Latest news with #gridlock
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Sydney Harbour Bridge crash brings city traffic to a halt: What commuters need to know
Motorists are facing peak-hour gridlock across Sydney this morning following a crash on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The collission has brought traffic in and out of the CBD to a crawl, with long delays stretching back onto the Warringah Freeway and beyond. Live traffic cameras show bumper-to-bumper congestion, with cars barely moving north bound. Emergency services are on the scene, but it's not yet clear whether anyone has been injured. Three of the five southbound lanes on the bridge have been closed, along with one of three northbound lanes - severely affecting traffic flow in both directions. The crash has sparked knock-on delays across the broader network, with city-bound traffic particularly hard hit. Commuters are being urged to delay travel where possible or seek alternative routes.
CTV News
03-08-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
A judge struck down the Ford government's bike lane removals in Toronto. What comes next?
This week an Ontario court struck down a provincial law that required three bike lanes to be removed in Toronto and which also limited the installation of new bike lanes by municipalities. The decision handed a big win to advocacy group Cycle Toronto and two individual cyclists who challenged the law in court. Here's what you need to know about case and what might come next: What was the law meant to do Bill 212, titled the 'Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act' was introduced in the legislature in October and passed the following month. Among other things, it called for the removal of bike lanes along Bloor Street, Yonge Street and University Avenue in Toronto. Why did the judge strike it down? Ultimately, the judge agreed with the evidence that removal of the bike lanes would put people at increased risk of harm and death, violating the right to life and security of the person under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms enshrined in the constitution. But perhaps more importantly, the judge found that the government had not presented any evidence to support its claims. 'It's a spectacular failure on the part of the Ontario government to defend its decision to remove bike lanes,' David Schneiderman told A professor of constitutional law at the University of Toronto, Schneiderman said the government's case had little chance of success, even if the judge had been sympathetic, because of the lack of evidence to back up the province's claims. 'It's hard to predict many of these kinds of charter claims. It depends on how deferential a judge wants to be,' Schneiderman said. 'But it wasn't available to judge Schabas to be deferential because there was no evidence, and the Ontario government's own experts failed to show that there was any correlation between removing bike lanes and improving congestion in the City of Toronto.' Ontario bike lanes A cyclist rides in a bike lane on University Avenue in Toronto on Friday, December 13, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Laura Proctor (Laura Proctor/The Canadian Press) What message does the ruling send? 'It should send a message to this province and others that when they're providing services of whatever sort, when they act in ways that endanger lives, physical security, or generally make the situation worse for the people who are receiving those services without some evidence to support that decision, then it might very well be that it'll give rise to a charter claim,' Schneiderman said. What happens next? The government has already said that it plans to appeal the ruling, however Schneiderman said it will likely face an uphill battle because there is so little evidence the government presented in the original case. 'When cases go on appeal, the facts that are on the record are not contested. They can't be,' Schneiderman said. 'The hearing established certain facts, and the fact is that there was no evidence offered by the government to support the decision to remove bike lanes. So without facts to support their decision, it's a real uphill climb.' Why is government bothering with case if it's weak? While the government may have lost in court, they scored a win in another way, one political observer pointed out. 'They believe that the public is on their side. They particularly believe that their voter coalition is heavily opposed to bike lanes,' CTV News Political Analyst Scott Reid pointed out. 'So they think that the visibility of this sue, the volume with which they pursued it, and the conflict that's produced by a court challenge and even a court loss helps amplify their championing of this issue and therefore cements their political position. 'Arguably, they believe they are bigger winners by being losers, because it catapults this issue back to the front of the news cycle and reignites coverage and conversation, and they are positive that they're the overwhelming beneficiaries of that.' Biking A cyclist rides in a bike lane on University Avenue in Toronto on Friday, December 13, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Laura Proctor But in addition to being seen as champions against gridlock, Reid said, the issue gives the government an enemy to fight against. 'This issue forces their preferred opponents to come out and vocally support bike lanes, which the Ford government believes not only puts those stakeholders at odds with the general public, but they think it even puts them at odds with traditional downtown voting coalitions,' Reid said. 'They think this is an orphan issue that has relatively few champions, but for hardcore urbanists and so they see this as pure political charm.' But while the cycling advocates win in court and the government scores a political win, it's the voters who are ultimately the losers, Reid said, if they end up paying for infrastructure to be built and then ripped up, as well as for a court battle to be fought over the issue. What about the notwithstanding clause? If the government were to appeal the case and lose, it could still use the notwithstanding clause to override the charter. But would it? The Ford government has shown a willingness to do so before. It used the notwithstanding clause to push through a law limiting third party election advertising in 2021. It also threatened to use the clause when it unilaterally shrunk the size of Toronto City Council just ahead of a municipal election in 2018, and moved to block a teacher's strike in 2022. Schneiderman agrees the government could decide to make use of the clause if it loses an appeal in court, but he added that whether it does so could come down to a matter of public opinion over the issue. 'In my view, the notwithstanding clause is there to protect the citizens from rogue courts that make decisions that are against the public interest,' Schneiderman said. 'It's not just for provinces or the federal government to use in the case of a popularity contest. It's not about that. It shouldn't be.' In this case the question could be 'how popular are cyclists' in Toronto, Schneiderman said. He explains that while the notwithstanding clause is available to the government to override charter rights, voters could punish governments that curtail them. 'It's not a really popular thing. People like their rights. People like the fact that they have rights, and they don't like governments to be seen to be trampling on them.' Reid said there's another reason the government might be hesitant to invoking the notwithstanding clause. 'I would be surprised if they reached for the notwithstanding clause, for no other reason than they might fear that it actually pollutes this issue, and instead of allowing them to repeat their arguments around bike lanes and enjoy the cut and thrust of the usual suspects who oppose the Ford government on bike lanes, that it might transform the issue, sort of alchemize it into something else that's got less public appeal and might cut more against their grain,' Reid said. He added that they've 'been burned' by using it in the past since its use itself becomes a polarizing issue that may invite questions about other rights being curbed.
