Ontario Traffic Man
@ontariotrafficman.bsky.social
Transportation in Ontario.
EN🇨🇦/FR🇨🇦/NL🇳🇱
He/him
youtube.com/@ontariotrafficman
EN🇨🇦/FR🇨🇦/NL🇳🇱
He/him
youtube.com/@ontariotrafficman
It gives them priority in every direction, including turning left or right. So it is not equivalent to a circular green light. It's equivalent to a left arrow, thru arrow and right arrow on at the same time
November 30, 2025 at 1:58 AM
It gives them priority in every direction, including turning left or right. So it is not equivalent to a circular green light. It's equivalent to a left arrow, thru arrow and right arrow on at the same time
The LRT uses the vertical white bar at all intersections, because there's only one way it can go anyway. So it only needs one type of indication. On buses you actually need to clarify which directions are "green"
November 30, 2025 at 1:56 AM
The LRT uses the vertical white bar at all intersections, because there's only one way it can go anyway. So it only needs one type of indication. On buses you actually need to clarify which directions are "green"
Viva does use white bars for turns, same as Toronto.
November 30, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Viva does use white bars for turns, same as Toronto.
Vertical white bars are permitted in Ontario but diagonal bars are not. Toronto uses the vertical bar to mean "turn" so there's no white bar symbol for straight.
Waterloo's LRT signals don't need to obey the Highway Traffic Act since they are not used by buses.
Waterloo's LRT signals don't need to obey the Highway Traffic Act since they are not used by buses.
November 29, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Vertical white bars are permitted in Ontario but diagonal bars are not. Toronto uses the vertical bar to mean "turn" so there's no white bar symbol for straight.
Waterloo's LRT signals don't need to obey the Highway Traffic Act since they are not used by buses.
Waterloo's LRT signals don't need to obey the Highway Traffic Act since they are not used by buses.
Spadina is centre running with dedicated lanes and it averages 10-11 km/h. The fastest ROW route is St Clair which is 14 km/h
November 29, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Spadina is centre running with dedicated lanes and it averages 10-11 km/h. The fastest ROW route is St Clair which is 14 km/h
I honestly don't know how they managed to make the line even slower than similar streetcar lines. Some guesses:
- larger intersections means longer crosswalks = longer waits at signals
- maybe the TSP is not correctly calibrated
- maybe some ridiculous procedures that cause long dwells?
- larger intersections means longer crosswalks = longer waits at signals
- maybe the TSP is not correctly calibrated
- maybe some ridiculous procedures that cause long dwells?
November 29, 2025 at 3:55 PM
I honestly don't know how they managed to make the line even slower than similar streetcar lines. Some guesses:
- larger intersections means longer crosswalks = longer waits at signals
- maybe the TSP is not correctly calibrated
- maybe some ridiculous procedures that cause long dwells?
- larger intersections means longer crosswalks = longer waits at signals
- maybe the TSP is not correctly calibrated
- maybe some ridiculous procedures that cause long dwells?
During the pandemic the GO Barrie line was averaging 63 km/h thanks to shorter trains (faster acceleration) and lower ridership (shorter station dwells).
It currently averages 58 km/h
It currently averages 58 km/h
November 29, 2025 at 3:45 PM
During the pandemic the GO Barrie line was averaging 63 km/h thanks to shorter trains (faster acceleration) and lower ridership (shorter station dwells).
It currently averages 58 km/h
It currently averages 58 km/h
Waterloo Region bought a specialized signal control system for tram priority that predicts tram arrivals multiple intersections in advance. It works well.
Toronto is just using local detection approaching each intersection. And even then they aren't allowing TSP to insert extra transit phases.
Toronto is just using local detection approaching each intersection. And even then they aren't allowing TSP to insert extra transit phases.
November 29, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Waterloo Region bought a specialized signal control system for tram priority that predicts tram arrivals multiple intersections in advance. It works well.
Toronto is just using local detection approaching each intersection. And even then they aren't allowing TSP to insert extra transit phases.
Toronto is just using local detection approaching each intersection. And even then they aren't allowing TSP to insert extra transit phases.
14 km/h is insane. The St Clair streetcar averages 14 while having far more stops and signals per km, and those horrible streetcar switches.
November 29, 2025 at 3:36 PM
14 km/h is insane. The St Clair streetcar averages 14 while having far more stops and signals per km, and those horrible streetcar switches.
From a public safety perspective, keep in mind that safety is the total danger to people inside AND outside the vehicle. Hence why cars are the most dangerous mode of passenger transportation. Reducing vehicle kilometres travelled is one of the most effective safety improvements a city can do
November 29, 2025 at 3:02 PM
From a public safety perspective, keep in mind that safety is the total danger to people inside AND outside the vehicle. Hence why cars are the most dangerous mode of passenger transportation. Reducing vehicle kilometres travelled is one of the most effective safety improvements a city can do
The TTC observed collisions due to drivers and pedestrians disobeying red lights and getting hit by trams. To "improve safety" they slowed the trams.
They ignore the fact that transit is the safest mode, so making transit slow increases car trips, making streets LESS SAFE
They ignore the fact that transit is the safest mode, so making transit slow increases car trips, making streets LESS SAFE
November 29, 2025 at 3:00 PM
The TTC observed collisions due to drivers and pedestrians disobeying red lights and getting hit by trams. To "improve safety" they slowed the trams.
