Driving MoveSmart into its fourth year

Significant progress on this vital strategy is improving road safety in Vaughan 

Just three years in and the City of Vaughan’s progressive MoveSmart Mobility Management Strategy is already transforming Vaughan’s transportation system by improving road safety and furthering active and sustainable travel initiatives to help meet existing and evolving transportation needs.

This one-of-a-kind, holistic strategy – best known as MoveSmart – was developed in response to Vaughan’s population growth and increase in travel demand in our growing community. And significant progress is being made, with the City advancing 22 of the 29 initiatives in 2023! 

The annual MoveSmart update was shared with Vaughan Council at the Committee of the Whole (Working Session) on March 6, 2024, with further details outlined in this staff report. 

Here is an overview of some of the projects completed or underway and the next steps the City will take in 2024:

Road Safety Program

The Road Safety Program is designed to create a culture of safety for all road users through partnerships and education. Elements of the program include: 

• Corridor Reviews: In 2023, six Corridor Reviews were undertaken to analyze existing and future transportation planning and mobility infrastructure needs. These reviews identified road safety opportunities for those who walk, cycle, take transit or drive within each area. 
• Speed Limit Policy: The City further reduced speeds in five blocks and 15 streets throughout Vaughan’s streets and continues to identify areas where reduced speeds will be implemented.
• The Neighbourhood Traffic Calming Plan: In 2023, traffic calming measures were piloted in five neighbourhoods across Vaughan. Examples of these measures include radar message boards that support customized messaging, in-road flexible posts and silhouettes, pavement markings, curb extensions and temporary rubber speed cushions.
• Neighbourhood traffic studies: The City continues undertaking in-depth road safety reviews to identify opportunities for improvement. These reviews allow the City to prioritize community needs and recommend additional road safety measures and changes to traffic operations and future street designs. 
• York Region’s Traveller Safety Plan: A multi-agency collaboration encouraging continued innovation in road safety. Recognizing the individual needs and conditions of local partners, the Traveller Safety Plan will establish processes for sharing resources and supporting growth across the region, establish evidence-based decision-making practices, adopt advanced technologies, and establish proactive programs, policies and guidelines that collectively have the highest impact on road safety.
• Automated Speed Enforcement: An Automated Speed Enforcement program is anticipated to launch in Vaughan later this year. The program will include 10 mobile speed cameras (two per ward), which will be rotated on a set schedule. Locations will be selected using a data-driven approach.
• Neighbourhood Traffic Calming Plan: The City is updating the Neighbourhood Traffic Committee Policy and Procedures. This update includes a toolbox of traffic calming measures specifically designed for streets in Vaughan. The revised policy will be presented to Council later this year.
• Construction Management and Work Zone Safety Plan: A comprehensive plan is under development with local partners using a phased approach to increase information sharing and develop safety protocols in construction zones and during city-building projects to ensure workers and the community remain safe.

Mobility Management Program

The Mobility Management Program uses innovative technology to modernize the City’s traffic signal system and ensure pedestrians, cyclists and vehicle traffic continue to travel safely and efficiently. The program contains:

• Intelligent Transportation System Strategy and Plan: The City initiated procurement of an Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) and equipment upgrades, which will monitor and control Vaughan’s 100 traffic signals and signalized pedestrian crossings. This system allows the City to integrate new smart mobility technologies and co-ordinate with York Region’s system. 
• Traffic Signal Control System and Upgrades: The City has completed two rounds of inspections at 100 traffic signals. Staff continue procurement of the ATMS and upgrades to traffic signal equipment in the field.
• Curbside Parking Management Plan: The Transportation and Fleet Management Services department is supporting By-law and Compliance, Licensing and Permit Services with a Parking Management Strategy. This includes curbside management, which seeks to optimize and manage curb space to maximize mobility, safety and access for the growing variety of curb demands within the city. 

Sustainable Mobility Program

The Sustainable Mobility Program supports the planning and development of environmentally friendly modes of transportation for all road users. Elements of the program include: 

• Safer School Zones Plan: The plan will identify key traffic operations concerns impacting active school travel. It will also lead to recommendations for school zone infrastructure improvements and ways to make the City’s Active School Travel program more accessible and attractive. The plan will include policies and guidelines that address parking, speeding, traffic circulation, pedestrian and cycling access, and other issues that typically impact elementary and secondary schools.
• Community Safety Zone Policy: In December 2023, Council endorsed the City’s Community Safety Zones Policy. In 2024, 104 Community Safety Zones will be implemented throughout Vaughan.
• Pedestrian Infrastructure Enhancement Plan: A detailed framework will inform the selection of suitable pedestrian crossing treatments based on provincial guidelines and municipal best practices, including design standards for pedestrian crossovers. The City has established a Technical Advisory Committee to provide critical input in developing guidelines, inform current and future state requirements and advance pedestrian mobility access and connectivity.
• Travel Demand Management Plan: The City’s Travel Demand Management Plan will focus on how people travel throughout Vaughan. It will aim to influence behaviour through programs, policies and communications to reduce vehicle trips (particularly during periods of high demand) and promote transit, ridesharing, walking, biking and telework, where feasible.
• Cycling Network Expansion: On-going support of Vaughan’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan, which will enhance existing cycling infrastructure and support the introduction of new cycling facilities across the city.

