terra loire

Toronto's intersections could be so much better. If you've driven, walked, cycled or taken transit in Toronto, you've probably been frustrated by them. Whether that's a green light that's too short for all the demand to clear, or advancing on a green only to be hit by a red at the next block. This is because most intersections run on fixed plans written years ago, unable to adjust to modern or real-time needs. It doesn't have to be this way. In the Netherlands, signals are designed to be responsive. Pedestrian walk phases are only triggered when a person is actually waiting. Vehicle and bicycle detection systems shorten or lengthen greens based on the traffic that has actually arrived. The system adapts to the reality on-the-ground rather than a fixed schedule. This means it'd be able to respond to construction detours, traffic surges when a Leafs game ends, or to unexpected incidents on the Gardiner. Similar systems in China saw trip time reductions of ~20% after using adaptive traffic systems. This memo proposes: 1. Modernize Toronto's traffic signals – move from outdated fixed-time plans to intelligent and adaptive signals 2. Adopt clear technology standards – leverage the global standard of camera-based detection 3. Create a joint funding model – a City-Province partnership fund can ensure every intersection is upgraded without overburdening city budgets. 4. Measure and report results – publish results to ensure accountability to the public Let us know what you think at the poll below: