October 19, 2016…

October 19, 2016

Arielle Mayer
Senior Policy Advisor, Ministry of Transportation
Policy and Planning Division - Transportation Planning Branch
Environmental Policy Office (Toronto)
777 Bay Street, Suite 3000
Toronto, ON M7A 2J8

Re. Third-party Advertising Along Provincial Highways

I understand that the Provincial government is considering changes to its Corridor Signing Policy, including the use of third-party advertising along Provincial highways.

By way of background, the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA) is a non-profit umbrella organization working with the over 81 Business Improvement Areas within the City of Toronto who in turn represent more than 40,000 business & property owners.

TABIA members benefit from the ability to advertise locally on digital signs. TABIA also benefits through free access to advertise significant community events that help stimulate small businesses and foster employment across the city. Digital signs also help to beautify and modernize the communities in which they are located, helping to create stronger neighbourhoods.

TABIA, its members and the tens of thousands of businesses we represent fully support use of third-party advertising along 400 series of highways and encourage the Province to adopt regulations and policies that have a positive impact to our members. TABIA encourages Provincial regulations to be broad in nature focused on elements such as permitted sign categories (static, digital, etc), permitted land uses (industrial, commercial, utility, rail), illumination limits and size (maximum of 65 square metres).

Digital signs also provide emergency services override capabilities that police can use to disseminate important and urgent information such as amber alerts and evacuation routes, benefitting business owners and customers, and the public at large.

The City of Toronto previously approved the consolidation of several traditional signs, replacing a fraction of those signs to digital signs throughout the City, and these signs have been well received by TABIA members, businesses, property owners and Torontonians at large.

As a result of the aforementioned points, TABIA supports the Province in amending its Corridor Signing Policy in order to allow 3rd party digital signs adjacent to 400 series highways and to grant municipalities the autonomy to address all sign applications within their jurisdiction regardless of whether the sign falls on municipal or provincial right of ways.

Yours Sincerely,

John Kiru
Executive Director

[Original Comment ID: 205423]