QEW remains closed after fiery crash Tuesday night

The eastbound lanes of the QEW are expected to remain closed until at least 2:00pm after a horrific crash Tuesday evening.

At around 9:00pm, police responded to reports of a four vehicle collision near Trafalgar Road.

Officers say a tractor trailer initially collided with a car. An SUV then crashed into the wreck, which was then hit and pushed under the truck by a flatbed.

A fire started consuming the three vehicles. Two male occupants of the SUV were pronounced dead on scene. The driver of the tractor trailer was taken to hospital with minor injuries. There is no word on the status of the drivers of the car or flatbed.

Crews are working to repair the section of the highway that was damaged by the fire. They are hoping to have some lanes reopened in time for the afternoon rush.

“As soon as we get vehicles separated we are going to take a look at the road surface below to see how much damage has occurred and if there is an issue there they will have to grind and repave the road surface,” said OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt.

Car and cab of second tractor trailer involved in QEW crash completely consumed by fire. 2 fatalities in the car. pic.twitter.com/JxgmH2MwQc

— DR (@Media371) December 23, 2015

Transport truck from overnight collision on the QEW at Trafalgar Rd - Oakville pic.twitter.com/9CBeRIoqgd

— Sgt Kerry Schmidt (@OPP_HSD) December 23, 2015

Update - QEW at Trafalgar Rd. Oakville will remain closed until approx 2pm for repaving after overnight fatal collision and fire

— Sgt Kerry Schmidt (@OPP_HSD) December 23, 2015

Source: CP24 , OPP

New Year's Eve FREE transit guide

It's almost time to ring in 2016. If you're planning on heading out to a party on New Year's Eve, make sure you arrange a safe ride home.

Many GTA transit agencies will be offering service free of charge to help you arrive alive.

Brampton Zum

Zum is offering free service on all routes across Brampton from 7:00am until approximately 3:00am. You can download their full NYE schedule here. 

Burlington Transit

The City of Burlington will not be offering free service on New Year's Eve. Service will be extended though on select routes until 2:00am. 

Durham Transit

Durham will not be offering free trips on NYE, but will be extending service to 2:00am on select routes. Grab the full holiday schedule here.


GO Transit

GO will be offering free service after 7:00pm on all train and bus routes. Special late night trains are being added to help people get home safely.

LAKESHORE WEST

Special late-night train trips will depart Aldershot at 00:01 & 01:01
Special late-night train trips will depart Union at 00:13, 01:43 & 02:43

LAKESHORE EAST

Special late-night train trip will depart Oshawa at 00:38
Special late-night train trips will depart Union at 23:43, 00:43, 01:30 & 02:30

MILTON

Special late-night train trips will depart Milton at 20:15 & 21:15
Special late-night train trips will depart Union at 01:35 & 02:35

KITCHENER

Special late-night train trips will depart Georgetown at 20:00 & 21:00
Special late-night train trips will depart Union at 01:40 & 02:40

BARRIE

Special late-night train trips will depart Allandale at 20:05 & 21:05
Special late-night train trips will depart Union at 01:25 & 02:25

RICHMOND HILL

No special late-night train trips or bus adjustments

STOUFFVILLE

Special late-night train trip will depart Lincolnville at 20:00 & 21:00
Special late-night train trips will depart Union at 01:50 & 02:50

Hamilton Transit

HSR will be offering free service on NYE starting at 6:00pm. Buses will, however, operate on a regular weekday schedule with no extended service announced at this time. The service will operate on a Sunday schedule New Year's Day. 

Milton Transit

Milton will unfortunately not be offering free trips or extended service, instead operating on a regular weekday schedule. Those taking advantage of the additional GO Train trips should arrange a taxi or Uber to take them the rest of the way home. 

MiWay Mississauga Transit

Mississauga Transit has free service from 7:00pm to 4:00 on New Year's Eve. Extended service is being offered on several bus routes. Check their website for full details. 

Oakville Transit

Oakville Transit will be free on NYE from 7:00pm until approximately 3:30am. Buses will be available to meet the additional late night GO Train trips. 

TTC

The TTC will be offering free service from 7:00pm on New Year's Eve to 7:00am on New Year's Day.

Bus service will be extended to 4:00am on most routes.

New Year’s Eve last subway times:

• Yonge-University-Spadina: north from Union Station at 3:30 a.m.
• Bloor-Danforth: east or west from Bloor-Yonge Station at 3:37 a.m.
• Scarborough RT: east from Kennedy Station at 4:07 a.m.
• Sheppard Line: east from Sheppard-Yonge Station at 3:58 a.m.

York Region Transit / VIVA

There will be free service on the YRT on from 7:00pm to 4:00am on all routes New Year's Eve. Select routes will have extended service. Check their website for full details. 

Cyclist ignores train crossing, rides into side of train

Drivers often get their backs up at cyclists for ignoring the basic rules of the road. Especially given the dangers of biking around large, fast moving vehicles.

A Polish rider learned that the hard way after choosing to ignoring warnings at a level crossing.

CCTV video shows the cyclist leisurely swerving around the barrier, then slamming into the side of an oncoming train. 

It's not clear what the man was thinking, or even if he noticed the train.

Police want to remind cyclists that they must stop at all controlled intersections and level crossing.

Warning: some may find the following video disturbing. 

Regina transport officials don't luv sign hacking

City of Regina officials aren't impressed after some boobs hacked a digital road sign Sunday night.

Construction on Albert Street was supposed to be marked with the sign. However, one cheeky resident changed it to read "honk if you luv titties."

"I don't appreciate people tampering with our equipment" said Norman Kyle, Regina's Director of Roadways and Transportation.

"It's basically vandalism to public property."

The signs require a password in order to change the display. Kyle suspects it may have been done by a current or former city worker.

Passwords were changed on Monday, and the city will be implementing tougher rules to prevent tampering in the future.

In unrelated news, the city has seen a large spike in babies and men honking horns.

Source: CBC Saskatchewan
Photo by Jillian Love via Facebook

London's Black Cabs becoming roving traffic reporters

Can't check your phone to grab the latest traffic update? Just look for the nearest taxi instead.


