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Placing Pedestrians First at Placing Pedestrians First at Toronto’s Signalized Toronto’s Signalized
IntersectionsIntersections
Bruce Zvaniga, P.Eng.Bruce Zvaniga, P.Eng.
Manager, Urban Traffic Control SystemsManager, Urban Traffic Control Systems
January 11, 2009
Outline
1. Toronto Context
2. Transportation Plan for Sustainable Growth
3. Recent Improvements to Pedestrian Signal Operations
4. Wish List for Future Improvements
January 11, 2009
Toronto’s Population
• Population 2.5 Million (5.5 Million in Region)
• One-seventh are over 65 years of age (fastest growing age group)
January 11, 2009
General Characteristics of Toronto’s Signal Operation
• 2100 traffic signal-controlled intersections• Roughly one-third fixed-time operation and two-
thirds semi-actuated• Transit signal priority at one of every six
intersections• All signalized intersections are connected to
central systems: 64% in-house time-of-day, 20% TransSuite and 16% SCOOT
January 11, 2009
Transportation Growth
• 75% growth in both AM inbound and outbound vehicle flows to entire city over past 20 years
However,
• 66% of inbound trips during the AM to the central area are by transit …the vast majority of these trips include some walking
January 11, 2009
Transportation Plan for Sustainable Growth
*
1.1Pedestrian Zones and
Streets
1.2Pedestrian
Enhancements at Intersections
1.4Pavement Narrowings
2.1Bicycle
Stations and Parking
2.3East-West Bike Route Thru Core
3.2Off-Street Parking
Standards
3.1Extend Peak Hour Parking Restrictions
3.3 *Peripheral Commuter
Parking Lots
4.1Additional
Turn Restrictions
4.2Reserved
Bus Lanes
5.2GPS-related
Transit Technology
5.1Proof of Payment
4.3Enhanced
Enforcement
5.3Additional
Transit Vehicles to
Improve Service
2.4 *Major Bicycle
Trail Corridors
1.5Green
Corridors to the
Waterfront
6.TDM
Initiatives
7.Other
Initiatives
6.1 *
Region-wide SMART
Commute
6.4Car
Sharing
7.1Time
Management for Deliveries
6.2 Local
Employer- Based TMA’s
6.3 City’s
Employee Trip
Reduction Program
7.5*Intelligent
Transportation Systems
7.2Educational Programs
Short Term (0 - 2 years)
Medium Term (3 - 5 years)
Long Term (5+ years)
5.Other Transit
Improvements
4.Transit Priority
3.Parking
2.Cycling
1.Pedestrians
2.2Bicycle Sharing
1.3Improvements
to the Pedestrian
Public Realm
7.3Promoting Taxi Use
7.4*
Review of HOV Lanes
May Require Metrolinx Support, Coordination or Funding
6.5 *Road-User Charges
Sustainable Transportation Initiatives – Summary ChartPedestrian Enhancements at Signalized Intersections
January 11, 2009
Pedestrian Countdown Timers
• Addresses confusion/uncertainty• Council approved 3 year city-wide
implementation to be completed June 2009 concurrent with LED Conversion
• Countdown of clearance (flashing don’t walk) phase only
• Issues with variable clearance timing where rail, fire hall, and transit pre-emption present
• Public, political, media and police reaction very positive
January 11, 2009
Leading Pedestrian Interval
4 second headstart for pedestrians before vehicle green
Status:• Removed quickly at “normal” intersection
• Retained and highly successful at intersection of one-way street with heavy left-turning traffic to a two-way street
• Plan is to “try” another 5 to 10 locations in 2009 - looking for intersections with similar unopposed turning movements, and heavy pedestrian movements on conflicting crosswalks
January 11, 2009
Accessible Pedestrian Signals(aka audible pedestrian signals)
• Council policy decision to include APS at all new traffic signal installations and to target retrofits within a year of receiving a request.
• 250 intersections currently equipped• 60 additional retrofits targeted in next 2
years• Questions remain about how to handle
complex intersection geometrics
January 11, 2009
Increased Pedestrian Crossing Time
• Old method:– Walk speed 1.2 m/s or 1.0 m/s– Ped clearance was timed for 5/8ths of the minimum total
time • New method:
– 7 second minimum walk, full clearance distance at 1.2 m/s walk speed … walk plus clearance time must allow for 1.0 m/s walk speed
• New method only applied after installation of countdown timers
• Impact on transit priority infrastructure – due to relationship between loop detector placement and time to decision point – somewhat less efficient
January 11, 2009
Pedestrian Signal Priority
• Barnes Dance
• Exclusive Pedestrian Phase
• Pedestrian Scramble
January 11, 2009
Pedestrian Signal Priority Perceived Benefits
• Clear message that pedestrians are important
• Increase pedestrian comfort level
• (May) improve safety
• Low cost, easy to implement ?
January 11, 2009
Pedestrian Signal Priority Challenges
• APS
• PCS
• Signs & Markings
January 11, 2009
Pedestrian Signal Priority Blind and Visually Impaired Peds• Issue of audible tone
– “Walk Sign is on for all crossings”• Concerns expressed about confusion
– Lack of parallel traffic sound– How does a visitor detect the difference ?– Confusing for guide dogs … who do you follow– Need for tactile way finding– Concern about crowding around APS buttons– Lack of distinct north-south vs. east-west tones
January 11, 2009
Pedestrian Signal Priority Countdown Signals Display
• Issue caused by concurrent and priority phasing
• PCS count down the clearance time
• Crossing clearance on the diagonal is greater than the orthogonal
• PCS devices use simple logic – count down time based on the previous display time
January 11, 2009
Pedestrian Signal Priority Signs
Signs:• To sign or not to sign• Are the signals intuitive or
susceptible to misinterpretation?
Markings:
• Full diagonal or stub
January 11, 2009
Pedestrian Wish List for Traffic Signals
1. Pedestrian Detection SAP SAC issue
3. PII – pedestrian infrastructure integration …. low cost handheld device using DSRC to communicate information to peds (particularly visually-impaired)
January 11, 2009
For Further Information:
Bruce Zvaniga
Manager, Urban Traffic Control Systems
City of Toronto Transportation Services
703 Don Mills Road, 5th Floor
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M3C 3N3
Phone: 416-392-8826
E-mail: [email protected]
http://www.toronto.ca
January 11, 2009
