The City of London has launched a new travel display system to help drivers anticipate traffic delays caused by trains at the Adelaide Street rail crossing south of Oxford Street. Electronic message boards have been placed north and south of the rail tracks as part of a temporary pilot project. They will display when trains are anticipated to cross helping drivers change their route to avoid delays.
The pilot project received funding through Innovative Solutions Canada and is made possible by a partnership with TRAINFO.
“London will be among the first cities in Canada to use electronic signage like this ahead of rail crossings,” says Jon Kostyniuk, Traffic and Transportation Engineer at the City of London. “With advanced warning of when trains are crossing, road users can better navigate around any potential delays at the rail tracks.”
The signage will operate for three months as part of the pilot project. The City will then assess if and how the electronic signs could be utilized in the future.
The electronic signs will be used ahead of construction beginning for the Adelaide Underpass project. This infrastructure project includes building an underpass along Adelaide Street beneath the rail tracks and upgrading sewers and utilities in the area. Construction is scheduled to begin later this year and will continue until 2023 with some finishing touches anticipated in 2024.
Drivers are discouraged to cut through neighbourhood streets to avoid train crossings. The electronic message boards are placed well in advance of the rail tracks to notify drivers so they can decide to travel around the rail crossing using Oxford Street if traveling south or using King Street and Queens Avenue if traveling north.
