Send this page to someone via email

WATCH: Mayor John Tory’s rush hour gridlock enforcement crackdown is now in effect.

TORONTO – Mayor John Tory’s plan to crackdown on gridlock during rush hour in downtown Toronto has prompted Canada Post to change its mail and parcel delivery operations.

A statement issued by Canada Post indicates that beginning Jan. 5, trucks will shift its stop-times to off-peak hours between 1– 3 p.m. and again after 7:00 p.m. where possible.

Also starting Jan. 5, mail and parcel pick-up at corporate and franchise post offices in the downtown core will now occur between 1 p.m and 3 p.m.

READ MORE: Toronto’s rush hour gridlock crackdown begins

On Jan 12, Canada Post will implement later pick-up times for street letter boxes on major arteries in the designated area.

Story continues below advertisement

“We also understand that our own delivery vehicles contribute to traffic congestion,” Canada Post said in a media release.

“To help reduce traffic congestion and gridlock in the downtown core, we recognize that changes to operating procedures must be made by everyone who serves the downtown core.”

READ MORE: What to do if you suspect your car has been towed

Canada Post says it is in the process of conducting a review of its pick-up and delivery operations in the downtown core to design a plan to further alleviate the congestion.

“We have started the review of the activities that Canada Post doesn’t control directly such as delivery (including large volume receivers) and pick-ups (both on-demand and scheduled),” the statement said.

READ MORE: John Tory unveils 6-point plan to tackle gridlock in Toronto

“Those changes will likely require adjustments from our customers: mailroom hours, drop off/pick up locations, pick up times, different mode of delivery.”

Mayor Tory, who applauded the move on Monday, says his zero tolerance policy on traffic enforcement is one part of a six-point plan to tackle the city’s congestion problem.

“I want to commend them. They have taken the initiative to change the clearing time for downtown so their vehicles don’t have to be on streets during rush hour,” Tory said.