Transportation for London will fit 200 of the city's iconic Black Cabs with digital billboards that broadcast traffic warnings.

The messages will inform drivers of traffic levels and known problems in about 50 areas around London. The system uses GPS technology to insure information is both accurate and presented in real time.

"Using the Capital's fleet of taxis to get real-time traffic information out will inform other drivers of any disruption on the network, helping them to avoid the most congested routes." said Transportation for London COO Garrett Emmerson in a press release.

BrightMove Media is the company behind the billboards. Drivers are paid £1,500 to mount the signs on their roof. The signs will also display advertising.

London has been testing several different solutions to reduce the city's infamous congestion, including a system that dynamically changes traffic light timing based on volume.

Source: ArsTechnica

High Occupancy Toll lane pilot to launch next summer

Ontario's transportation minister Steven Del Duca announced the province is going ahead with a pilot project that will add high occupancy toll lanes (HOT) to the QEW.

Starting in the Summer of 2016, drivers will be able to purchase a permit that will allow them to drive in the HOV lanes without any passengers.

The lanes will occupy a stretch between Guelph Line and Trafalgar Road. Del Duca says up to 1,000 permits will be offered for an undisclosed price.

Speaking to CP24, Del Duca said that “through this pilot, we’ll improve performance on the QEW, introduce the concept of (High-occupancy toll lanes) to the region, and gather information that will help inform our long-term plan.”

Del Duca stressed that HOV lanes will remain free for vehicles with two or more people inside.

“This is just another weapon in the arsenal that we have with respect to being creative to fight congestion in this region,”

The project will be monitored by Ministry of Transportation staff to see how the new lanes are being used. If everything goes well, the province expects to slowly roll out HOT lanes to other GTA highways over the coming years.

On this week's Twitter poll, we want to know if you think the new HOT lanes will reduce congestion. 

This week's poll: Do you think the high occupancy toll lanes will help reduce congestion on #Toronto highways?

— Mike Philp (@mikeinthebkgd) December 7, 2015

Photo by Haljackey, via Wikipedia. Licensed under Creative Commons 3.0 Share Alike.

US gas prices could fall below $2 per gallon by Holidays

Gas for your Christmas vacation could get a lot cheaper, especially if you live in the United States.

The American Automobile Association (AAA) reports that gas prices south of the border could drop as low as $2 per gallon in December. 

The last time fuel was this cheap was way back in 2009.

AAA notes that average prices have already dropped 11 cents since October. The cost per barrel of crude continues to remain low as US production rates remain high.

This will likely mean cheaper prices at the pump for Canadian drivers as well. However, cheap crude continues to be a major obstacle for the economy. The low dollar has pushed up costs for other goods, meaning savings at the pumps won't likely give consumers' wallets a break.

Photo by Anthony M. Inswasty via Wikipedia. Used under CC BY-SA 4.0 license. 

Where to catch Santa in the GTA this Holiday Season

The Holiday Season is almost upon us. It's almost time for the big guy himself to make his annual appearance to all the good children. Here's where you can catch all the great parades around the GTA.

Toronto Santa Claus Parade
Sunday, November 15th @ 12:30pm

Parade stars at Bloor & Bathurst, travels down Avenue, and ends at Front and Wellington. If you're wanting to see Santa, public transit will be your best bet. GO Transit will be offering special trains on the Milton, Kitchener, Barrie, and Stouffville lines.

Milton Santa Claus Parade
Sunday, November 15th @ 1:30pm

Georgetown Santa Clause Parade
Saturday, November 21st, @ 5:00pm

Georgetown's night parade begins at sundown. It runs along Hwy. 7 and Sinclair Ave., proceed along Guelph St. to Mill St. along Mill St. to Charles St. to Park St. to Georgetown Fairgrounds.

Acton Santa Claus Parade
Saturday November 21st @ 1:00pm

Brampton Santa Claus Parade
Saturday, November 21st @ 5:00pm

Brampton also hosts a night parade beginning at sundown. It begins at Ken Williams and Sproule, runs along Main St, and ends at Elgin.

Mississauga Santa Claus Parade
Sunday Novermber 29th @ 1:00pm

A Streetsville tradition! The parade starts at Queen/Mississauga Road and Britannia, snakes through the historic downtown, and ends at Old Station Road.

Burlington Santa Claus Parade
Sunday, December 6th @ 2:00pm

The parade starts at Prospect & Guelph Line, continues along Guelph Line to New Street, heads
west along New Street to James Street, north on Brant street, and finishes at Brant Street and Caroline Street.

Oakville Santa Claus Parade
Saturday, November 21st @ 9:00am

The little ones will have to get up early if they want to catch Santa in downtown Oakville. The Parade starts at Chartwell Rd, runs along Cornwall/Speers, and ends at Dorval and Lakeshore.

Hamilton Santa Claus Parade
Saturday, November 21st @ 2:00pm

The Hamilton Santa Claus Parade is celebrating their 40th anniversary of #SantasInTheHammer. The parade starts at Queen and Main, runs along Main to Johm, up John to King, along King to Bay and ends at Copps Colosseum.

Oshawa Santa Claus Parade 
Saturday, November 21st @ 6:00pm

Night parades seem to be getting popular. Oshawa's begins at Gibbson St, runs along king, lopps up Centre, runs along Bong, and back to Gibbson.

Whitby Santa Claus Parade
Saturday, December 5th @ 10:00am

The parade starts at Brock and Manning, runs along Brock St, end ends at Trent.

Pickering Santa Claus Parade
Saturday, November 29th @ 10:00am

Parade starts at Vaughan Willard Public School, travels east along Glenanna, and ends at Pickering Parkway.

Ajax Santa Claus Parade
Saturday, November 28th @ 6:00pm

Another night time festival of lights. No details on the route yet.

Markham Santa Claus Parade
Saturday, November 28th @ 11:00am

The parade starts at Hwy 7 and Main, travels north along main, and ends at the Markham Museum.


Richmond Hill Santa Claus Parade
Sunday, November 22nd @ 1:30pm

The parade runs along Yonge St between Industrial Road and Hopkins.

Vaughan-Maple Santa Fest
Sunday, November 22nd @ 2:00pm

The Parade runs along Major Mackenzie from the 400 to Vaughan City Hall.

