Traffic in Toronto
Toronto is one of the most important cities in Canada in terms of production. Most Canadians and foreigners move to Toronto for various activities ranging from business, job, and even family-related visits. However, traffic gridlock has remained a nightmare for most Canadians in Toronto. With the Election day coming on 21st October, eyes are on potential solutions to the traffic issue. The ruling liberal government is keen to make promises on attempts to solve the problem, whereas political candidates are coming up with strategies to lure voters into voting them into the government. Drivers have specifically shown significant interest in the outcome of the elections, and that explains the weight of the traffic issue. The changes proposed in Bill 108 give hope to the Torontonians in that the planning and financing of municipality development agendas will be improved. Most political candidates are looking for strategies that will portray them as allies to the frustrated drivers in the advocacy for regulations to end the traffic gridlock in Toronto.
The municipality elections are directly affected by the traffic gridlock issue in several ways. First, the proposal on Bill 108 gives the municipality several responsibilities, one of them being infrastructural development. The municipality has for a long time remained hesitant in the attempts to solve the problems (Saxe, 2019). Besides, most researchers have been for the point that traffic gridlock is overrated and that traffic in Toronto flows smoothly. However, several factors have come into the combination to make the situation worse. For example, congestion and the need for modern parenting have played a significant role in the menace. Vehicles have grown beyond the constructed infrastructure, and drivers have not remained silent on the matter. Since insufficient infrastructural amenities are at the center of the matter, the municipality takes the highest blame on the same.
The federal government has the highest jurisdiction over the traffic issue. However, all three levels of the Canadian government have a responsibility to play in finding a solution to the issue (Burke & Scott, 2018). Toronto affects all the levels of the government, and thus, combined efforts will provide quicker results. Besides, the promises by the ruling government show that different levels have accepted the responsibility of dealing with the traffic challenge (Hall, Palsson & Price, 2018). For example, the federal government has promised an expansion of the Bloor-Yonge station. The improvement of the station is aimed at easing transport for approximately two hundred thousand passengers who use the subway station daily. However, the Torontonians used to government promises that come a few days to the election day. Therefore, the electorate may decide to test new officials. The importance of the traffic issue comes from the criticism directed to the government for ignoring the problems of Torontonians, even after being in office for four years.
Toronto traffic issue has existed for more than four years that the government has been in power. Although attempts have been made by the government to address the issue, Canadians believe that the government has not given priority to the traffic issue (Moore, 2014). For example, the proposal on ridesharing was made by the government to reduce the number of cars on the roads. Travelers moving to the same direction would be asked to share a ride in the same vehicle at a discount. However, the move has not received a positive response from every Canadian. Political candidates have, on several occasions, used the proposal to critic the government for not being able to provide viable solutions. For example, John Tory has instead promised the voters that lanes will be closed to create more space for drivers. Tory’s proposal appears to critic the government’s move to reduce the number of cars instead of creating more space for drivers.
Politicians have made the traffic issue more mentioned in recent days. Initially, claims were made by citizens without much attention from the government. Also, information on the reality of Toronto roads has remained thin with most researchers ignoring the fact on the ground. However, the approaching elections appear to have come at the right moment. Citizens from Toronto have decided to take sides with the drivers who have in the middle of the crisis. The lack of information on the traffic issue has, however, left a gap in the authenticity of the claims. Politicians might have taken advantage of the situation to get votes from the electorates.
In sum, most political candidates are looking for strategies that will portray them as allies to the frustrated drivers in the advocacy for regulations to end the traffic gridlock in Toronto. The proposal on Bill 108 gives the municipality several responsibilities, one of them being infrastructural development. All three levels of the Canadian government have an obligation to play in finding a solution to the issue, although the federal government holds the highest responsibility. Although attempts have been made by the government to address the issue, Canadians believe that the government has not given priority to the traffic issue.
References
Burke, C. M., & Scott, D. M. (2018). Identifying “Sensible Locations” for Separated Bike Lanes on a Congested Urban Road Network: A Toronto Case Study. The Professional Geographer, 70(4), 541-551.
Hall, J. D., Palsson, C., & Price, J. (2018). Is Uber a substitute or complement for public transit?. Journal of Urban Economics, 108, 36-50.
Moore, O. (2014). Why traffic congestion is driving Toronto crazy. Globe and Mail. Retrieved from https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/constant-gridlock/article18406658/
Saxe, D. (2019). Feature, MJSDL keynote lecture-‘environmental accountability in Ontario’. McGill International Journal of Sustainable Development Law and Policy, 14(2), 221. Retrieved from https://heinonline.org/hol-cgi- bin/get_pdf.cgi?handle=hein.journals/mcgijosd14§ion=12