Traffic Data Management Program

The Traffic Data Management Program allows the City to expand on the traffic data collected, optimize the efficiency and timeliness of the data, and enable data analysis tools and techniques. It includes: 

• Network Screening: In 2023, Networking Screening was advanced to work in parallel with York Region’s Traveller Safety Plan. This collaboration provides a system-wide approach to road safety, which includes analyzing recent collisions, traffic and infrastructure data to develop prediction models. This proactive approach ensures resources are efficiently allocated, maximizing safety improvements across the road network and contributing to a safer and more secure transportation environment.
• Transportation Engineering Software: The Transportation Engineering Software is a cloud-based and centralized traffic data system implemented to help advance analytics and data sharing between York Region and all local municipalities. Data is easily stored and maintained for reporting and analysis, which improves response times for decision-making in focus areas.
• Transportation Planning Data Management Strategy: A Transportation Planning Data Management Strategy is being developed in collaboration with the Infrastructure Planning and Capital Asset Management department to modernize and prioritize data collection and mapping. The plan will identify actions needed to establish a high-quality, multi-modal program that can monitor the progress of various assets and programs, such as MoveSmart and the 2023 Vaughan Transportation Plan. It will assess the overall operational health of the City’s transportation system and allow for more data-based decision-making, enhancing Vaughan’s ability to grow towards a Smart City with new data collection and management technologies.

To stay informed on MoveSmart project plans and updates, visit vaughan.ca/MoveSmart.

QUOTES

“At the City of Vaughan, one of our key priorities is to get our city moving, and, with direction from strategic initiatives like MoveSmart and the Action Plan to Fight Traffic Gridlock, we’re making significant progress! The MoveSmart Strategy reinforces our commitment to advancing transportation and mobility, while enhancing road safety and supporting sustainable active transportation options like cycling and walking. I want to recognize our Public Works teams, who are dedicated to ensuring our City runs smoothly and our residents stay safe. Their achievements continue to receive national recognition for innovative thinking, new best practices and a commitment to delivering Service Excellence. Together, we will continue to build the safest, most efficient transportation system in Canada.”

• Mayor Steven Del Duca

“The City of Vaughan is paving the way for an efficient, reliable, safe and sustainable transportation system for all road users in our growing city. Whether it’s engaging with the public on a traffic study or working behind the scenes to procure and implement a traffic data management system, collaboration is key to MoveSmart’s success. As we look ahead to what this year has in store, I want to thank all City staff involved in bringing this strategy to life.”

• Nick Spensieri, City Manager

“On behalf of the City of Vaughan’s Public Works portfolio, I am pleased to present the third annual MoveSmart Mobility Management Strategy report. As our city experiences ongoing growth, the demand for safe, efficient and sustainable transportation options becomes increasingly important. Staff continue making strides to advance MoveSmart, emphasizing evidence-based decision-making through data and strategic partnerships. We persist in achieving our goals and objectives while discovering innovative ways to engage and educate our residents, enhancing mobility and safety for all road users. We are committed to making Vaughan a more livable, workable and accessible community for everyone.”

• Zoran Postic, Deputy City Manager, Public Works

QUICK FACTS 

• The City of Vaughan is responsible for maintaining 2,200 kilometres of roads and 100 traffic signals, enabling 585,000 average daily trips throughout the city. 
• By 2031, Vaughan’s population is projected to increase by 36 per cent, while jobs are expected to grow by 18 per cent in the same period.
• On March 10, 2021, Council endorsed MoveSmart, reinforcing the City’s commitment to Transportation and Mobility. 
• MoveSmart sets the direction and priorities for the next five years while ensuring an efficient, reliable, safe and sustainable transportation system for all residents and business owners. The strategy will be reviewed and updated every five years. Progress on its implementation is reported annually to Council.
• The MoveSmart Mobility Management Strategy was guided by input received from the public through a 2019 outreach program. More than 1,700 people were engaged in the outreach program, which gathered input on travel and road safety priorities and values, providing the City with extensive information on public transportation priorities.

LEARN MORE

• MoveSmart staff report (PDF) - March 6, 2024
• MoveSmart Annual Progress Report (PDF)
• Road Safety Initiatives in Vaughan handbook 
• MoveSmart Mobility Management Strategy webpage