Newmarket Santa Claus Parade
Saturday, November 21st @ 11:00am

The parade starts at Lorne and Eagle, proceeds along Main, and ends at Ontario St.

Barrie Santa Claus Parade
Saturday, November 21st, 2015 @ 5:00pm

Still waiting on route details.


If I've missed anybody, shoot me a comment and I'll add it to the list.

Rollover shuts down the 404 at Stouffville Road

A serious collision has closed a section of the 404 Tuesday afternoon.

OPP responded to reports of a rollover in the northbound lanes at approximately 5:00pm.

Early reports suggest that at least three people are without vital signs.

All lanes are currently blocked. Northbound traffic is currently being forced off the highway at Elgin Mills. Traffic is currently backed up to Major Mackenzie. Southbound motorists are facing heavy delays as well.

Drivers are advised to take Woodbine Avenue as an alternate.

ROAD CLOSURE: #Hwy404 NB at Elgin Mills Rd #Gormley - Hwy is CLOSED due to a fatal collision. On-ramp from Stouffville Rd also CLOSED. ^cc

— OPP GTA Traffic (@OPP_GTATraffic) October 27, 2015

Two dead after pileup on the 401 in Ajax

Two people are dead after a horrific crash on the 401 in Ajax Wednesday morning.

Shortly after 6:00am, police responded to reports of an eight vehicle pileup in the eastbound lanes near Westney Road.

One vehicle, an SUV, was found wedged between two tractor trailers, while a pickup truck had slammed into the back of one of the transports.

Firefighters worked to rescue the SUV driver but they were pronounced dead at the scene.

The pickup truck driver was rushed to hospital with life threatening injuries but died a short time later.

All lanes of the highway were closed until approximately 3:00pm while police investigated the cause of the crash. Three right lanes remained closed into the afternoon rush.

2nd man is now dead as a result of collision at Hwy401 EB at Harwood Ave earlier today pic.twitter.com/2oCYv62WI7

— Sgt Kerry Schmidt (@OPP_HSD) September 23, 2015

Source: 680News

Don Valley Parkway to close this weekend for Fall maintenance

If you're heading downtown this weekend, you'll need to find an alternate route if you usually take the Don Valley Parkway.

Crews will be shutting down the DVP from the Gardiner up to the 401 starting at 8:00pm on Saturday, September 26th. It will reopen on Monday, September 28th at 5:00am, just in time for the morning rush.

While the closure is a pain for local drivers, it allows the city to catch up on badly needed repairs ahead of the winter. Crews will be out patching up pot holes, replacing lights, inspecting bridges, and cleaning out catch basins.

If you're looking for an alternate route, Bayview and Don Mills will likely be your best bets, but expect them to be a lot busier than usual.

Photo by Alaney2k via Wikipedia. Used under Creative Commons 2.0 license. 

Volkswagen recalling cars with wonky emissions tests

Volkswagen Group has announced they will be recalling 500,000 diesel cars that used software to falsify emissions test results.

The automaker will also stop selling both new and used 2015 and 2016 models that were equipped with the 4-cylinder "clean diesel" engine.

Speaking to the New York Times, Martin Winterkorn apologized for the company's antics.

“I am personally deeply sorry that we have broken the trust of our customers and the public,” he said in a statement, adding that the company would “fully cooperate” with both federal and independent investigations."

Late last week, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stated the company had violated the Clean Air Act by intentionally installing software to evade pollution regulations.

The vehicles in question will only activate their full emissions control system only if they're plugged into an emissions testing device. During normal driving, the effectiveness of the control system was said to be greatly reduced. The EPA notes that this exposed people to harmful pollutants.

Included in the recall are diesel powered Volkswagen Jetta, Beetle, Golf, and Audi A3 from the 2009 to 2014 model years, as well as the 2014 to 2015 Volkswagen Passat.

The company's gasoline powered vehicles are not affected.

Volkswagen Group could face steep fines of up to $18 billion dollars over this incident. Winterkorn promised the company would “do everything in order to reverse the damage this has caused.”

Source: New York Times, via The Consumerist

Fiat-Chrysler recalls RAM trucks over faulty airbags

Another week, another bunch of recalls from embattled automaker Fiat-Chrysler. The company has announced it will be calling back 1.2 million RAM trucks across North America.

There's actually three problems here involving 2012 to 2014 Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks and 3500, 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs.

This latest recall has to do with, you guessed it, airbags.

The drivers' side airbag has been known to inadvertently deploy without being involved in an actual crash. This has led to at least two known injuries. Furthermore, the side curtain airbags do not completely cover the vehicle pillars, which violates federal regulations.

Lastly, improper welds have been cited on the trucks' steering system. Tests have shown that if the welds break, you won't loose steering completely, but it will be significantly impaired. This has caused at least one minor crash.

The recall notice affects 236,000 trucks here in Canada. Owners will be notified by the company and dealers will repair the vehicles.

Source: Autoblog

Emergency crews rescue baby from hot car, find it wasn't a baby at all

The rescue of a child from a hot car took a creepy turn on Monday.

Emergency crews in Oakland, California were called for reports of a baby left unattended inside a hot car. When they arrived on scene, police found the child unresponsive.

Officers smashed the vehicle's window and pulled the baby to safety, only to realize that the baby was actually a lifelike doll.

“Although this incident did not involve a baby or small child, it was unknown at the time, and first responders’ number one priority is to ensure … safety,” a spokesman for Oakland Police told ABC News.

It's not clear why the doll was left inside the vehicle strapped to a car seat. Authorities have not said whether they have spoken to the owner.

Despite this one odd case, police are reminding people to report all incidents of children or animals being left unattended in vehicles. 

“We encourage anyone who believes there is a dangerous situation such as this incident to contact emergency personnel so we can make that determination.” 

File this one under creepy.

ABC News: Emergency Crews Smash Car Window to Rescue Baby, Find Lifelike Doll in Car Seat

Photo by Alan Levine via Flickr. Used under CC 2.0 license.

GO Transit service changes go into effect next week

Back-to-school will mean some big changes for your transit schedule.

GO Transit is revamping its travel times to accommodate the influx of passengers. Kitchener riders will see the biggest boost with 14 new trips being added.

