City of Toronto asks residents to help keep streets safe by reporting vegetation growth near stop signs and traffic signals

City of Toronto Media Relations has issued the following:

==========================================

News Release:  July 30, 2014

City of Toronto asks residents to help keep streets safe by reporting vegetation growth near stop signs and traffic signals

The City of Toronto is asking residents to contact 311 to report locations where summer vegetative growth is obstructing traffic signals and stop signs. The City will dispatch staff to the location to clear the obstruction.

"To protect public safety, we are asking residents to act as our eyes on the street to help us identify and address situations that are potentially unsafe for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers," said Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong (Ward 34 Don Valley), Chair of the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee.

Residents can be helpful by providing the exact geographic location of the vegetation that needs to be cleared, such as eastbound on St. Clair Avenue approaching Mount Pleasant Road.

Transportation Services staff and Parks, Forestry and Recreation staff perform proactive maintenance, but in some areas there has been more vegetation growth than usual.

Residents are also reminded to prune trees and shrubs on their property so they don't obstruct roads and sidewalks, to ensure that travel routes are passable for those with mobility issues.

This news release is also available on the City's website: http://bit.ly/1rGt6ki

Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. Toronto is proud to be the Host City for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us @TorontoComms.

- 30 -

Media contact: Steve Johnston, Strategic Communications, 416-392-4391, sjohnsto@toronto.ca