Vision Zero Road Safety Plan

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The website is updated throughout the project, so remember to check this page periodically for up-to-date information.

The City of Markham is the fourth largest municipality in the Greater Toronto Area with 353,000 residents. The City has seen rapid population growth in recent years and is anticipating a continuation of this trend. This growth presents the City with a set of issues and challenges for the transportation network.


Project Background

The City of Markham has initiated the development of a comprehensive five-year Road Safety Plan (RSP) to address the persistent issue of collisions, which have resulted in significant injuries and fatalities, and have included pedestrians and cyclists. Between 2015 and 2021, the city recorded 1,362 injuries and three fatalities from traffic accidents, with an average of one collision occurring every 11 hours and one fatal or injury collision every two days. Despite various road safety initiatives, such as the Speed Management Program and Active School Travel Program, the city recognizes the need for a new, holistic approach to road safety. The RSP aims to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries through a data-driven, Safe System approach that emphasizes stakeholder and public engagement, inclusiveness, and political commitment. The plan builds on current safety initiatives and seeks to enhance road safety for all users, irrespective of their mode of transportation.


Key Components

The key components of the RSP include:

  • Review and assess the City's existing operational safety program and community engagement strategies;
  • Establishment of a Project Stakeholder Committee, a functional group with a clear mandate and operating procedures;
  • Developing a vision and goal for the RSP in consultation with the project stakeholders;
  • Identifying emphasis areas through a data-driven approach and in consultation with the stakeholders and the public;
  • The collaboration and liaison between stakeholders to improve efficiencies, reduce redundancies and prioritize new initiatives;
  • The incorporation of safety assessment into existing plans and the City's planning and design process;
  • Conduct evidence-based data-driven analysis;
  • The development of a suite of initiatives/treatments to address emphasis areas;
  • The identification of optimal sites to implement site-specific treatments;
  • The identification of target demographics to deliver educational/engagement initiatives;
  • The development of a detailed capital plan for the implementation of the study recommendations;
  • The development of an evaluation and monitoring plan to assess and report on the implementation progress and success of the RSP implementation;
  • The enhancement of operational programs, engineering standards, and community engagement initiatives; and,
  • The development of a financial plan to identify the resource needs and funding opportunities.


News and Timelines

The project commenced in May 2024 with tasks that include reviewing background information and datasets, conducting collision data analysis, and engaging in public and stakeholder consultation. Several technical meetings and workshops are planned to ensure continuous engagement with stakeholders. The expected completion date for the project is Summer 2025.

In addition to regular technical meetings throughout the project, two workshops with the stakeholders and the project team as well as two Public Information Centres (PICs) are planned. These workshops and PICs are paramount in ensuring that all parties responsible for road safety in the City and the public discuss issues and work collaboratively to develop the RSP.


Public Engagement

Obtaining feedback on various potential safety issues in this project is crucial. The information received from the public will assist in identifying the overall project mission, vision, goal statements, perceived community concerns related to road safety, and emphasis areas (areas where an action plan can be developed and resource allocation can improve road safety). The public will be engaged through a comprehensive approach that includes:

  • A Public Opinion Survey to gather community concerns related to road safety, implemented using online survey tools and promoted through various media channels.
  • Two in-person Public Information Centres (PICs) to share study findings, receive public feedback, and respond to questions and comments.
  • Development of accessible content for the project webpage, social media alerts, and traditional media ads to ensure continuous public involvement and awareness.


Public Information Centre #1

PIC #1 was held on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at the following location:

Milliken Mills Community Centre (South Hall)
7600 Kennedy Road
Markham, ON L3R 9S5

The presentation boards from PIC #1 are available for viewing on the sidebar.


Other Ways to Get Involved

  1. Stay updated: Save this website to your browser favourites.
  2. Provide your feedback: Contact the Project Leads listed on the sidebar and provide your feedback or ask questions you may have regarding the project.

