York Region’s road network currently contains and maintains approximately 4,200 lane kilometers and 891 traffic signals. The Viva Next Highway 7 Rapid Transit Corridor located in Markham and Richmond Hill consists of up to six through-lanes, advance left turn lanes, two dedicated transit lanes and right turn lanes at major intersections. The wide cross-section along the Rapid Transit Corridor coupled with the high traffic volumes and complex traffic signal phasing presents significant challenges to winter maintenance snow clearing operations. Regional staff identified an opportunity for improved efficiency by integrating traffic signal pre-emption technology into its winter maintenance snow clearing operations. Snow plow pre-emption is similar to emergency vehicle pre-emption by changing the traffic signals to green until the snow plow operations have cleared and passed through the intersection. The signal pre-emption technology has improved winter maintenance operations and traffic flow along the Rapid Transit Corridor for transit vehicles and motorists, thereby enhancing the safety and overall traveler experience. It is also the first time that this type of technology has been leveraged in Canada for winter maintenance operations. The operational efficiencies have translated into considerable savings for the Region during peak rush hour traffic times._Explore how traffic signal pre-emption technology works.
Learning Objectives:
1. Appreciate how to leverage traffic signal pre-emption technology to increase the efficiency of winter maintenance operations.
2. Recognize the benefits of implementing traffic signal pre-emption technology along urban corridors as it relates to cost savings and environmental impacts.
Contributor/Source
Joseph Petrungaro ;Peter Pilateris P.Eng., MASc
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