Active Transit Signal Priority for Streetcars: Experience in Melbourne, Australia, and Toronto, Canada

Although streetcar systems benefit from a strong identity, they face considerable challenges as a result of mixed traffic operations. These problems have been compounded by growing urban auto traffic, which has increased competition for limited road space and time. Active traffic signal priority (TSP) has been identified as a cost-effective way to improve the management of traffic systems to make on-street public transport more reliable, faster, and more cost-effective. Although the implementation of TSP is growing throughout the world, relatively few studies have examined its application to streetcar-based systems. This paper reviews the experience with TSP in Melbourne, Australia, and Toronto, Canada. These cities run some of the world’s oldest and largest streetcar-based TSP systems. This paper describes the TSP systems adopted in the two cities, including key experiences. TSP performance is reviewed, and identified problems and issues are assessed. The review established that the TSP systems in the two cities have many similarities including the configuration of approach and request loop and stop line and cancel loop detection, the degree of priority provided, and the targeting of clearance phases for turning traffic at intersections. There are some slight differences in the handling of bunching trams and opposing tram movements, which are better handled in the Toronto case. The two systems see rather different futures for TSP development. Toronto is focused on full systemwide TSP implementation and advancement of TSP algorithms, whereas Melbourne aims to make priority more conditional on the degree of lateness of trams and on the degree of traffic congestion experienced.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.3141/2042-05
• 
• Summary URL:
  • http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=Active+Transit+Signal+Priority+for+Streetcars%3a+Experience+in+Melbourne%2c+Australia%2c+and+Toronto%2c+Canada&author=G.+Currie&author=A.+Shalaby&publication_year=2008
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9780309113090
• Authors:
  • Currie, Graham
  • Shalaby, Amer S
• Publication Date: 2008

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 41-49
• Monograph Title: Transit: Intermodal Facilities and Capacity; Light Rail, Commuter Rail, and Rail Transit; and Major Activity Center Circulation Systems
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
  • Issue Number: 2042
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Streetcars; Traffic congestion; Traffic signal preemption; Traffic signal priority
• Geographic Terms: Melbourne (Australia); Toronto (Canada)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01089259
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9780309113090
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 27 2008 8:58AM