• Five new eastbound trips from Mount Pleasant GO, departing at 9:55 and 11:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, 1:00 and 2:00 p.m., making all stops to Union, arriving at 10:49 and 11:54 a.m., 12:54, 1:54 and 2:54 p.m.
• Two new eastbound trips from Mount Pleasant GO, departing at 3:00 and 3:47 p.m., making all stops to Malton, then express to Union, arriving at 3:54 and 4:34 p.m.

• Seven new westbound trips from Union Station making all stops to Mount Pleasant GO Station
• Hourly departures from Union starting 8:48 a.m. and until 2:48, with hourly arrivals at Mount Pleasant beginning 9:37 a.m. and until 3:37 p.m.

• The 9:39 a.m. eastbound trip from Bramalea will now depart there at 9:16, and times at all other stops will also be earlier. This trip will be extended to begin at Mount Pleasant, departing there at 9:00 a.m., serve Brampton GO, then make all stops to Union, arriving at 9:53 a.m.
• The 7:08 a.m. eastbound trip from Georgetown will now depart there and at all other stops five minutes earlier, with arrival at Union at 7:55 a.m.
• The 7:05 a.m. eastbound trip from Kitchener will now depart there and at all other stops five- minutes later, with arrival at Union now 9:13 a.m.

Additional bus trips are also being added to help university students get to their classes. Service changes go into effect on September 5th. You can grab the complete list off GO Transit's website.

Unstable Trump Tower antenna combs over Bay

Bay Street remains closed between King and Richmond Tuesday as crews scramble to repair an unstable antenna atop the Trump Tower.

The antenna, which was presumably disturbed by a slight breeze, is swaying precariously over the street below. Toronto Police had expected it to reopen to traffic by Noon but are still awaiting approval by structural engineers.

The TTC's 6 Bay bus is diverting northbound via Yonge, Richmond and southbound via Queen, University, Queens Quay as a result.

Engineers continue work on #TrumpUnstableAntenna~Bay St will not open up at noon~Officials hoping to open roads later in afternoon Sep1 ^sm

— Toronto Police (@TorontoPolice) September 1, 2015

Photo by Gage Skidmore via Flickr. Used under CC 2.0 license

Chrysler gets friend zoned by GM, keeps trying to get picked up

It's not secret that 2015 has not been a good year for Fiat-Chrysler. From record fines to flaming Jeeps, it seems they can't just get their act together.

CEO Sergio Marchionne has a solution though. That solution is dumping the embattled automaker's rotting carcass onto Detroit rival General Motors.

"We're not talking about marginal improvement in margins," he said in an interview with Automotive News.

“Look, the combined entity can make $30 billion a year in cash. Thirty. Just think about that [expletive] number,” he said.

General Motors is far less enthusiastic about Marchionne's proposed merger.

Despite claims of huge profits, the auto giant and its shareholders feel they'd be better off going it alone. Commenting on the proposed merger, a GM executive asked "Why should [GM] bail out FCA?"

Marchionne claims that General Motors has stopped taking his calls. However, he insists he will keep putting on the pressure.

Source: Automotive News

New Ontario distracted driving laws come into effect today

Playing with the idiot box is about to cost you a whole lot more in Ontario as new traffic laws come into effect Tuesday.

The province is cracking down on distracted driving, as well as those who fail to move over for emergency vehicles.

Using a mobile device behind the wheel will now cost you a minimum of $490 and 3 demerit points. Novice drivers will also face a 30-day license suspension.

The Province says that distracted driving is one of the leading causes of road fatalities, and expects it to exceed even impaired driving by 2016.

The new laws also give a boost to cycling safety. Drivers will now be required to leave one meter's space when passing riders. Those who open their door into the path of oncoming cyclists and traffic will face steep fines of $365 and 3 demerit points.

Police are also cracking down on riders with inadequate lighting. Bikes are required to have a white front light and a red rear light or reflector if you ride between ½ hour before sunset and ½ hour after sunrise, and white reflective tape on the front forks and red reflective tape on rear forks. Failure to comply could result in a $110 fine.

Lastly, the Province is also stepping up safety for tow trucks. Drivers will now be required to move over one lane if they see a tow with its amber lights on. This brings them into line with emergency vehicles.

You can read full details on these new laws on the Province of Ontario's website.

Photo by frankieleon via Flickr. Used under CC 2.0 license

Big on Bloor and Taste of Manilla: Weekend road closures for Aug 22-23

Summer is still sizzling this weekend here in the GTA. There's quite a few festivals this weekend that will close roads across the city.

Big on Bloor – Saturday closure 
Bloor Street from Dufferin Street to Lansdowne Avenue will be closed in both directions from Saturday, August 22 at 9 a.m. to Sunday, August 23 at 9 p.m. for Big on Bloor. College Street and St. Clair Avenue can be used by motorists travelling in this area as alternative routes.

Taste of Manila – Saturday and Sunday closures
Bathurst Street from Wilson Avenue to Laurelcrest Avenue will be closed in both directions from Saturday, August 22 at 12:01 a.m. to Sunday, August 23 at 11 p.m.

Chinatown Festival – Saturday and Sunday closures 
The southbound lanes of Spadina Avenue will be closed from St. Andrew Street to Sullivan Street from Saturday, August 22 at 12:01 a.m. to Sunday, August 23 at 11 p.m. to accommodate the Chinatown Festival. Dundas Street will be open during this time period.

CNE – August 21st to September 2nd
The Canadian National Exhibition kicks off this Friday. Roads running through the EX Grounds will be closed off to traffic for the duration of the fair. If you're planning on heading down, both the TTC and GO Train will drop you off right inside the gates.

Toronto road closures for August 15-16

It's another busy weekend in the city with lots of festivals and events going on. The Parapan Am closing ceremonies will mean some major closures in the downtown core this weekend as Toronto says goodbye to a summer of sport.

