DSCToronto
Superstar
One might argue that Transportation Services supports Transit priority but they clearly THINK they do. This from: https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/cc/bgrd/backgroundfile-254795.pdf
At its meeting of April 7, 2025 of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee received a number of deputations regarding Transit Signal Priority (TSP) policies within the City and the need to ensure that the new Light Rapid Transit (LRT) such as Line 5 Eglinton and Line 6 Finch West are supported by TSP.
TSP is a technology system that alters traffic signal timings to give transit vehicles a faster path through intersections by extending 'green times'. The infrastructure to support TSP includes roadside detection for transit vehicles approaching the intersection as well as modifications to the traffic signal equipment to accept transit detections and adjust the signal timings to prioritize transit. TSP can be either Conditional or Unconditional: Unconditional TSP, which always grants priority to transit vehicles, and Conditional TSP, which grants priority based on specific criteria, such as schedule adherence. Transportation Services has always supported the implementation of TSP within the City to improve the reliability and efficiency of the operation of TTC streetcars and buses, and it is a critical component of the Congestion Management Plan.
To date there are 420 transit signal priority locations in the City with over 80 installed over the past two years. All of the City's current TSP locations are 'unconditional' in their operation. Regarding the use of TSP on the new Light Rapid Transit (LRT) lines in the City, Transportation Services and Transit Expansion Office staff have worked very closely over the years with both Metrolinx and their consortia building the new transit lines to ensure that the City's policies and practices that support TSP are incorporated as requirements within their projects. The application of TSP for the new LRT lines is different than traditional streetcar and bus operations. Given the higher speeds that LRT trains travel and the frequency of LRTs traversing the line, Conditional TSP can enable better schedule adherence and help reduce vehicle bunching. The other key reason for implementing Conditional TSP along the LRT lines is the need to support public safety and transit flow both along the LRT corridor as well as on the north-south connection points. Given the high volume of riders transferring to and from the LRT from connecting buses, Conditional TSP better supports safe transfers for transit passengers. For these reasons, and in consultation with the City and TTC the Metrolinx consortia are implementing Conditional TSP on Line5 Eglinton and Line 6 Finch West. This supplemental report provides more details with regards to TSP in Toronto and specific details around the proposed plans for TSP on Line 5 and Line 6
At its meeting of April 7, 2025 of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee received a number of deputations regarding Transit Signal Priority (TSP) policies within the City and the need to ensure that the new Light Rapid Transit (LRT) such as Line 5 Eglinton and Line 6 Finch West are supported by TSP.
TSP is a technology system that alters traffic signal timings to give transit vehicles a faster path through intersections by extending 'green times'. The infrastructure to support TSP includes roadside detection for transit vehicles approaching the intersection as well as modifications to the traffic signal equipment to accept transit detections and adjust the signal timings to prioritize transit. TSP can be either Conditional or Unconditional: Unconditional TSP, which always grants priority to transit vehicles, and Conditional TSP, which grants priority based on specific criteria, such as schedule adherence. Transportation Services has always supported the implementation of TSP within the City to improve the reliability and efficiency of the operation of TTC streetcars and buses, and it is a critical component of the Congestion Management Plan.
To date there are 420 transit signal priority locations in the City with over 80 installed over the past two years. All of the City's current TSP locations are 'unconditional' in their operation. Regarding the use of TSP on the new Light Rapid Transit (LRT) lines in the City, Transportation Services and Transit Expansion Office staff have worked very closely over the years with both Metrolinx and their consortia building the new transit lines to ensure that the City's policies and practices that support TSP are incorporated as requirements within their projects. The application of TSP for the new LRT lines is different than traditional streetcar and bus operations. Given the higher speeds that LRT trains travel and the frequency of LRTs traversing the line, Conditional TSP can enable better schedule adherence and help reduce vehicle bunching. The other key reason for implementing Conditional TSP along the LRT lines is the need to support public safety and transit flow both along the LRT corridor as well as on the north-south connection points. Given the high volume of riders transferring to and from the LRT from connecting buses, Conditional TSP better supports safe transfers for transit passengers. For these reasons, and in consultation with the City and TTC the Metrolinx consortia are implementing Conditional TSP on Line5 Eglinton and Line 6 Finch West. This supplemental report provides more details with regards to TSP in Toronto and specific details around the proposed plans for TSP on Line 5 and Line 6
