The City of London is investing in a smarter traffic signal system to make transit more reliable, improve safety, help manage congestion, and maintain reliable travel times.
On Oct. 29, 2019, City Council approved plans to move forward with implementing an Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) as well as new traffic signal controllers.
This technology is required for implementing rapid transit and transit signal priority, and enabling real-time traveller information through enhanced sensors and mobile apps such as Waze.
“This is an important first step toward improving London’s traffic signal system for the benefit of all road users,” said Doug MacRae, Division Manager, Roads and Transportation. “It’s a critical piece of the transportation management puzzle that will work with other programs and improvements to prepare us for the future.”
The City’s current traffic signal control system has been kept up to date since its installation in 2003, however, it no longer meets the City’s needs and is less responsive to changing travel patterns and incidents.
Over the next year, the new technology will be installed on City systems and at all of London’s 403 signalized intersections. It will enable the City to respond more proactively to traffic incidents during peak travel periods, through actions such as notifying transit and adjusting signal times. It will also help future-proof the City’s traffic system, allowing for integration with emerging technologies, such as automated vehicles.
This investment is part of the City’s broader Transportation Intelligent Mobility Management System (TIMMS) – a suite of programs and improvements designed to modernize the City’s traffic signal system and support transit. The improvements are among 10 transit and transit-supportive projects that received funding commitments by the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario in 2019.
Other elements of the broader suite of projects will be purchased separately and implemented in coordination with this first phase of technology.