The TTC board has officially asked the province to let it use streetcar-mounted cameras to catch drivers who blow past the vehicles’ open doors.

At a meeting Tuesday afternoon, the board passed a motion put forward by TTC chair Coun. Jaye Robinson requesting the Ontario Progressive Conservative government amend the Highway Traffic Act to permit the use of the cameras.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the meeting, Robinson said the issue was urgent in light of a passenger who was struck by a dump truck driver while exiting a streetcar on Bathurst St. on Sept. 17. The woman was injured but survived.

“Unfortunately there was an incident last week that was very alarming, and we need to act now,” Robinson said.

According to the TTC, between 2014 and 2016, 26 people were struck by either a driver or cyclist while boarding or exiting a streetcar.

Robinson said she believed the problem was more widespread than that and there were likely many unreported incidents.

“There’s a two-metre rule, and people are not obeying it,” she said, referring to provincial guidelines that dictate drivers must stop at least two metres behind the rear doors of a streetcar as passengers board or exit.

“So we can put up all the flashing lights we want, all the decals, all the signage, but if we can’t enforce, we can’t change behaviour.”

The official opposition has also taken up the cause. Tuesday morning Ontario NDP transit critic Jessica Bell held a press conference outside Bathurst station and urged Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney to act on the TTC’s request.

“Everyone in our community, including children, seniors and people with accessibility challenges, have a right to feel safe when exiting transit vehicles. Right now, our streets don’t feel very safe,” Bell, who is MPP for University-Rosedale, said in a statement.

She argued enabling traffic enforcement cameras on streetcars would be consistent with the province’s promise, made earlier this year, to regulate the use of safety cameras on school buses.

At an unrelated press conference Tuesday morning, Mulroney declined to say whether she would support the TTC’s request, saying only that she looked forward to receiving a formal communication from the board.

“Our staff will look at it and make sure it aligns with policy and safety objectives,” she said.

This isn’t the first time the TTC has requested a legislative change to allow it to catch drivers who endanger streetcar riders. The previous board chair made a similar ask of the former Ontario Liberal government in 2017 to enable the use of cameras, to no avail.

Earlier this year, the TTC activated external-facing cameras on its buses and streetcars, but the devices are only intended to help the agency investigate issues such as collisions and customer complaints, not to catch dangerous drivers.

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Robinson said the agency would likely need to install different camera technology to be able to identify drivers. It’s not clear how much it would cost.

Under the Highway Traffic Act, improperly passing a streetcar is an offence that carries a fine of $110 and three demerit points, according to Toronto Police.