawn Road

• Sheppard Avenue and Yonge Street

• Front Street and University Avenue

• Bay Street and Bloor Street

• University Avenue and Adelaide Street

• Bay Street from Bloor Street to Front Street

The city says the move is part of the second phase of its congestion management plan.

The pilot will run during four weeks in the summer and four weeks in the fall.

The program, the city says, is similar to ones used in New York City and Vancouver.

“We simply cannot continue on this way. We will be building lots of transit. We have a plan like no other before and we are going to get the transit built but we will still have traffic and I am determined to use every tool at our disposal from good old fashion police officers directing traffic to the latest technology in order to get traffic moving better,” Tory said during a news conference at the intersection of Yonge Street and Sheppard Avenue Monday.

“I am determined to ensure as soon as possible that we have the necessary legal clarification to use non police officers to do this work both so that we can move ahead and do it and unblock these intersections and keep people safe in these busy intersections, and also so that police officers can be better deployed on other kinds of police work.”