Wheels on the Danforth and Fun in the Park – Saturday closures 
Sections of Danforth Avenue and Danforth Road will be closed in both directions on Saturday, August 15 from 7 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. to accommodate this event. Closure details:
• Danforth Avenue from Byng Avenue to Leyton Avenue
• Danforth Avenue from Leyton Avenue to Warden Avenue
• Danforth Road from Landry Avenue to Danforth Avenue

International Street Festival – Saturday and Sunday closure 
Eglinton Avenue from Dufferin Street to Marlee Avenue will be closed in both directions from Saturday, August 15 at 2 a.m. to Monday, August 17 at 2 a.m. for this street festival.

Festival of South Asia – Saturday and Sunday closure 
Gerrard Street from Glenside Avenue to Coxwell Avenue will be closed from Saturday, August 15 at 10 a.m. to Monday, August 17 at 2 a.m. for the Festival of South Asia.

Fusion of Taste – Sunday closure 
Islington Avenue from Albion Road to Wardlaw Crescent will be closed from Sunday, August 16 at 6 a.m. to Monday, August 17 at 1 a.m. to accommodate this event.

Open Streets Toronto – Sunday closure 
Bloor Street from Spadina Avenue/Road to Parliament Street and Yonge Street from Bloor Street to Queen Street will be closed on Sunday, August 16 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

During the Open Streets Toronto event, vehicles will be able to cross Bloor Street at Spadina Avenue/Road, Avenue Road, Bay Street, Ted Rogers Way, Church Street, Sherbourne Street and Parliament Street. Vehicles will be able to cross Yonge Street at College Street/Carlton Street, Gerrard Street, Dundas Street, Shuter Street and Queen Street.

Parapan Am Games Closing Ceremony – Saturday closures 
The following roads will be closed to accommodate the closing ceremony:
• Bay Street will be closed from Queen Street to Dundas Street from 4 p.m. to midnight. Local traffic only will be permitted to access the area.
• Wellington Street will be closed from Church Street to University Avenue from 5 p.m. until midnight.
• Front Street will be closed from Church Street to Parliament Street from 5 p.m. until midnight.
• James Street and Albert Street will be closed from 4 p.m. to midnight.
• University Avenue northbound will be reduced to two lanes from Queen Street to south of Armoury Street from 8 a.m. to midnight.

Toronto Weekend Road Closures for August 1-3

Toronto is turning up the heat this weekend as the Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival gets underway. That of course means some road closures. Despite the long weekend and festivals, we only have one to tell you about.

Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival Toronto 
Lake Shore Boulevard will be closed in both directions between Colborne Lodge Drive and Strachan Avenue from Friday, July 31 at 11:59 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Sunday, August 2.

Have a fantastic Simcoe Day everyone!

Photo by KatieThebeau via Flickr, used under CC BY 2.0 license. 

Caribbean Jr Parade & Pan Am: Toronto Road Closures for July 18-19

The Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival returns this weekend with the Junior Parade on Saturday. Definitely a great opportunity to get out and experience the sights and smells of the islands. Plus we have several Pan Am related road closures to mess up your weekend drive.

PrideHouse TO Celebrates Street Festival – all weekend 
Church Street from Alexander Street to Dundonald Street will be closed to traffic on Friday, July 17 from 6 p.m. to Monday, July 20 at 2 a.m. for the street festival. The intersection of Church Street and Wellesley Street will remain open to traffic.

Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival – junior parade on Saturday 
A series of road closures will take place on Saturday, July 18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to accommodate the route of the Caribbean Carnival's junior/community parade in Scarborough. The parade will begin at the rear of 30 Sewells Rd., proceed west on McLevin Avenue to Neilson Road, north on Neilson Road to Neilson Park Drive, and east on Neilson Park Drive to the entrance of Neilson Park.

Pan Am women's marathon – Saturday 
Lake Shore Boulevard in both directions from Parkside Drive to Strachan Avenue will be closed 1 a.m. to 2 p.m. Parkside Drive from Lake Shore Boulevard to High Park Boulevard will also be closed from 1 a.m. to 2 p.m. Access to Ontario Place and the Gardiner Expressway will be maintained.

One eastbound lane of Lake Shore Boulevard between Parkside Drive and Net Drive will remain open using a counterflow system (no through traffic – local access only) to provide access for businesses and residents during the closure.

There will be a full closure of roads in High Park (Colborne Lodge Drive, Centre Road, West Road, Spring Road and High Park Boulevard) from midnight to 2 p.m.

There will also be cycling detours. From 1 a.m. until 2 p.m., some sections of the Martin Goodman Trail will be closed to bicycle traffic. Signage is in place along the 2.85-kilometre detour. Detour details:
- Cyclists travelling east must exit the trail at British Columbia Road/Lake Shore Boulevard and then take the detour route north on Dufferin Street, east on Liberty Street and south on Strachan Avenue to rejoin the Martin Goodman Trail at Coronation Park.
- Cyclists travelling west must exit the trail at Remembrance Drive at New Brunswick Way and then travel west on Lake Shore Boulevard, north on Ontario Drive to Princes' Boulevard, west on Princes' Boulevard to Saskatchewan Road, proceeding west on British Columbia Road to rejoin the Martin Goodman Trail at Marilyn Bell Park.

The women's marathon race itself takes place from 7 to 11 a.m.

Pan Am 20-kilometre race walks – Sunday 
Lake Shore Boulevard in both directions from British Columbia Drive to Strachan Avenue will be closed from 1 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 19 for the men's and women's 20-km race walks, which take place from 7 a.m. to noon.

During the Lake Shore Boulevard closure, local access only will be available past Strachan Avenue. All drivers, including spectators driving to events, will need to show their Games event ticket for access beyond Strachan Avenue.

Cycling detours associated with this Pan Am Games competition will involve the closure of some sections of the Martin Goodman Trail to bicycle traffic from 1 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Sunday. Signage is in place along the 2.85-km detour. Details about detours for eastbound and westbound cyclists on Sunday are the same as the details above for Saturday.

Plane makes emergency landing New Jersey highway

A skydiving plane was forced to make an emergency landing on a New Jersey highway Sunday.

The incident caught on highway traffic cameras shows a small white plane attempting to land on the highway in Stafford County.

It narrowly missed several cars before coming to a rest in the grassy median.

Reports indicate that it lost power during flight.

Several skydiving students were on board the plane at the time. Only one person suffered minor injuries.

