On May 8, 2024, the Town of Lincoln collaborated with the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) for a joint enforcement initiative. This initiative focused on stopping commercial motor vehicles travelling on known by-pass routes, avoiding the Vineland MTO Inspection Station.
This year, they are increasing their efforts with additional blitzes in partnership with the MTO aimed at reducing local truck traffic volumes while prioritizing road safety.
During these MTO blitzes, officials diligently identify commercial vehicles intentionally bypassing the Vineland Inspection Station on the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW). They conduct thorough vehicle inspections to ensure compliance with Ontario’s legislated road safety standards.
Lincoln’s safety blitzes are a direct outcome of Council’s determination to divert commercial vehicle traffic away from the Town’s downtown areas, and onto regional and municipal roads better suited for larger trucks. This redirection is done while maintaining the smooth flow of goods to support local businesses and the overall economy.
“As we strive to address the ongoing issue of unnecessary truck traffic in Lincoln, the Blitz model remains our frontline defense,” said Town of Lincoln Mayor Sandra Easton. “We’re encouraged by the continued and heightened frequency of these blitzes this year, recognizing their pivotal role in maintaining traffic safety in Lincoln and facilitating the goods movement crucial to our local economy’s prosperity.”
The statistics from the recent initiative include:
- 20 commercial vehicles were re-directed to the Vineland Inspection Station
- 25 vehicles were comprehensively inspected
- 8 vehicles were removed from the highway after significant safety concerns were identified
- 16 Provincial Offence Notices (tickets) were issued for various offences including: failing to conduct daily inspection reports, failing to ensure daily inspection reports are conducted properly, insecure commercial motor vehicle load, and failing to meet commercial motor vehicle performance standards.
Tony Brunet, Ward 2 Councillor and Chair of the Town’s Community Services and Infrastructure Committee, emphasized “I am genuinely pleased to see this important initiative continue, ensuring the utmost safety for all residents and visitors who depend on our roadways. With the increased frequency of blitzes this year, our joint efforts with the Ministry of Transportation underscore our dedication to improving local truck traffic volume while prioritizing road safety.”
“As we continue our joint enforcement efforts with the MTO and other partners throughout the year, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring safe roadways and supporting our local economy,” said the Town’s Chief Administrative Officer Michael Kirkopoulos. “By employing collaborative and persistent approaches to ensure community safety, we are consistently advancing Lincoln’s top priorities.”
For more information on truck safety in Lincoln and previous safety blitzes, visit Speak Up Lincoln.
The Town continues to implement traffic safety initiatives throughout the community, including community safety zones, pedestrian crossovers, speedbumps, and digital speed feedback signs. Visit Lincoln.ca for more details.
Background
Truck Traffic in Lincoln and History of Safety Blitzes
In April 2019, Lincoln Council approved a resolution regarding truck safety in Lincoln, which addressed community concerns related to truck traffic and identified several action items to address the concerns. In the short term, the Beamsville Alternate Truck Route Initiative is planned to redirect truck traffic from the downtown area of Beamsville and along Bartlett Road and Durham Road.
In the longer term, the Niagara Escarpment Crossing Project will be a new north-south truck route strategically located between the QEW and Regional Road 20. This route supports the need identified in the Niagara Region Transportation Master Plan for a new north-south escarpment crossing linking the QEW with Highway 20. It will offset the implications of high commercial vehicle traffic travelling through urban and residential areas within the west Niagara communities of Lincoln and Grimsby.
The Town’s Transportation Master Plan developed comprehensive strategies for the movement of goods which requires ongoing partnership with the Niagara Region and other key agencies such as the Minister of Transportation and Niagara Regional Police.
