TORONTO TRANSIT COMMISSION

REPORT NO.

MEETING DATE: January 12, 2000

SUBJECT: POST-IMPLEMENTATION REVIEW OF "TRANSIT-FIRST" TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PLAN

RECOMMENDATIONS

It is recommended that the Commission:

1. receive this report for information, noting that:

· the "transit first" traffic management plan which was implemented for six evenings during the Benson and Hedges Symphony of Fire events was effective in eliminating auto-related delays to the 29 Dufferin and 511 Bathurst services in the area immediately adjacent to Exhibition Place;

· TTC staff are exploring means of reducing automobile congestion on Bathurst Street for use when this plan is implemented for the Benson and Hedges fireworks events in 2000;

· a less-extensive traffic management plan was implemented on weekends during the CNE; an exclusive streetcar right-of-way was created on sections of Fleet Street, as described herein and, despite some problems with motorists attempting to drive across the streetcar right-of-way, this plan resulted in significant reductions in auto-related delays on that section of the 511 Bathurst and 521 Exhibition streetcar services;

· TTC staff are working with City staff to evaluate the feasibility, and associated staging, of converting portions of the centre lanes of Fleet Street to a permanent reserved streetcar right-of-way; and

2. forward this report to Councillors Joe Pantalone and Mario Silva, the City of Toronto, the Toronto Transportation Services Department, the Toronto Police Services Board, the Canadian National Exhibition Association Board of Directors, Exhibition Place, and Ontario Place.

FUNDING

The 2000 operating budget includes $25,000 for the TTC's contribution toward the implementation of these traffic management plans again this year.

BACKGROUND

At its meeting on July 21, 1999, the Commission received the staff report entitled, Exhibition Place/Ontario Place Traffic Management Plan for Weekends. At that time, the Commission approved, among other things;

· That staff submit a report evaluating the success of the plan with recommendations on any initiatives that should be made permanent across the streetcar network;

· That staff submit a separate report specifically on the component of the plan relating to the 504 King streetcar service west of Dufferin Street;

· That prior to the evaluation report coming forward that staff arrange a meeting with Councillor Pantalone to review and discuss his concerns regarding the plan; and

· That staff investigate and report back on any adjustments that could be made to the SCOOT system along Lake Shore Boulevard to accommodate streetcar traffic;

This report responds to the above requests, beginning with an evaluation of the effectiveness of the "transit first" traffic management plans which were implemented this past summer.

DISCUSSION

Benson and Hedges Symphony of Fire

The staff report entitled, "Exhibition Place/Ontario Place Traffic Management Plan: Results of First Event" which was considered by the Commission at its meeting on June 30, 1999, described the traffic management plan which was put in place for the first night of the Benson and Hedges Symphony of Fire. Exhibit 1 illustrates the plan which was originally approved by the Commission. This plan was supplemented by other measures, initiated by City Transportation Services, such as the closure of the Gardiner Expressway off-ramps in the vicinity of Exhibition Place, in advance of the conclusion of the fireworks. As was indicated in that report, the measures which were put in place on sections of Fleet Street, Bathurst Street, and Dufferin Street, together with the City's initiatives, virtually eliminated auto-related delays to the 511 Bathurst streetcar and express bus service operating between Exhibition Loop and the Bathurst Street - Front Street intersection, and to the 29 Dufferin buses south of King Street. This plan was subsequently used for the remaining five Symphony of Fire events, with similarly favourable results. Operations on Bathurst Street, north of Front Street, were congested and slow because parked cars in the curb lanes reduced traffic flow to a single lane in each direction. However, even with these delays, the one-way trip time for streetcars operating between Exhibition Place and Bathurst Station were typically 30 minutes or less, significantly faster than in previous years when one-way trip times were, in the worst cases, as high as 80 minutes.

With respect to the Commission's inquiry regarding the 504 King streetcar, the plan which was originally approved by the Commission included a special "No Stopping" enforcement on King Street from Roncesvalles Avenue to Spadina Avenue. However, City staff indicated that the logistics of installing special signage that would apply to the late evening on the six separate nights, made this component of the plan infeasible. TTC staff, after discussing this matter in considerable detail, accepted the City staff's position on this matter. Although police were stationed on King Street at Bathurst and Dufferin Streets, and Jameson Avenue to assist in managing transit traffic, King Street was very congested following the fireworks, as were most other roadways in this area.

CNE Weekends

As indicated in the staff report entitled, "Exhibition Place/Ontario Place Traffic Management Plan for Weekends During the CNE", TTC staff worked with representatives of the Canadian National Exhibition, Exhibition Place, Ontario Place, Toronto Transportation Services, and Toronto Police Services to establish a "transit first" traffic management plan for weekends during the Canadian National Exhibition to reduce traffic-related delays which have been encountered in previous years. The key components of the plan were:

· City Works staff placed construction barrels and cones adjacent to the centre lanes on Fleet Street, from Strachan Avenue to Bathurst Street, to reserve these lanes for exclusive use by TTC streetcars and emergency vehicles, with motorists permitted to use only the curb lanes;

· police controlled the Canada Boulevard/Strachan Avenue/Fleet Street intersection to minimize delays to streetcar operations at this location; and

· police controlled westbound traffic on Fleet Street at the "crossover" onto Lake Shore Boulevard. With all westbound motorists in the curb lane, those motorists wishing to turn left and continue west on Lake Shore Boulevard required police assistance to ensure that they did not conflict with streetcars on Fleet Street which were travelling straight through the intersection.