Source: The Telegraph

Now legal in Tennessee to break into cars to save hot pets

Many people still aren't getting the message about leaving their pets alone in their vehicles.

In the summer sun, a car's interior can soar in a matter of minutes. Even with the windows cracked, this can quickly become a death sentence for your furry friends.

The State of Tennessee is now fighting back by allowing residents to break into cars to rescue trapped animals.

“If you act reasonably, as any reasonable person would respond, you will not be at fault to save a life. You will not be at any fault to save a life and/or animals,” Nashville Fire Department Chief of Staff Mike Franklin told ABC. 

In many states, Good Samaritans can still be charged with break and entre for attempting to rescue pets. 

A Desert Storm veteran in Georgia faced prosecution back in May after breaking a woman's window to save her dog. The changes have since been drop.

16 US states currently prohibit leaving animals unattended in vehicles. 

Source: TIME

Pan Am Road closures for this week

So far the Pan Am Games have managed to disrupt and anger just about every GTA commuter, and they don't even officially start until Friday. Unfortunately, things are going to get a lot worse before they get better.

Here's the complete list of road closures in the City of Toronto for this week's Pan Am events.

Wednesday, July 8 and Thursday, July 9: 
Lake Shore Boulevard from Strachan Avenue to Parkside Drive will be closed from 10 to 11 a.m. to allow triathlon athletes to familiarize themselves with the course. Access to Ontario Place will remain open.

Friday, July 10: 
One lane of eastbound traffic will be closed on Lake Shore Boulevard from British Columbia Drive to Ontario Place Boulevard from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This closure is required for the construction of temporary structures (transition zone, finish gantry). The eastbound lanes of Lake Shore Boulevard between British Columbia Drive and Strachan Avenue will be closed from Friday, July 10 at 10 p.m. until Sunday, July 12 at 2 p.m. Access to Ontario Place will remain open from Remembrance Drive.

Note on cycling detour: The Martin Goodman Trail will be closed to bicycle traffic from Friday, July 10 at 10 a.m. until Sunday, July 12 at 2 p.m. Signs for detour routes are posted along the trail.

Saturday, July 11:
The eastbound lanes of Lake Shore Boulevard from Parkside Drive to Strachan Avenue (access to Ontario Place will remain open from Remembrance Drive) and the westbound lanes of Lake Shore Boulevard, from Parkside Drive and Dowling Avenue and from British Columbia Drive and the parking lots at Ontario Place, will be closed from 1 a.m. until 2 p.m. for the women's triathlon. Access to the Gardiner Expressway will be maintained.

The race itself will take place from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. During that period, one eastbound lane of Lake Shore Boulevard from Parkside Drive to Net Drive will remain open using a counterflow system (no through traffic – local access only) to provide access for businesses and residents during this closure. The eastbound lanes of Lake Shore Boulevard between British Columbia Drive and Strachan Avenue will remain closed overnight. Access to Ontario Place will remain open from Remembrance Drive.

Sunday, July 12: 
The eastbound lanes of Lake Shore Boulevard from Parkside Drive to Strachan Avenue (access to Ontario Place will remain open from Remembrance Drive) and the westbound lanes of Lake Shore Boulevard, between Parkside Drive and Dowling Avenue and between British Columbia Drive and Strachan Avenue will be closed from 1 a.m. until 2 p.m. for the men's triathlon. Access to the Gardiner Expressway will be maintained.

The race itself will take place from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. During that period, one eastbound lane of Lake Shore Boulevard from Parkside Drive to Net Drive will remain open using a counterflow system (no through traffic – local access only) to provide access for businesses and residents during this closure.

In addition, one eastbound lane of the Lake Shore Boulevard, between British Columbia Drive and Strachan Avenue, will remain closed until the race set-up materials can be removed.

Image by Wilson Dias via Wikipedia, used under CC 3.0 license

European Civic Type R's heart is made in 'Murica

At 306 horsepower, the Honda Civic Type R is the fastest hot hatch that you can't buy. Unfortunately, its exclusive to European buyers. However, the heart of the Japanese automaker's newest sports car is built right in the good o'l US of A.

The 2.0L turbocharged engine is manufactured at Honda's plant in Anna, Ohio. The factory has been in operation since 1985 and makes engines for the company's most popular vehicles.

Honda recently posted a video on their YouTube account giving us a brief look at what goes into making these small yet powerful engines.

Source: Autoblog.com

NHTSA "tentatively concludes" Chrysler slow to fix recalls

Chrysler is coming under fire yet again in the ongoing saga over automotive recalls.

In a public hearing on Tuesday, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) "tentatively concluded" the company took their sweet time fixing 11 million recalled vehicles. 

The hearing was initially called back in May to determine if action should be taken against Chrysler for the poor way it has handled the problem. 

“In my experience, Fiat Chrysler’s recall performance often differs from that of its peers,” said Scott Yon, chief of the NHTSA's Vehicle Integrity division. 

“Fiat Chrysler takes a long time to produce the parts needed to get vehicles fixed. Their dealers have difficulty getting parts for recalls. Their customers have trouble getting recall repairs done. Fiat Chrysler’s recall remedies sometimes fail to remedy the defects they are supposed to fix.”

The NHTSA singled out Chrysler's slow pace in repairing millions of Jeeps that tend to explode during low speed, rear end crashes. The issue has been linked to about 50 deaths, but the NHTSA says only about 320,000 vehicles had been fixed since the end of April.

The automarker disputes the findings, claiming they had actually been increasing repair rates. A Chrysler spokesperson says the NHTSA is actually to blame citing regulators didn't initially see risks to safety. 

If the hearing finds Chrysler failed to meet its recall obligations, they could be required under US federal law to repurchase or replace the affected vehicles.

Source: The Consumerist

Food and Salsa kick off your weekend road closures for July 4-5

Sweet treats and Latin heat mean several road closures around the City this weekend.

Pan Am Games Torch Relay Community Celebration 
Bloor Street including the Prince Edward Viaduct (Bloor Street bridge) from Parliament Street to Broadview Avenue will be closed from 8 p.m. on Friday, July 3 to 5 a.m. on Sunday, July 5 for the Torch Relay Community Celebration. In addition, access to Castle Frank Road from the Don Valley Parkway and the Bayview extension ramps in both directions will not be available from 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 4 to 5 a.m. on Sunday, July 5.

