EDMONTON – A report from the city’s transportation department found the longest traffic delay at a Metro LRT crossing was 10 minutes, or three traffic light cycles.
The worse intersections were – as expected – Princess Elizabeth Avenue and 106/109 Street and 111 Avenue and 106 Street.
The typical traffic delays at Metro LRT crossings at peak hours ranged from two minutes to five minutes. The maximum delays during peak hours were between three minutes and 10 minutes.
The longest waits were observed at the Princess Elizabeth Avenue and 106/109 Street crossing. There, the maximum time traffic was delayed was during peak hours when drivers waited 10 minutes or three traffic light cycles to cross.
(Read the full report below.)
A report on the traffic impacts the Metro LRT Line has had was posted online Thursday. The findings will be presented to the Transportation Committee on Oct. 7.
“Our original estimates were trying to make sure we didn’t delude anybody and we gave perhaps a worse case scenario after their analysis was completed,” said city councillor Bryan Anderson.
“It’s nice to see things are not as bad as originally suggested.
“At this particular point, I’m fully expecting the signalling infrastructure, the software, once that is working as intended and approved by our third party engineer, I fully expect the delay for vehicle traffic in the area of Metro to improve,” Anderson added. “It better.”
Traffic delays for train crossings at Metro LRT intersections
READ MORE: Drivers could be stuck at LRT crossing for up to 16 minutes: Metro LRT update
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“I think first and foremost we’d like to thank Edmontonians for their pro-activeness in terms of… being aware that Metro LRT Line was coming and we think really have changed their behaviours and decisions,” said Craig Walbaum, director of traffic engineering for the city. “We think that has contributed to lower delays than we were expecting.”
Walbaum said the trains are still operating at reduced speeds of 25 km/h.
“We’re going to see further improvements to those delay times and wait times when we’re able to go to full speed.”
He said there was no exact timeline for when the trains might go faster but said, when they do, there could be a 15 to 20 per cent improvement on the delay times.
Walbaum said the traffic department is also looking at traffic patterns and ways of better coordinating when trains go through intersections and how to optimize the systems.
He also asked that pedestrians waiting to cross be patient.
“Pedestrians do get impatient. We really want everyone to stay safe around the Metro Line…Wait for the signals and don’t try to cross until it’s time to go.”
Shortly before the new Metro LRT was launched, city council heard there could be “significant” traffic delays on key routes during peak rush hours and that some delays could be permanent. At some crossings, a report estimates drivers might wait only two minutes while LRT trains operate on a 15-minute frequency.
At the time, councillors said they were stunned, disappointed, “hoodwinked” and “gob-smacked” by the news.
Part of the issue with the delays at intersections is because, at first, LRT trains will be travelling at a slower speed, so crossing gates will be down for longer periods of time. However, once the trains are operating at a higher speed, the service will increase in frequency. The crossing gates will then come down more frequently but for shorter durations.
Still, the Transportation Committee was told that even when the Metro Line is operating normally, there may only be a 15 per cent improvement to traffic flows in some areas.
The report released Thursday said, “the Metro Line impacts on traffic flow are most pronounced at the 111 Avenue and Princess Elizabeth Avenue crossings. These crossing timings are significantly influenced by the reduced speed of the trains travelling south into Kingsway Station and north to NAIT. As the Metro LRT speed restrictions are removed, the impacts on vehicle traffic will be lessened.”
Since opening Sept. 6, the city has launched educational campaigns and transportation staff have been monitoring and reviewing traffic impacts and delays.
Officials continue to work on efficiencies including reducing the amount of time traffic signals are held in red.
More to come…
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