Lincoln, ON – (September 14, 2023) – On September 12, 2023, the Town of Lincoln collaborated with partner agencies, the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS), Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) and the Ministry of Transportation (MTO), for their fifth collaborative enforcement initiative this year. This operation had a strong emphasis on commercial motor vehicle enforcement.
These joint initiatives reinforce Lincoln's commitment to maintaining safe roadways within the Town. Specifically, they target commercial vehicles that intentionally bypass the Vineland Truck Inspection Station on the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) between Vineland and Beamsville in Lincoln. These frequent blitzes were initiated in response to concerns from the community in Lincoln and West Lincoln about an increasing volume of commercial motor vehicle traffic in core areas and residential neighborhoods.
The primary objective of this initiative was to identify commercial vehicles deliberately bypassing the Vineland Inspection Station 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. These safety blitzes demonstrate the Town's unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety of all Lincoln's roads, benefiting both residents and visitors alike.
"Town Council and our dedicated staff continue to prioritize community safety through these important joint initiatives,” said Town of Lincoln Mayor Sandra Easton. "These frequent safety initiatives play a pivotal role in both upholding traffic safety in Lincoln and facilitating the seamless flow of goods, essential 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
- 68 vehicles were comprehensively inspected
- 22 vehicles were removed from the highway after significant safety concerns were identified
- Three sets of licence plates were seized
- 52 Provincial Offence Notices (tickets) were issued for various offences including: drive motor vehicle no license, insecure load, defective push rods, inaccurate inspection logs, and excessive exhaust smoke.
"The combined efforts of our community agencies are 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 vital initiative continue, as it ensures the highest level of safety for all residents and visitors who rely on our roadways."
"We deeply value the dedication and consistent efforts displayed by our partner agencies in bolstering 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 Speak Up Lincoln for more details or to ask the Town a question about traffic safety in Lincoln.
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
Direct: 905-563-2799 ext. 230
Tel: 905-563-8205
