Lincoln, ON – (April 25, 2024) – On April 23, 2024, the Town of Lincoln collaborated with partner agencies, the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS), the Ministry of Transportation (MTO), Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS), and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) for a joint enforcement initiative focusing on commercial motor vehicle enforcement.
These collaborative efforts reinforce Lincoln's commitment to ensuring the safety of its roadways, initiated by community concerns in both Lincoln and West Lincoln regarding an increasing volume of commercial motor vehicle traffic in core areas and residential neighbourhoods.
The primary objective of these initiatives is to identify commercial vehicles deliberately bypassing the Vineland Inspection Station on the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) and to conduct in-depth vehicular inspections to ensure compliance with the road safety standards, as legislated by the Province of Ontario.
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.
"Town Council and our dedicated staff are thrilled to once again prioritize community safety through these important joint initiatives," said Town of Lincoln Mayor Sandra Easton. "We're delighted to see these blitzes return for another year, as they play a pivotal role in upholding traffic safety in Lincoln while ensuring the smooth flow of goods, vital for sustaining our local economy."
The statistics from the recent initiative include:
- More than 150 passenger and commercial vehicles were re-directed to the Vineland Inspection Station
- 31 vehicles were comprehensively inspected
- 16 vehicles were removed from the highway after significant safety concerns were identified
- One set of licence plates were seized
- 37 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.
"In our ongoing commitment to traffic safety, the collaborative efforts of our community agencies remain essential to the success of our traffic safety program," said Tony Brunet, Ward 2 Councillor and Chair of the Town’s Community Services and Infrastructure Committee. "I am genuinely pleased to see this important initiative continue, ensuring the utmost safety for all residents and visitors who depend on our roadways."
"We deeply value and commend the dedication and consistent efforts of our partner agencies in enhancing traffic safety across our communities,” said the Town’s Chief Administrative Officer Michael Kirkopoulos. “Through collaborative and persistent approaches to 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.
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Liliana Busnello
Manager of Corporate Communications
Town of Lincoln
905-563-2799 ext. 230
