King Street (Streetcar Transit Priority)

[DSC]

Adelaide is closed?

I guess they can always drive down Richmond ... it's the same penalty as going down King.

Almost completely and completely as of 11th as they install streetcar tracks @ Bay. It should be fully open again 'soon'. as the utility work is clearly coming to an end.

 

[chrisw]

King Street Travel Times: May-November 2023

This post reviews the evolution of travel times for 504 King streetcars across downtown between Bathurst and Jarvis Streets, the scope of the so-called transit priority zone. There are many problem…

stevemunro.ca

This post reviews the evolution of travel times for 504 King streetcars across downtown between Bathurst and Jarvis Streets, the scope of the so-called transit priority zone. There are many problems with how this zone actually operates, but matters reached the meltdown stage in recent months with the combined effect of the Queen Street closure at Yonge for the Ontario Line, the Adelaide Street reconstruction for utilities and an eventual streetcar bypass track for Queen cars, and emergency utility work on King east of Jarvis.

There were other contributors, but there are two important issues. First, everyone assumes that their project won’t bring chaos, often because they only look at local effects for their site (e.g. a new condo construction project with a curb lane occupancy), not for the network as a whole. Second, not only is enforcement of the transit priority rules missing in action, but the added management needed for extra volumes of turning transit vehicles meandering on their temporary routes is also absent.

 

[Mount Dennis Resident]

Possible solution to the automobile traffic congestion on King Street, go two-ways on Richmond Street, Adelaide Street, and maybe Wellington Street. Maybe temporary.

They made Richmond & Adelaide one-way originally to convert them into ramps for the Don Valley Parkway?

 

[2323]

Possible solution to the automobile traffic congestion on King Street, go two-ways on Richmond Street, Adelaide Street, and maybe Wellington Street. Maybe temporary.

They made Richmond & Adelaide one-way originally to convert them into ramps for the Don Valley Parkway?

There would need to be new traffic lights at every intersection

 

[DSC]

There would need to be new traffic lights at every intersection

That would be the least of the problems/costs. It ain't going to happen,

 

[chrisw]

Brian Doucet live tweeting his experience on King this evening. Some videos and pictures showing some actual enforcements with traffic agents. They're enforcing right turns only. Also enforcing pedestrians to stop crossing so that the right turn queue can clear to keep King Street moving. Obviously this isn't a long term solution, but it's positive to see the street moving well and to see some change due to this topic being brought to light.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1732879807526916359

https://twitter.com/x/status/1732884812526993756

https://twitter.com/x/status/1732895010704535742

https://twitter.com/x/status/1732900283099873348

 

[evandyk]

Brian Doucet live tweeting his experience on King this evening. Some videos and pictures showing some actual enforcements with traffic agents. They're enforcing right turns only. Also enforcing pedestrians to stop crossing so that the right turn queue can clear to keep King Street moving. Obviously this isn't a long term solution, but it's positive to see the street moving well and to see some change due to this topic being brought to light.

They do have people on the street, and it seems to be helping a bit, but it's still completely random what intersection they'll be at on any given day. Today they were at Bay and Church, but not Yonge. And of course, Yonge was full of drivers going straight through. The cost of deploying these people everywhere is so cheap compared to the cost of congestion. Why don't they do it?!!?

 

[DSC]

They do have people on the street, and it seems to be helping a bit, but it's still completely random what intersection they'll be at on any given day. Today they were at Bay and Church, but not Yonge. And of course, Yonge was full of drivers going straight through. The cost of deploying these people everywhere is so cheap compared to the cost of congestion. Why don't they do it?!!?

The Traffic Control folk are certainly a good idea and far cheaper than rent-a-cops but they cannot be everywhere - at least until they hire and train more of them. Yesterday they had some ON Church so that it was not getting blocked between King and Queen - 501 & 503 diversion route. I guess they need to prioritise where they go.

 

[milkycontent]

Traffic wardens are welcome in the short term but it's not a long term solution. King needs to be redesigned.

 

[DSC]

Traffic wardens are welcome in the short term but it's not a long term solution. King needs to be redesigned.

Yes, as has been noted here by several people, the City plans to do this when the watermain is replaced and the streetcar rails are replaced. This work is set for 2026 but I suspect it will need to be postponed unless the Queen blockage at Yonge situation is much improved by then.

 

[Jeff Morgan]

News from the mayor. The thread has the details.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1733244766341513460

 

[chrisw]

Thread in text form.

Every year, the King Street Transit Priority Corridor moves millions of transit riders. But recently, congestion and the failure to upgrade it since the pilot project have undermined its success.

Today, I joined @CityNewsTO to discuss how we’re getting King moving. 1/4

We’ve deployed traffic agents at key intersections where congestion was especially bad. They’ll be directing cars to keep intersections and transit routes clear. 2/4

This spring, new traffic signals will be installed along King Street, making it clear to drivers how to move through intersections and end confusion. City Council is exploring automatic enforcement as well. 3/4

More work must be done for King Street to continue to move millions through downtown. It is a key part of our transit system and riders are rightly frustrated. I am committed to ensuring its success. 4/4

So, the new traffic signals should make it clear to drivers that they can only turn right.

 

[chrisw]

Video of the short Interview (2m 43s):

Chow mentions needing provincial permission for cameras. Also the article mentions plans to add up to 50 traffic agents for enforcement during rush hour.

And the article: https://toronto.citynews.ca/2023/12...-chow-urges-residents-to-take-king-streetcar/

Chow said they have installed 10 traffic agents along King Street at University Avenue, Bay, Yonge, Church, and Jarvis Streets during rush hour to enforce this and plan to add up to 50 agents.

The city also hopes to reopen Adelaide Street by the end of December, three months earlier than initially anticipated, which Chow said will hopefully alleviate some of the congestion on King Street.

Chow said they’re also hoping to get permission from the province to have cameras installed for automatic traffic enforcement and clearer signs posted on King to explain the rules. “The problem was the enforcement. The traffic signs were not as clear, and we didn’t have these traffic wardens that are out there directing traffic. And we weren’t ticketing enough,” said Chow. “That’s why we need cameras to catch the drivers that are breaking the rules.”

Chow said these changes won’t happen overnight. “Because people have gotten into the habit of doing the wrong thing, and it takes a bit of time,” she mentioned. “The congestion is really difficult, but I need more people taking streetcars; the more people taking public transit, the less congestion there will be.”

City staff are also currently working on analyzing the King Street Transit Priority Corridor data set, which is expected to be released by early 2024. It will include information about what occurs when traffic agents are present versus not present.

 

[allengeorge]

Let’s hope automated enforcement moves from exploration to reality.

One can dream.

 

[Dan416]

Found it, diagrams attached below. https://urbantoronto.ca/forum/threads/king-street-streetcar-transit-priority.19816/post-1366375

So I wonder if this is the type of signal that Mayor Chow was mentioning will be installed?