Lincoln, ON (June 10, 2025) – The Town of Lincoln, in partnership with the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS), Niagara Region, Ministry of Transportation (MTO), Halton Regional Police Service, and Hamilton Police Service, conducted the third joint enforcement initiative of 2025 on June 9.
This targeted safety blitz focused on identifying commercial motor vehicles using bypass routes to avoid the Vineland MTO Inspection Station along the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW). Officers conducted comprehensive roadside inspections to ensure compliance with Ontario’s commercial vehicle safety standards.
The statistics from the recent initiative include:
- 40 vehicles comprehensively inspected
- 17 vehicles removed from the highway after significant safety concerns were identified
- 37 charges laid
- 2 licence plates seized
- 1 arrest made of a Criminal Code of Canada Suspended Driver
- 1 vehicle impounded
In addition to the Truck Blitz, the Town of Lincoln is proud to partner with Niagara Region to support the Town’s Truck Bypass Camera Monitoring Pilot Program. The program, which came into effect in early 2023, leverages advanced AI technology to monitor and detect commercial vehicles that bypass the Vineland Inspection Station on the QEW. This safety initiative aligns with Niagara Region’s Vision Zero plans to make Niagara’s roads and communities safer.
Data collected during these blitzes, as well as the Pilot Program, are helping the Town build a clearer picture of truck traffic patterns and inform future safety strategies. Lincoln remains committed to working with the MTO, NRPS, and Niagara Region to keep local roads safe.
For more on the Town’s truck traffic initiatives, visit Speak Up Lincoln. To learn more about Lincoln’s broader road safety measures—including community safety zones, pedestrian crossovers, speed bumps, and radar feedback signs—visit Lincoln.ca.
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.
Niagara Region & Town of Lincoln – Road and Traffic Safety Collaboration
The Town of Lincoln and Niagara Region have a strong history of collaboration on road safety, traffic management, and community well-being. Through coordinated efforts, both have worked to reduce speeding, improve pedestrian safety, and manage growing traffic volumes in key areas of Lincoln. This partnership aligns with the Region’s Vision Zero Road Safety Initiative, which aims to eliminate serious injuries and fatalities on roads across Niagara.
The Region has supported local safety enhancements such as community safety zones, digital speed feedback signs, and pedestrian crossovers, helping to create safer streets for residents of all ages. Joint planning and investment in regional road improvements also ensure that Lincoln’s transportation network meets the needs of a growing population while supporting economic development and public safety.
Quotes:
“These enforcement efforts are part of our commitment to improve road safety by directing truck traffic away from our town’s core and onto roads better suited for heavy vehicles.” said Lincoln’s Mayor Sandra Easton. “Through a broader partnership with the Niagara Region, we’re able to ensure that critical safety initiatives, like the Truck Bypass Camera Monitoring Pilot Program, continue to protect our community and contribute to the Region’s Vision Zero plans. Together, we’re prioritizing safer streets for everyone in Lincoln.”.
“I am very proud that Niagara Region is partnering on this important safety initiative,” says Regional Councillor Robert Foster. “Niagara has an intricate and vibrant Regional road network that plays a vital role in moving goods and services through truck transport across our 12 municipalities including Lincoln.
“The safety of trucks travelling through Niagara is paramount and a top priority among all my fellow Regional Councillors. Niagara Region is eager and excited to continue such an important collaboration with all our key stakeholders and partner organizations.
“Whether by utilizing state-of-the-art technology, such as the Town of Lincoln’s Town’s Truck Bypass Camera Monitoring Pilot Program or through the Region’s Community Safety Zone program, Niagara Region is committed to the principles of Vision Zero and reducing fatalities and collisions across Regional roads.”
Michael Kirkopoulos, the Town’s CAO, added “Our enforcement efforts, combined with monitoring tools supported by Niagara Region, are helping us better understand truck traffic patterns and improve road safety. This collaborative approach reflects our shared focus on protecting residents and supporting the local economy, all while contributing to the Vision Zero’s long-term objectives.”
“Lincoln’s infrastructure is designed to serve a growing and thriving community—not to bear the brunt of bypassing commercial truck traffic,” said Councillor Mike Mikolic, Ward 3 Councillor and Chair of the Community Services and Infrastructure Committee. “With coordinated enforcement and smart monitoring tools made possible by these partnerships, we’re taking meaningful steps to preserve our roads and plan responsibly for the future.”
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Liliana Busnello
Manager of Corporate Communications
Town of Lincoln
905-563-2799 ext. 230
Jason Misner
Senior Communications Strategist
Niagara Region
905-980-6000; Toll-free: 1-800-263-7215