Salsa on St. Clair 
St. Clair Avenue from Winona Drive to Christie Street will be closed in both directions from Saturday, July 4 at 8 a.m. to Sunday, July 5 at 11 p.m. for Salsa on St. Clair.

Youth Day
Yonge Street from Dundas Street to Queen Street will be closed on Sunday, July 5 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. for the Youth Day event.

Taste of Lawrence 
Lawrence Avenue from Warden Avenue to Birchmount Road will be closed on Friday, July 3 at 10 a.m. to Monday, July 6 at 2 a.m. for the Taste of Lawrence.

If you're thinking of taking the TTC to get to these events, be aware that there are a pair of service disruptions.

Line 3 Scarborough RT
The Scarborough RT will be closed both Saturday and Sunday for maintenance between Kennedy and McCowan. Shuttle buses will be provided, making stops at all stations.

Line 2 Bloor-Danforth Subway
There will be no service on the Bloor-Danforth Line Sunday morning between St. George and Pape for maintenance. Shuttle buses will be provided, making stops at all stations. Full service will resume at Noon.

Toronto drivers not digging Pan Am HOV lanes

Toronto drivers were none too happy Monday morning after temporary HOV lanes went up on GTA highways ahead of the Pan Am Games.

The new lanes are laid out along parts of the 401, Gardiner Expressway, and Don Valley Parkway, in addition to existing ones on the QEW and 404. Vehicles must now have at least a three occupants in order to use them.

Map of temporary HOV lanes. Click for larger image. Via MTO.

Police are strictly enforcing the new rules, which caught many drivers by surprise during the morning commute. Traffic was snarled along major routes leading to significant longer drive times.

Residents took to social media to voice their frustrations.

Not surprised about the issues with the #HOVlanes today. Any idiot could see this was going to be a huge mess #dumb #summeroftraffic

— Melanie Cosentino (@Melington) June 29, 2015

Sigh, shall I leave 3 hrs earlier to get to set tomorrow morning? 3 person HOV lane begins #PanAmageddon #PanAmGames #PanAm #TorontoTraffic

— Angel Navarro III (@angelnavarroiii) June 29, 2015

Day 1 of #PanAm #HOVlanes on 401WB: not 1 car with 3 ppl; most had 1. Lots of hopping across solid white lines.

— Mary Heenan (@mlheenan) June 29, 2015

The fine for using an HOV lane without the correct number of occupants if $110 plus 3 demerit points.

Lane restrictions will remain in effect daily from 5am to 11pm form June 29th to July 27th.

According to the MTO, temporary HOV lanes will be open to:

• accredited Games vehicles used to transport athletes, media, technical officials etc.
• motor vehicles with 3+ occupants (from June 29 – July 27)
• motor vehicles with 2+ occupants (from July 28 – August 18)
• emergency vehicles
• public transit
• licensed taxis
• airport limousines (on provincial highways only)
• electric vehicles with green licence plates (on provincial highways only)
• motorcycles (on City of Toronto roads only – Don Valley Parkway, Gardiner, Lake Shore Blvd.)

Should drivers wish to voice their complaints about the road restrictions, they are advised to contact their Ontario MPP, or Toronto city councilor.

Photo by Haljackey, via Wikipedia. Licensed under Creative Commons 3.0 Share Alike.

Weekend Road Closures for June 27-28

Pride festivities happening downtown this weekend mean several road closures in and around the gay village. 

• Church Street Pride Festival, June 26 to 28 

Church Street from Carlton Street to Hayden Street will be closed from Friday, June 26 at 6 p.m. to Monday, June 29 at 6 a.m. 

• Pride and Remembrance Run, Saturday, June 27 

Wellesley Street from Jarvis Street to and including Queen's Park Circle will be closed on Saturday, June 27 from 8:30 a.m. to noon. 

• Dyke March, Saturday, June 27 

March route: Starts at Hayden Street between Yonge Street and Church Street, goes north on Church Street to Bloor Street, west on Bloor Street to Yonge Street, south on Yonge Street to Carlton Street, east on Carlton Street to Allan Gardens. Roads will be closed between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. The march is from 2 to 4 p.m. 

• Pride Parade, Sunday, June 28 

Formation area: Rosedale Valley Road from Bayview Avenue to Park Road to accommodate the formation of the parade 

Parade route: Starts at Church Street and Bloor Street East, goes west on Bloor Street East to Yonge Street, south on Yonge Street to Dundas Street and back to the festival on Church Street. Roads will be closed for varying periods between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. The parade takes place from 2 to 6:30 p.m. 

TTC to eliminate tickens, tokens for Presto Card

The TTC is making a big push to modernize the city's transit system, which means you'll be saying goodbye to tickets and tokens.

Presto Cards were introduced by Metrolinx a few years ago for riders to pay for GO Transit services. The cards allow riders to load up money online, they then tap them to access transit services.

The city has been slowly upgrading its systems since then. The plan calls for collectors to be eliminated by the end of next year, while tokens and tickets be mid-2017.

"Tokens and tickets and paper transfers and the Metropasses and day passes … will become a thing of the past," said TTC spokesman Brad Ross.

The plan is to have Presto readers at 26 subway stations by the end of June, with a rollout to streetcars by the end of 2015. The TTC's fleet of 1,800 buses will get the service in 2016.

Source: CBC

Weekend Road Closures for June 20-21

Another busy weekend in Toronto with plenty of festivals going on. That means road closures. Here's all you need to know.

Taste of Little Italy 
College Street from Bathurst Street to Shaw Street will be closed in both directions from Friday, June 19 at 6:30 p.m. to Monday, June 22 at 2 a.m.

Church Street Summer Festival 
Church Street from Wood Street to Gloucester Street will be closed from Friday, June 19 at 6 p.m. to Monday, June 22 at 2 a.m. Wellesley Street will be open to traffic.

North by Northeast Music Festival 
Yonge Street from Dundas Street to Queen Street will be closed each night from 7 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Friday, June 19, Saturday, June 20 and Sunday, June 21.