CTV News
21-07-2025
- Automotive
- CTV News
Toronto is closer to hiring a traffic czar. Here is what experts say their first task should be
Heavy traffic leaves the downtown core in Toronto on Thursday January 14, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn Toronto's long-awaited traffic czar may soon be on the job, but experts say clearing up the city's notorious gridlock will require more than a new title. A spokesperson for the City of Toronto tells CTV News Toronto that council is expected to vote this week on final approval for the new position of Chief Congestion Officer, a role aimed at coordinating construction and traffic management across city divisions. Recruitment for the post is already underway, the city confirmed. 'The City of Toronto's new Chief Congestion Officer position will focus on creative, long-term solutions to tackle traffic congestion and will pre-emptively identify challenges and recommend solutions to get Toronto moving,' said Will Johnston, Deputy City Manager for Infrastructure Services. Construction, Johnston said, remains the largest driver of gridlock and will be a key focus for the incoming czar. But experts warn that unless the city's new traffic boss is given meaningful authority, very little will change. Construction jobs 'should be scrutinized,' expert says Matti Siemiatycki, director of the Infrastructure Institute at the University of Toronto, said addressing the city's often uncoordinated construction work should be the first priority. Off-duty City of Toronto police officers Off-duty City of Toronto police officers manage traffic in a construction zone in Toronto on Monday, May 11, 2015. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette) 'I think fixing the bottlenecks that are happening by our own making is probably the first place to start,' he said. Toronto has been called the busiest city in North America for road construction. A city report found that last summer, nearly one-quarter of city streets were partially closed due to construction, doubling travel times. 'Every job that's going to take up a lane of traffic should be scrutinized to understand how it can be made faster,' Siemiatycki said. Zero tolerance approach In 2024, navigation and location technology company TomTom ranked Toronto third on its list of the most congested cities in the world, placing the city behind just London and Dublin. The region's crippling gridlock, meanwhile, has had a significant effect on the wider economy, with one report prepared by the Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis warning that the cost of lost economic opportunities in the GTHA totalled $10 billion in 2024 but rose to more than $47 billion when factoring in 'social impacts' that diminish a commuter's quality of life. Some experts, including U of T professor Baher Abdulhai, argue that the situation has worsened to the point that the city should consider lane rental fees — directly charging contractors for occupying lanes. In an email to CTV News, he says this could incentivize faster project completion. Others suggest the need for more night work and penalties for extended closures. 'The most urgent task is to use the existing roads much more efficiently,' Abdulhai said. While construction coordination may offer quick wins, experts caution that Toronto's congestion is not just a driver problem. 'When you hear congestion, it's not just cars,' said Siemiatycki. 'It's the transit vehicles and others stuck in that exact same mess.' TTC bus in traffic TTC bus in traffic Enforcing existing traffic laws, particularly against drivers who block intersections and lanes, is another immediate step Abdulhai recommends. He supports a 'zero-tolerance' approach to effectively ease bottlenecks. Could the traffic czar have actual power? For the incoming traffic czar to succeed, Siemiatycki stressed that the city must avoid creating another bureaucratic position with minimal power. 'If it's just another person that decisions have to go through, then it will not be effective,' he said. Toronto's experience with a 'transit czar,' introduced in 2019, did little to streamline transit project decisions, he noted. Abdulhai echoed that concern. 'This one person will not work alone. He or she will be the spearhead, but a larger team must be involved. And if enabled and authorized by council, they can be effective,' he said. The city says the role will report directly to the Deputy City Manager and carry oversight of the Strategic Capital Coordination Office, responsible for coordinating capital projects and traffic mitigation across departments. Road tolls: 'if you charge... people will respond' Both experts point to a politically sensitive solution that could help ease gridlock — that's congestion pricing. 'If you wanted to address congestion in a serious way… we have to be talking about road tolls,' Siemiatycki said, noting similar measures have reduced traffic in cities like London, Stockholm, and New York. However, while Toronto has floated the idea in years past, the political appetite for fit may be low. In 2017, a proposal to toll the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway was rejected by the provincial government. New Ontario legislation introduced in 2024 now bans tolls on provincial highways. Though Toronto theoretically retains the power to toll its own roads under the City of Toronto Act, experts are skeptical such a measure will move forward without strong mayoral support. Still, Siemiatycki says tough choices will be necessary. 'Cost is a key driver of people's choices,' he said. 'If you charge for something, people will respond.' 'A tough job' If approved by council, the new traffic czar role will launch in the coming months. But as Siemiatycki put it, 'this will be a tough job.' How much difference the role makes may depend less on who the city hires and more on how much power they're given to act.
