April 8, 1999
To:Urban Environment and Development Committee
From:Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services
Subject:Traffic Signal Co-ordination
Danforth Avenue, between East Lynn Avenue and Woodbine Avenue (East Toronto)
Purpose:
To respond to a request of the Urban Environment and Development Committee to report on
the implications of removing traffic signal co-ordination on Danforth Avenue between East
Lynn Avenue and Woodbine Avenue as a result of complaints related to vehicle speeding on
this section of street.
Recommendation:
It is recommended that this report be received for information.
Background:
The Urban Environment and Development Committee at its meeting of June 15 and 16 1998,
in considering a communication (April 3, 1998) from Councillor Tom Jakobek and an
accompanying letter (February 25, 1998) from the Acting-Manager, Central Traffic Region in
response to a request from the Councillor to eliminate traffic signal co-ordination on Danforth
Avenue, between East Lynn Avenue and Woodbine Avenue, due to complaints about
speeding referred the matter to the General Manager, Transportation Services, with a request
that he report on the implications of removing traffic signal co-ordination on this section of
Danforth Avenue. (Clause 25 in Report No. 8 of the Urban Environment and Development
Committee).
Discussion:
Danforth Avenue, between East Lynn Avenue and Woodbine Avenue, is a four-lane roadway
with a combined east-west daily traffic volume of approximately 31,000 vehicles. The
distance between the two signalized intersections is 200 metres. The speed limit on Danforth
Avenue is 50 km/h.
The results of speed studies, which were conducted during a typical weekday off-peak period,
indicated that the 85th percentile speed (the speed at which 85 percent of motorists are
travelling at or below) is 47 and 52 km/h for the eastbound and westbound traffic,
respectively. According to the radar study results, the prevailing speeds are in a range that is
typical for a 50 km/h roadway within the City of Toronto.
A review of the Toronto Police Service collision records for the five-year period ending
December 31, 1997 revealed that two collisions were reported in which the cause of the
collision was a motorist speeding/following too closely.
Traffic signal co-ordination is an important tool to assist in the efficient flow of traffic on
main arterial streets between signalized intersections. The objective is that each successive
traffic control signal along a route is timed to turn green for approaching groups or "platoons"
of vehicles in order to reduce stops and delays. This has a positive effect on fuel consumption
and exhaust emissions.
Signal co-ordination does not necessarily encourage a faster rate of speed, but it does result in
a more uniform flow (since the acceleration/deceleration cycles are reduced). In fact, because
the co-ordination relies on travelling at approximately the speed limit, those who travel at a
higher rate would not achieve the benefit. They would be subject to a higher number of
required stops and increased delay. In this way signal co-ordination tends to promote
motorists obeying the speed limit
A key principle underlying the operation of the transportation network is to make efficient
utilization of the arterial routes. Signal co-ordination enhances arterial capacity by an
estimated 10 to 15 percent. In this way vehicles and goods movement is facilitated as
effectively as possible and the tendency by motorists to avoid congestion by infiltrating
abutting residential streets is reduced. If the timing of these signals is not co-ordinated,
additional queuing, congestion and delay is anticipated. This may have the opposite effect in
terms of speed profile as some motorists may tend to accelerate even faster. Certainly, more
variation in vehicular speed patterns would be expected.
Consequently, no changes are recommended to the existing traffic signal timing on Danforth
Avenue, at East Lynn Avenue and Woodbine Avenue.
Contact Name:
Vince Suppa
District 1- East
(416) 397-5436
David Kaufman
General Manager, Transportation Services
Barry Gutteridge
Commissioner, Works & Emergency Services
VJS/bm
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