They ignore the fact that transit is the safest mode, so making transit slow increases car trips, making streets LESS SAFE
They ignore the fact that transit is the safest mode, so making transit slow increases car trips, making streets LESS SAFE
It could have been a good project if it:
Got absolute priority at all signals. Grade separate all intersections where absolute priority would cause excessive impacts. Edmonton does this
Had gates/bells to avoid slow zones. Edmonton LRT can cross intersections at 70 km/h, Toronto limits trams to 25
Got absolute priority at all signals. Grade separate all intersections where absolute priority would cause excessive impacts. Edmonton does this
Had gates/bells to avoid slow zones. Edmonton LRT can cross intersections at 70 km/h, Toronto limits trams to 25
November 29, 2025 at 2:35 PM
It could have been a good project if it:
Got absolute priority at all signals. Grade separate all intersections where absolute priority would cause excessive impacts. Edmonton does this
Had gates/bells to avoid slow zones. Edmonton LRT can cross intersections at 70 km/h, Toronto limits trams to 25
Got absolute priority at all signals. Grade separate all intersections where absolute priority would cause excessive impacts. Edmonton does this
Had gates/bells to avoid slow zones. Edmonton LRT can cross intersections at 70 km/h, Toronto limits trams to 25
Easy. We calculate the benefit/cost ratio based on global best practices (strong signal priority, no slow zones) and don't question why new rapid transit lines keep failing to provide the "rapid" part they promised.
November 29, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Easy. We calculate the benefit/cost ratio based on global best practices (strong signal priority, no slow zones) and don't question why new rapid transit lines keep failing to provide the "rapid" part they promised.
As with the lack of coordination between service planning and construction closures, it's an issue of mismanagement, not a coordinated conspiracy
November 29, 2025 at 2:16 PM
As with the lack of coordination between service planning and construction closures, it's an issue of mismanagement, not a coordinated conspiracy
You're right to be frustrated! Hourly service to Kitchener was supposed to start in September 2023 but Metrolinx botched the design of the passing tracks on their line between KW and Georgetown. Some parts completed on time (Guelph platform, Breslau 2nd track), orhers not started yet
November 29, 2025 at 2:14 PM
You're right to be frustrated! Hourly service to Kitchener was supposed to start in September 2023 but Metrolinx botched the design of the passing tracks on their line between KW and Georgetown. Some parts completed on time (Guelph platform, Breslau 2nd track), orhers not started yet
It would make no sense to go under such a deep valley. The only option is a viaduct.
But that's fine because the cost per km of large viaduct is about the same as a subway tunnel anyway ($300m /km). So it doesn't actually make much difference to the cost of a subway project.
But that's fine because the cost per km of large viaduct is about the same as a subway tunnel anyway ($300m /km). So it doesn't actually make much difference to the cost of a subway project.
November 29, 2025 at 3:37 AM
It would make no sense to go under such a deep valley. The only option is a viaduct.
But that's fine because the cost per km of large viaduct is about the same as a subway tunnel anyway ($300m /km). So it doesn't actually make much difference to the cost of a subway project.
But that's fine because the cost per km of large viaduct is about the same as a subway tunnel anyway ($300m /km). So it doesn't actually make much difference to the cost of a subway project.
November 29, 2025 at 3:29 AM
There are plans to extend Line 6, but not to Malton. The line will continue south to the nearby Woodbine Racetrack GO station where there will be a transfer to UP express. The line will also serve the Woodbine Racetrack redevelopment along the way
November 29, 2025 at 3:24 AM
There are plans to extend Line 6, but not to Malton. The line will continue south to the nearby Woodbine Racetrack GO station where there will be a transfer to UP express. The line will also serve the Woodbine Racetrack redevelopment along the way
I'd argue it would be much sillier to add hundreds of millions of dollars to a tram project just because it looks good on a map
November 29, 2025 at 3:21 AM
I'd argue it would be much sillier to add hundreds of millions of dollars to a tram project just because it looks good on a map
Closures are managed by a separate team, largely unrelated to service plans. This weekend's closure is between Brampton and Toronto, so it is clearly unrelated to the extension from Brampton to Kitchener. Most of its impacts are actually on the pre-existing trips that were NOT extended to Kitchener.
November 29, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Closures are managed by a separate team, largely unrelated to service plans. This weekend's closure is between Brampton and Toronto, so it is clearly unrelated to the extension from Brampton to Kitchener. Most of its impacts are actually on the pre-existing trips that were NOT extended to Kitchener.
This is a ridiculous conspiracy theory. They cancelled multiple bus trips made redundant by the new trains, so clearly they know that there will be several busloads of passengers per train, even in the unlikely event that they attract no new riders.
November 29, 2025 at 3:14 AM
This is a ridiculous conspiracy theory. They cancelled multiple bus trips made redundant by the new trains, so clearly they know that there will be several busloads of passengers per train, even in the unlikely event that they attract no new riders.
I'm talking specifically about their application and distinction within the field of traffic engineering in Ontario
November 29, 2025 at 2:59 AM
I'm talking specifically about their application and distinction within the field of traffic engineering in Ontario
In my experience "thru" refers specifically to "going straight" while "through" is everything else (e.g. going through the tunnel, through the city centre etc)
November 28, 2025 at 9:33 PM
In my experience "thru" refers specifically to "going straight" while "through" is everything else (e.g. going through the tunnel, through the city centre etc)
Another tool the City can lean into is filtered permeability on local streets. When they removed car traffic from Shaw St, they mostly just alternated the direction of one-way traffic so cars can't go more than a couple blocks at a time. No lanes removed, so unaffected by Bill 60
November 28, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Another tool the City can lean into is filtered permeability on local streets. When they removed car traffic from Shaw St, they mostly just alternated the direction of one-way traffic so cars can't go more than a couple blocks at a time. No lanes removed, so unaffected by Bill 60
It wouldn't be the first time Québec saves us from ourselves
November 28, 2025 at 2:18 AM
It wouldn't be the first time Québec saves us from ourselves