Although measures were introduced on Dufferin Street in the Benson and Hedges Symphony of Fire traffic management plan, no controls were put in place on that roadway for the CNE over and above what is normally done for the CNE. Dufferin Street was closed at the north limit of Exhibition Place during the CNE, and police assisted with traffic management and control of illegal parking and stopping on this section of Dufferin Street in an effort to keep the roadway clear for 29 Dufferin buses.

During the first weekend of the 1999 CNE, this plan was in effect from 12:00 noon to 11:00 PM on Saturday, August 21, and from 12:00 noon to 9:00 PM on Sunday, August 22. Although no record had been kept of the delays to streetcars at these locations in previous years, divisional staff judged that this plan resulted in a reduction in round trip time of over 15 minutes, which is significant on a route whose total scheduled round trip time is 40 minutes. Some problems were observed with motorists driving between the cones and barrels used to demarcate the exclusive streetcar right-of-way, and onto, or across, the tracks.

For the second weekend, August 28 and 29, the plan was scheduled to be in operation from 1 PM to 12 midnight on Saturday, and from 1 PM to 10 PM on Sunday to better reflect peak transit/traffic conditions. However, problems were again encountered with motorists making left turns from the adjacent traffic lane and driving between the barrels. Given concerns with the safety of these manoeuvres, the barrels were removed from Fleet Street on Saturday at approximately 4:00 PM and not used at all on Sunday.

At a follow-up meeting after the second weekend, Toronto Transportation staff advised that there were not enough barrels available to allow staff to place them so close together that a motorist could not drive between them and onto the tracks. For that reason, it was decided to create the streetcar right-of-way with barrels virtually side-by-side on only the westerly portion of Fleet Street, between the "crossover" and Strachan Avenue, where the transit benefits of exclusivity were judged to be the highest.

This revised plan was implemented for the Labour Day weekend of the CNE from 1:00 PM to 12:00 midnight on Saturday and Sunday, and from 1 PM to 10 PM on Labour Day Monday. The more closely-spaced barrels were effective in keeping motorists off the streetcar right-of-way.

Meeting with Councillor Pantalone

TTC staff met with Councillor Pantalone on December 16, 1999, for the purpose of discussing the 1999 traffic management plan and any changes which might be warranted. In particular, staff explained that, where the parking and traffic control measures had been in place, TTC services were able to operate effectively and without delay. However, on the sections of route where traffic was very heavy and where no special parking restrictions were put into place -- specifically on most of Bathurst Street -- the traffic congestion was significant, and the quality and speed of streetcar service deteriorated significantly as streetcars got stuck in heavy, slow-moving traffic. The absence of parking restrictions on that section of the road resulted in traffic having to funnel down to one lane in each direction which, in turn, caused severe congestion. Staff explained that service would be improved significantly if the special parking restrictions were put in place on those nights when the special traffic management plan is in effect.

Councillor Pantalone suggested that the expansion of the special traffic management plan be done incrementally and that, in 2000, parking restrictions be put in place on Bathurst Street as far north as Dundas Street. While the plan's effectiveness would be increased if such restrictions were in place further north than Dundas Street, TTC staff are agreeable to trying this incremental approach as far north as only Dundas Street in 2000.

Initiatives Which Should be Made Permanent

TTC staff are working with City staff to identify the feasibility of making portions of Fleet Street a permanent exclusive right-of-way for streetcars. The first priority is in the eastbound direction on Fleet Street from the "crossover" -- the signalized intersection midway along Fleet Street where direct access is provided to and from Lake Shore Boulevard -- to Bathurst Street. When the 509 Harbourfront streetcar line begins operation in mid-2000, eastbound streetcars on Fleet Street must operate in a permanent, exclusive right-of-way on the approach to Bathurst Street in order to allow the sophisticated streetcars-only signal system to work properly. TTC staff have concluded that the eastbound streetcar lane should be made exclusive from the "crossover" to Bathurst Street as this would be less confusing for motorists than designating a short section of exclusive streetcar lane, and forcing motorists off the tracks and into the curb lane, just in advance of the Bathurst Street intersection. This matter is being discussed with City staff.

Some years ago, a task force led by Councillor Joe Pantalone, discussing traffic issues in this area, recommended an exclusive streetcar right-of-way in the westbound direction on Fleet Street from Bathurst Street to the Lake Shore "crossover" at such time as Fort York Boulevard is constructed between Bathurst Street and Fleet Street. This modification has not yet been approved, but is supported by TTC staff and requires further discussion with City staff.

TTC staff also plan to initiate discussions with City staff on creating an exclusive streetcar right-of-way on Fleet Street west of the "crossover". TTC staff suggest that the timing of such a modification should coincide with the extension of Fort York Boulevard from Fleet Street to Lake Shore Boulevard, as has been proposed. This would be the last step in achieving an exclusive right-of-way operation on the entire 509 Harbourfront line.

Adjustment to the SCOOT system along Lake Shore Boulevard

TTC staff will be discussing, with City staff, ways of making SCOOT more compatible with transit operations. This is a broader city-wide issue, and will be the subject of a future report.

SUMMARY

In summary, the "transit first" traffic management plans during the Benson and Hedges Symphony of Fire and during CNE weekends resulted in significant reductions in auto-related delays to TTC services in this area. Operations on Bathurst Street still need to be improved, and the plan will be extended northwards to Dundas Street in 2000. Staff will continue to look for ways to improve the operations on Bathurst Street in future plans.

Staff have included $25,000 in the 2000 operating budget to fund the TTC's contribution towards implementing these plans and will be requesting Exhibition Place and Ontario Place to again share the costs related to the Benson and Hedges fireworks events in 2000, as they did in 1999.

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December 22, 1999

11-46-48/42

Attachment: Exhibit 1: Drawing No. 11383

FILENAME: COMREP/TRAFFMAN.CR