The website is updated throughout the project, so remember to check this page periodically for up-to-date information.

The City of Markham is the fourth largest municipality in the Greater Toronto Area with 353,000 residents. The City has seen rapid population growth in recent years and is anticipating a continuation of this trend. This growth presents the City with a set of issues and challenges for the transportation network.


Project Background

The City of Markham has initiated the development of a comprehensive five-year Road Safety Plan (RSP) to address the persistent issue of collisions, which have resulted in significant injuries and fatalities, and have included pedestrians and cyclists. Between 2015 and 2021, the city recorded 1,362 injuries and three fatalities from traffic accidents, with an average of one collision occurring every 11 hours and one fatal or injury collision every two days. Despite various road safety initiatives, such as the Speed Management Program and Active School Travel Program, the city recognizes the need for a new, holistic approach to road safety. The RSP aims to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries through a data-driven, Safe System approach that emphasizes stakeholder and public engagement, inclusiveness, and political commitment. The plan builds on current safety initiatives and seeks to enhance road safety for all users, irrespective of their mode of transportation.


Key Components

The key components of the RSP include:

  • Review and assess the City's existing operational safety program and community engagement strategies;
  • Establishment of a Project Stakeholder Committee, a functional group with a clear mandate and operating procedures;
  • Developing a vision and goal for the RSP in consultation with the project stakeholders;
  • Identifying emphasis areas through a data-driven approach and in consultation with the stakeholders and the public;
  • The collaboration and liaison between stakeholders to improve efficiencies, reduce redundancies and prioritize new initiatives;
  • The incorporation of safety assessment into existing plans and the City's planning and design process;
  • Conduct evidence-based data-driven analysis;
  • The development of a suite of initiatives/treatments to address emphasis areas;
  • The identification of optimal sites to implement site-specific treatments;
  • The identification of target demographics to deliver educational/engagement initiatives;
  • The development of a detailed capital plan for the implementation of the study recommendations;
  • The development of an evaluation and monitoring plan to assess and report on the implementation progress and success of the RSP implementation;
  • The enhancement of operational programs, engineering standards, and community engagement initiatives; and,
  • The development of a financial plan to identify the resource needs and funding opportunities.


News and Timelines

The project commenced in May 2024 with tasks that include reviewing background information and datasets, conducting collision data analysis, and engaging in public and stakeholder consultation. Several technical meetings and workshops are planned to ensure continuous engagement with stakeholders. The expected completion date for the project is Summer 2025.

In addition to regular technical meetings throughout the project, two workshops with the stakeholders and the project team as well as two Public Information Centres (PICs) are planned. These workshops and PICs are paramount in ensuring that all parties responsible for road safety in the City and the public discuss issues and work collaboratively to develop the RSP.


Public Engagement

Obtaining feedback on various potential safety issues in this project is crucial. The information received from the public will assist in identifying the overall project mission, vision, goal statements, perceived community concerns related to road safety, and emphasis areas (areas where an action plan can be developed and resource allocation can improve road safety). The public will be engaged through a comprehensive approach that includes:

  • A Public Opinion Survey to gather community concerns related to road safety, implemented using online survey tools and promoted through various media channels.
  • Two in-person Public Information Centres (PICs) to share study findings, receive public feedback, and respond to questions and comments.
  • Development of accessible content for the project webpage, social media alerts, and traditional media ads to ensure continuous public involvement and awareness.


Public Information Centre #1

PIC #1 was held on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at the following location:

Milliken Mills Community Centre (South Hall)
7600 Kennedy Road
Markham, ON L3R 9S5

The presentation boards from PIC #1 are available for viewing on the sidebar.


Other Ways to Get Involved

  1. Stay updated: Save this website to your browser favourites.
  2. Provide your feedback: Contact the Project Leads listed on the sidebar and provide your feedback or ask questions you may have regarding the project.
Page last updated: 30 Sep 2024, 10:49 AM