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King Street (Streetcar Transit Priority)

City of Toronto Media Relations has issued the following:

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Media Advisory

February 8, 2024

Tomorrow, Mayor Olivia Chow, Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik and Councillor Chris Moise will give an update on the City of Toronto’s actions to enhance transit service and improve traffic management along the King Street.

Date: Friday, February 9

Time: 12:45 p.m.

Location: Intersection of King Street and University Avenue, northwest corner

King Street is the TTC’s busiest surface transit route in the city, moving more than 72,000 riders on an average weekday. The King Street Transit Priority Corridor between Bathurst Street and Jarvis Street puts people and transit first and improves transit reliability, speed and capacity.

The King Street Transit Pilot launched in 2017. In 2019, City Council made King Street a permanent Transit Priority Corridor, giving priority to street cars and restricting motor traffic at most intersections, with exceptions for local access.

Since December 2023, the City of Toronto has deployed traffic agents at major intersections along King Street during rush hours to enforce the Transit Priority Corridor.
 
DSC said:
City of Toronto Media Relations has issued the following:

==========================================

Media Advisory

February 8, 2024
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With RapidTO now going full steam ahead, I do hope the city is looking at a King Street ROW more seriously.

We will soon have bus lanes on Jane where there is arguably a greater need for private car use than almost anywhere along King.
 
News Release is here: https://www.toronto.ca/news/new-mea...vel-on-king-street-transit-priority-corridor/

Additional measures

The City has implemented a number of other traffic management enhancements along the King Street Transit Priority Corridor, including:

  • Modifying traffic signal timings to give streetcars more time to travel through intersections.
  • Adding dedicated transit signals to reduce the likelihood of motorists accidentally making an illegal movement, such as running a red light during a green transit signal, as well as improving signage and road markings.
  • By mid-2024, temporary TTC platforms will be installed at 20 locations along King Street. These platforms will increase safety and help transit riders enter and exit streetcars more easily.

Has anyone seen these dedicated signals yet?
 
Full PR

News Release



February 9, 2024



New measures speed up streetcar travel on King Street Transit Priority Corridor



Streetcar riders travelling along the King Street Transit Priority Corridor have a faster and safer journey following the City of Toronto’s actions to enhance transit service and improve traffic management.



On Friday, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow provided an update on the success of traffic management strategies along the King Street Transit Priority Corridor, which were implemented by the City in December 2023 to improve traffic flow and safety for all road users.



These strategies include the deployment of dedicated Traffic Agents at the intersections of King Street and University Avenue, York Street, Bay Street, Yonge Street, Church Street and Jarvis Street on weekdays during peak traffic periods.



Reduced travel times

When Traffic Agents are present along the King Street Transit Priority Corridor, streetcar travel times between University Avenue and Jarvis Street are approximately 28-44 minutes faster (45-65 minutes total journey time reduced to 17-21 minutes total journey time).



Traffic Agents are empowered to manage traffic at intersections by dynamically directing road users in real-time, enforcing transit priority and restricting motor traffic at most intersections along the King Street Transit Priority Corridor, with exceptions for local access. Their actions are further supported by Toronto Police Service officers who work with Traffic Agents to enforce traffic violations at intersections along King Street.

The City will continue to deploy Traffic Agents along the King Street Transit Priority Corridor as needed to manage evolving traffic demands, reduce congestion and ensure safety for all road users.

Additional measures

The City has implemented a number of other traffic management enhancements along the King Street Transit Priority Corridor, including:

• Modifying traffic signal timings to give streetcars more time to travel through intersections.

• Adding dedicated transit signals to reduce the likelihood of motorists accidentally making an illegal movement, such as running a red light during a green transit signal, as well as improving signage and road markings.

• By mid-2024, temporary TTC platforms will be installed at 20 locations along King Street. These platforms will increase safety and help transit riders enter and exit streetcars more easily.

The King Street Transit Priority Corridor King Street is the TTC’s busiest surface transit route in the city, moving more than 72,000 riders on an average weekday. The King Street Transit Priority Corridor between Bathurst Street and Jarvis Street puts people and transit first and improves transit reliability, speed and capacity.

The King Street Transit Pilot launched in 2017. In 2019, City Council made King Street a permanent Transit Priority Corridor, giving priority to street cars and restricting motor traffic at most intersections, with exceptions for local access.
 
New data from the city suggests the presence of traffic agents on the King Street transit corridor reduced average eastbound streetcar travel time in the evening rush from 45-65 minutes to 17-21 minutes.
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City slide deck also says that there’s a “rapid deterioration of performance” after the traffic agents head home for the day. More analysis required, but strong indication the presence of people matters a lot when it comes to compliance with the traffic rules.
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You can see the improvement in streetcar travel times after traffic agents were deployed. Also pictured is a long line of cars on King Street at 6:03 pm shortly after traffic agents complete their shift.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1756017332512510405
 
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adys123 said:
Has anyone seen these dedicated signals yet?
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Matt Elliot: "In addition to the traffic agent program, the city is finally looking at changing the traffic lights, so there will be separate signals for cars — which will presumably just stay red? — and streetcars. This should mean they can automate enforcement with red-light cameras too."

Hilarious if they just leave it red all the time and add red light cameras.

GF6hv3GWEAE9MH_.jpg
 
chrisw said:
Matt Elliot: "In addition to the traffic agent program, the city is finally looking at changing the traffic lights, so there will be separate signals for cars — which will presumably just stay red? — and streetcars. This should mean they can automate enforcement with red-light cameras too."

Hilarious if they just leave it red all the time and add red light cameras.

View attachment 539391
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Though have no problem with making the signals clearer, I would say that 90-95% of those who drive straight through know exactly what they are doing!
 
DSC said:
Though have no problem with making the signals clearer, I would say that 90-95% of those who drive straight through know exactly what they are doing!
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True, but you don't see people running fully red lights during rush hour, unless they've just turned red.
 
People run fully red lights all the time, including at rush hour, particularly when making left hand turns but also going straight through. I see people entering the intersection when the light has turned red, never mind being in the intersection when it changes (which is still illegal).
 
evandyk said:
People run fully red lights all the time, including at rush hour, particularly when making left hand turns but also going straight through. I see people entering the intersection when the light has turned red, never mind being in the intersection when it changes (which is still illegal).
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great, let them run them. Every signal in Toronto should have a red light camera. Use the funds to fund transit.
 
evandyk said:
People run fully red lights all the time, including at rush hour, particularly when making left hand turns but also going straight through. I see people entering the intersection when the light has turned red, never mind being in the intersection when it changes (which is still illegal).
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I've never really seen it, except just after the light has changed.
 
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