Fairbank Village BIA Multicultural Celebration 
Eglinton Avenue from Dufferin Street to Ronald Avenue will be closed from Saturday, June 20 at 2 a.m. to Monday, June 22 at 5 a.m. A number of smaller streets in this area will also be partially closed to accommodate this event.

Port Union Village Waterfront Festival 
Port Union Road (south of Lawrence Avenue) will be closed in both directions from south of Shoalhaven Drive to Bridgend Street on Saturday, June 20 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Bridgend Street will be closed in both directions from Port Union Road to the east part of Vessel Crescent.

Toronto Triathlon Festival 
• The eastbound lanes of the Gardiner Expressway from the Humber River to Carlaw Avenue will be closed on Sunday, June 21 from 2 a.m. to noon. All westbound lanes of the Gardiner Expressway will remain open.
• The northbound lanes of the Don Valley Parkway from the Gardiner Expressway to Eglinton Avenue will be closed on Sunday, June 21 from 2 a.m. to noon. All southbound lanes of the Don Valley Parkway will remain open.
• One eastbound lane of Lake Shore Boulevard from Windermere Avenue to Strachan Avenue/Remembrance Drive will be closed on Sunday, June 21 from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Journey to Conquer Cancer Run/Walk 5K 
A series of road closures will take place for this event on Sunday, June 21 from 8 a.m. to noon in the area bounded by McCaul Street to the west, Bloor Street to the north, Bay Street to the east and Gerrard Street to the south.

Muchmusic Video Awards 
There will be a series of road closures in the area bounded by Richmond Street in the south, Queen Street in the north, Simcoe Street in the east and Peter Street in the west from Sunday, June 21 at 4 p.m. to Monday, June 22 at 3 a.m.

Sound of Music Festival

Brant Street closed from Caroline to Lakeshore 

Saturday, June 20, 2015 - 6 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Sunday, June 21, 2015 - 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

John Street from Pine Street to Lakeshore Road

Saturday, June 20, 2015 - 6 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Highway 400 Bridge Demolition

The 400 will be closed in both directions between Hwy 88 and Hwy 89 from 11pm Saturday to 8am Sunday for bridge demolition. Use Hwy 27 as an alternate route. 

Weekend Road Closures for June 13-14

We have another very busy festival weekend in the city, plus the Honda Indy is in town. That means plenty of road closures you'll need to avoid. Taking public transit to events will be your best bets.

Honda Indy Weekend 
Strachan Avenue between Lake Shore Boulevard and Fleet Street will be closed on Wednesday, June 10 starting at noon. Later that day, starting at 9 p.m., Lake Shore Boulevard from Strachan Avenue to British Columbia Drive will be closed. Both road closures will be in effect until Sunday, June 14 at midnight. There will be no eastbound or westbound traffic on Lake Shore Boulevard during these closures. The only available access to Ontario Place will be from Lake Shore Boulevard at the foot of Strachan Avenue. 

Ride to Conquer Cancer 
A series of lane closures will take place in the area bounded by Evans Avenue in the north, The West Mall in the west, Kipling Avenue in the east and Lake Shore Boulevard in the south on Saturday, June 13 from 6 to 10 a.m. to accommodate the Ride to Conquer Cancer. 

Highland Creek Heritage Festival and Parade 
Old Kingston Road from Watson Road to Kingston Road and Morrish Road from Kingston Road to 226 Morrish Rd. (south side) will be closed on Saturday, June 13 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To accommodate the parade, Lawson Road will be closed from the west side of Meadowvale Road to Old Kingston Road/Kingston Road from 10 a.m. to noon. The dispersal area for the parade will result in the closure of Watson Road between Old Kingston Road and Thomas Avenue until noon. 

Festival on Bloor 
Bloor Street between Spadina Avenue and Bathurst Street will be closed on Sunday, June 14 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. to accommodate the Festival on Bloor event. 

Portugal Day 
Lansdowne Avenue from Bloor Street to College Street will be closed in both directions on Sunday, June 14 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Toronto Challenge Run 
Wellington Street from Simcoe Street to John Street will be closed in both directions on Sunday, June 14 from 8:30 to 11 a.m. There will also be a variety of road closures during the event in the area bounded by Wellington Street in the south, Spadina Avenue in the west, Wellesley Street in the north and Bay Street in the east. 

Honda Indy races into downtown this weekend

Gentlemen, start your engines. The Honda Indy is back in Toronto this weekend.

The race will take drivers along a complex road circuit through the CNE Grounds. Lake Shore Blvd is part of the track, so that means road closures for drivers of decidedly slower vehicles.

Strachan Avenue will close between Lake Shore and Fleet starting Wednesday, June 10th at noon. Lake Shore itself will close for setup at 9pm between Strachan and BC Drive.

Road closures will remain in effect until Sunday, June 10th at midnight.

If you're heading to the event, public transit will likely be your best bet. Bus and Streetcar service will drop you off right at the front gates.

Drivers heading into the downtown core can expect heavier than usual traffic on the Gardiner Expressway and in town routes like King and Queen.

Photo by Oaktree b, via Wikipedia, CC license 2.5 ca

Weekend Road closures for June 6-7

It's a sunny and very busy weekend in the city. That means plenty of road closures as summer festival season gets under way.

• Family Fun Fit, Kids of Steel Triathlon (bike race): The westbound lanes of Kingston Road from Danforth Avenue to Birchmount Road will be closed on Saturday, June 6 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

• Malvern Bicycle Race: Brenyon Way from Sheppard Avenue East to Sewells Road will be closed from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 6 to accommodate this event.

• Pape Village Summerfest: Pape Avenue between Floyd Avenue and Cosburn Avenue will be closed in both directions on Saturday, June 6 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

• Riverside Eats & Beats Streetfest: Broadview Avenue south of Queen Street East to the north side of the public lane will be closed in both directions on Saturday, June 6 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

• Dundas West Fest: Dundas Street from Lansdowne Avenue to Roxton Road will be closed in both directions on Saturday, June 6 from 8 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. College Street and Queen Street are alternative routes. 

• Maya’s March: Conlins Road from Ellesmere Road to Military Trail will be closed on Sunday, June 7 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.