An ambulance at the scene of one of Toronto's many recent pedestrian fatalities. (CBC)

Toronto politicians want to do something in the wake of a rash of pedestrian deaths in the city, but reducing the speed limit on certain streets isn't the answer, says the city's head of transportation services.

Gary Welsh said Tuesday that it is difficult to find a specific cause or draw any conclusions about the deaths. "Right now, there's no common element."

Welsh said he is working with the police and his counterparts throughout the GTA. But, he said, "it's really too early to determine if there's a trend that should be corrected."

Welsh said the city is working quickly to finish a number of safety projects including installing signals that give people longer times to cross intersections. It's also converting crosswalks on main streets to traffic lights.

On Tuesday Coun. Bill Saundercook proposed that the speed limits be reduced on streets where drivers routinely exceed the limit.

Mayor David Miller said Saundercook's motion has merit, but different things need to be done to improve safety on the main roads.

"On major arterial roads it's things like pedestrian crossovers being properly visible, or being converted to lights. It's things like garbage cans being moved away from intersections. It's things like sidewalks being connected," said Miller.

The transportation head said he's "not aware of any problem streets," but "maybe there are a few where speed limits should be lowered." The motion will be debated during Wednesday's council meeting.