West Australian
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Lorde: New Zealand singer-songwriter drops Aussie tour for February 2026 with RAC Arena show
Alternative pop songstress Lorde has announced she'll be bringing her Ultrasound World Tour to Australia in February 2026, including a final stop in Perth on February 25. Following appearances in her native New Zealand, the 28-year-old will soak in the last of Australia's summer with singular performances in Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne before ending her tour at RAC Arena. Lorde will perform hits from her fourth studio album Virgin which she released in June, with the single What Was That marking her first original drop in four years. 'This album broke me apart and forged a new creature out of me. I am so proud to stand before you today as her, grateful for this beautiful life spent singing to myself and to you, for as long as you'll have me,' she told fans on social media. Born Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor, the singer-songwriter exploded onto the scene as a teenager in 2013 with the Grammy Award-winning hit Royals and her debut album Pure Heroine. She has since been elevated to pop royalty in her own right, collaborating with party girl Charli xcx, and rubbing shoulders with Perth's Troye Sivan and American sensation Billie Eilish. Acclaimed for her euphoric sounds and introspective lyrics, Lorde's return to number one on the ARIA Albums Chart complements her 33 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Based in London, the singer's forthcoming tour marks her first official Australian stage shows since 2023. Perth motorists might recall facing gridlock at the Swan Valley's Belvoir Amphitheatre as she prepared to hit the stage. The lord of the dance floor shocked Sydney revellers in May this year when she rocked up to a themed club night dedicated to her. Quickly detected among the sea of party goers, she was seen singing along to her own bops and even joined the DJ on stage. More recently, the Green Light singer delivered a powerful performance to thousands of adoring fans at the iconic Glastonbury Festival on June 27, the same day of her album release. Stripping down to a silver bralette and pants, it signified her renewed confidence following a public battle with mental health and eating disorders that plagued her mid-20s. The Tennis Court singer will begin her world tour in September with sold out tours in the US, before heading to Europe in November. General sale tickets for her Aussie dates will be available from Friday July 18, with pre-sale available earlier for American Express and Frontier Touring members.
CBC
10-07-2025
- Business
- CBC
Toronto moves one step closer to hiring a 'chief congestion officer' to lead charge against gridlock
It's looking more likely that Toronto will get a "traffic czar" in the hopes of reducing congestion and gridlock. The city's infrastructure and environment committee has approved the plan to hire for the position and it will now go to council for final approval later this month. The chief congestion officer would work "across all of the divisions" in the city and provide "strategic advice" to the mayor, deputy city manager Will Johnston said at the city committee meeting Thursday. To ease congestion, some of the goals include increasing on-the-ground traffic management, implementing a strategy for traffic around special events and planning, and co-ordinating city-wide construction projects, according to the report. Lyn Adamson, co-chair of ClimateFast, told the committee that to reach the city's target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2040, the new officer should also make recommendations "relevant to the promotion of walking, cycling and transit as ways to ease congestion." Mayor Olivia Chow described the proposed position as "a cross-department approach" to traffic management on CBC Radio's Metro Morning earlier this year. WATCH | Toronto mayor talks 'traffic czar,' other plans to tackle congestion: Chow explains how Toronto is tackling congestion, gridlock 3 months ago Duration 10:00 About half of Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area residents have contemplated moving away due to traffic congestion, according to a 2024 poll. But more people are still filling up the city's roads. The city staff report says the goal of the position is to mitigate "ongoing pressures of growth and development." Dominic Roszak, director of government and external relations at the Toronto Region Board of Trade, noted that the city has had 500,000 new people arrive in the past two years, with three million more projected by 2051. "We also have FIFA next year, so this is a really critical problem right now that we need to tackle," he said.
