Transportation Research Board
Traffic Control Signals Committee
Impediments to Good Signal Coordination
July 26, 2004
Lizuarte Simas, C.E.T
Paul G. Ham, C.E.T

Agenda
1. Introduction and Overview
2. Impediments on progression
3. Summary
4. Next Steps

York Region
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Population 865,000
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Fastest growing Region in the GTA
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Annual budget exceeds $1.7B
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Operate and maintain over
600 TCS
We are Here
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1,000 km of roads

Corridor Overview
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Town of Newmarket
Yonge Street from Davis Drive to Green Lane
5 lane cross section
7 traffic signal controlled intersections, 2 km section
Multiple NEMA controllers
Commuter & local traffic mix

Average Annual Daily Traffic
60000
50000
40000
30000
20000
60%
2000 2001
28%
2002
Year
ADT
2003
103%
2004

Level of Service
Intersection
Davis Drive
Upper Canada
Mall
Kingston Road
London Road
Bristol Road
Green Lane
Centre
Green Lane
B
A
B
B
E
AM
C
A
B
B
D
A
C
V/C At Peak Periods
OFF
E
C
PM
E
D
D
F
F
D
E
Weekend
E
C
B
F
F
C
E

Problem Identification
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Over capacity during the PM peak period and on the weekends
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Traffic Control Signals z
No Green bands
Protected left turns at Yonge
Street and Davis Drive z
Delay to left turning vehicles

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Impediments on Progression
Large traffic generators z
“Big Box” retail z z
Future residential and commercial
East side 4500 residential homes and a population of approx.
12000
Multiple access points z
Full – 6 z z z
Right in/right out – 8
4 driveways
Additional mid-block traffic
Signal spacing z
Range

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Impediments on Progression continued
Phasing variations z
Fully protected left turn operation
Yonge Street and Davis Drive since
1960’s z z
High speeds
Rural road z
Protected/Permissive z
Split phasing
Choke Points z
Yonge Street at Davis Drive z
Yonge Street at Green Lane
Davis Drive and Green Lane – main east/west arterials for New Market

Fully Protected vs. Protected/permissive Left Turn
Phasing at Yonge Street and Davis Drive
Intersection Delay (LOS)
Left turn
Phasing
Existing
(Fully
Protected)
Protected/
Permissive
Phasing
Am
55.1 (E)
34.2 (C)
Off
90.6 (F)
63.0 (E)
PM
116.4 (F)
100.2 (F)
Difference 38% 30% 14%
Am
1.33
0.92
31%
V/C
Off
2.51
1.55
38%
PM
2.14
1.69
21%

Solutions
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Fixed Timing z
Take back control z z
Guarantee Offsets
Reduce number of starts and start up times
Protected/Permissive phasing at Yonge Street and Davis Drive z
Concerns
• Adequate stopping sight distance
• Expectations of motorist
• Potential increase in collisions
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Modify and/or paint pavement markings, lane lines with directional arrows for turning lanes

Travel Time Analysis – Weekday (PM NB)
Travel Time Analyis
400
300
200
100
0
Davis Drive Upper
Canada Mall
Kingston
Road
London
Road
Bristol Road Green Lane
Centre
Interstections Along Yonge Street
Ideal Before After
Green Lane

Travel Time Analysis – Weekend (SB)
Travel Time Analyis
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
Green Lane Green Lane
Centre
Bristol Road London
Road
Kingston
Road
Interstections Along Yonge Street
Upper
Canada Mall
Davis Drive
Ideal Before After

Travel Time Analysis – Weekend NB
Travel Time Analyis
250
200
150
100
50
0
Davis Drive Upper
Canada Mall
Kingston
Road
London
Road
Bristol Road Green Lane
Centre
Interstections Along Yonge Street
Green Lane
Ideal Before After

Collisions
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Predominant rear end collisions
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Lack of adequate gaps
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Crossing pedestrians
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Polished asphalt
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Driver frustration
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Lane identification
Collision Type
1999 to 2002
30
20
10
0
60
50
40
Re ar En ds
Tur ni ng
Mo ve me nt
A ppr oac hi ng
An gl e
Type of Collision
Si de swi pe d
Oth er

Innovative
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Left turn removal at Davis Drive z
Protected/Permissive operations decrease v/c by an average of approximately 30% z z
Queue length decrease by approximately 20%
Reduce driver frustration
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Fixed timing vs. Semi-actuation z
Less spillover z
Observable uniformed queues
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Battery back-up system (BBS) installed z
Yonge Street at Davis Drive

Next Steps
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Review and compare collisions pre and post improvements
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Repaint and/or modify pavement markings, lines and lane directional arrows
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Delay studies at Yonge Street and Davis Drive
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Long term capital work projects z
Proposed installation of raised centre median, restricting access points z
Proposed additional capacity of Yonge Street ie. widening z
Opening of Bathurst Street to Green Lane – fall 2004

Long –Term Gridlock Solutions
B
Green at hur
S st et tre
Lane
Y o g n e S tre et
Hwy.
9 / Da vis Dr ive

Summary
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24% average improvement in progression
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Concerns have subsided
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Fixed timing
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Consider removal of fully protected phases to protected/permissive phasing at other intersections