Roads/Bridges projects/issues

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

I am trying to square this with all the meaningless words that the planning department spews about transportation priorities.

Not quite sure what you mean, but buses could also use the system to avoid binary driving and give buses priority at traffic lights. It could look something like this:

Bus: At my current speed, I will be at the intersection in 15 seconds
Traffic light: I will give you a green light in 20 seconds
Bus slows down so that it will be a few meters from the intersection when the light turns green.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by roger1818

Not quite sure what you mean, but buses could also use the system to avoid binary driving and give buses priority at traffic lights. It could look something like this:

Bus: At my current speed, I will be at the intersection in 15 seconds
Traffic light: I will give you a green light in 20 seconds
Bus slows down so that it will be a few meters from the intersection when the light turns green.

Indeed.

But it's truck traffic that is the impetus for this, not transit.

As usual.

[rocketphish]

Ottawa is the fourth most congested Canadian city: report

Megan Gillis, Postmedia
Published on: February 20, 2017 | Last Updated: February 20, 2017 12:16 PM EST

Ottawa is the fourth most congested Canadian city, with capital commuters spending 31.5 hours last year stuck in traffic during peak travel periods, according to a new scorecard from global transportation analytics firm Inrix.

We’re behind Montreal at 52 hours, Toronto at 45.6 hours and – by a whisker – St. John’s, at 31.8 hours.

But while we’re cursing the gods of gridlock, spare a thought for Los Angelenos. Denizens of the California city spent an insanity-inducing 104 hours each driving in congestion during peak travel periods last year.

That topped second-place Moscow at 91 hours and third-place New York at 89.

In fact, the U.S. had half the cities on Inrix’s list of the top 10 most congested areas in the world and was the most congested developed country on the planet, Inrix found. U.S. drivers averaged 42 hours per year in traffic during peak times, the study found. San Francisco was the fourth-most congested city, while Bogota, Colombia, was fifth, Sao Paulo ranked sixth and London, Atlanta, Paris and Miami rounded out the top 10.

The Inrix scorecard says Canada’s top congested big cities pale in comparison, with Montreal in 23rd place and Toronto ranked 38th.

Inrix said it analyzed 1,064 cities worldwide across 38 countries to come up with its rankings. Since Inrix doesn’t gather its own data in either China or Japan, cities in those countries were not ranked.

With files from The Canadian Press

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news...r-days-last-year-stuck-in-traffic-report

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

Ottawa is the fourth most congested Canadian city: report

Megan Gillis, Postmedia
Published on: February 20, 2017 | Last Updated: February 20, 2017 12:16 PM EST

Ottawa is the fourth most congested Canadian city, with capital commuters spending 31.5 hours last year stuck in traffic during peak travel periods, according to a new scorecard from global transportation analytics firm Inrix.

We’re behind Montreal at 52 hours, Toronto at 45.6 hours and – by a whisker – St. John’s, at 31.8 hours.

But while we’re cursing the gods of gridlock, spare a thought for Los Angelenos. Denizens of the California city spent an insanity-inducing 104 hours each driving in congestion during peak travel periods last year.

That topped second-place Moscow at 91 hours and third-place New York at 89.

In fact, the U.S. had half the cities on Inrix’s list of the top 10 most congested areas in the world and was the most congested developed country on the planet, Inrix found. U.S. drivers averaged 42 hours per year in traffic during peak times, the study found. San Francisco was the fourth-most congested city, while Bogota, Colombia, was fifth, Sao Paulo ranked sixth and London, Atlanta, Paris and Miami rounded out the top 10.

The Inrix scorecard says Canada’s top congested big cities pale in comparison, with Montreal in 23rd place and Toronto ranked 38th.

Inrix said it analyzed 1,064 cities worldwide across 38 countries to come up with its rankings. Since Inrix doesn’t gather its own data in either China or Japan, cities in those countries were not ranked.

With files from The Canadian Press

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news...r-days-last-year-stuck-in-traffic-report

That's not what I would have expected.

Based (totally unscientifically) on the relative level of bitching I hear from their denizens, I would have said these Canadian cities would have been ranked at the top for traffic congestion:

1. Toronto
2. Vancouver
3. Montreal
4. Ottawa
5. Halifax

[DubberDom]

Seems to conflict with the TomTom studies that come out each year?? specifically Canada vs USA?

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by DubberDom

Seems to conflict with the TomTom studies that come out each year?? specifically Canada vs USA?

TomTom's methodology is ridiculous, don't go by them too much. They measure "congestion" by looking at how much worse rush hour travel times are than non-rush hour travel times. The result is that cities like Ottawa--which are heavily congested at peak but pretty much all free-flowing off-peak--are rated worse than cities like Montreal, which are heavily congested at all times.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

Ottawa is the fourth most congested Canadian city, with capital commuters spending 31.5 hours last year stuck in traffic during peak travel periods, according to a new scorecard from global transportation analytics firm Inrix.

You can find the entire "scorecard" at Inrix's website. It is interesting to look at.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

cities like Montreal, which are heavily congested at all times.

I have not noticed Montreal being any more horribly congested during "off" hours than Ottawa is.

Maybe the freeways, but not the city streets.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

TomTom's methodology is ridiculous, don't go by them too much. They measure "congestion" by looking at how much worse rush hour travel times are than non-rush hour travel times. The result is that cities like Ottawa--which are heavily congested at peak but pretty much all free-flowing off-peak--are rated worse than cities like Montreal, which are heavily congested at all times.

The measure of hours stuck in "traffic" is not depending on any peak:offpeak ratio measurement.

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

The measure of hours stuck in "traffic" is not depending on any peak:offpeak ratio measurement.

Except the peak:offpeak ratio is literally the only thing TomTom measures in its congestion studies.

This study by Intrix uses a more sound methodology.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

Except the peak:offpeak ratio is literally the only thing TomTom measures in its congestion studies.

This study by Intrix uses a more sound methodology.

Ah, gotcha. Yes, the Intrix study is much sounder.

[rocketphish]

City announces 20 new red-light camera locations

Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen
Published on: March 13, 2017 | Last Updated: March 13, 2017 6:05 PM EDT

The city has released the full list of locations for 20 new red-light cameras.

In announcing the intersections Monday, the city said there will be a total of 54 locations across Ottawa with cameras capturing red-light runners by the end of the year.

The new red-light camera intersections are:

• Arlington Avenue at Kent Street
• Aviation Parkway at Montreal Road
• Bank Street at Riverside Drive South
• Bay Street at Slater Street
• Bronson Avenue at Powell Avenue
• Catherine Street at Kent Street
• Cedarview Road at Fallowfield Road
• Coldrey Avenue at Kirkwood Avenue
• Elgin Street at Slater Street
• Gladstone Avenue at Rochester Street
• Hawthorne Road at Leitrim Road
• Heron Road at the Canadian Tire access (155 metres west of Bank Street)
• Hog’s Back Road at Prince of Wales Drive
• Innes Road at Orléans Boulevard
• Lyon Street at Slater Street
• Murray Street at Sussex Drive
• Old Tenth Line Road at St. Joseph Boulevard
• St. Joseph Boulevard at Tenth Line Road
• Tenth Line Road at Vanguard Drive
• Walkley Road at Glenhaven Private

The city started installing some cameras last year and it expects to have all the new cameras running by the fourth quarter of 2017.

Transportation services GM John Manconi explained the location rationale in a memo to council.

The city’s traffic gurus looked at crash statistics over three to four years to decide on the new camera locations. They looked for intersections with an average of three or more angle collisions annually because of red-light running, and five or more angle collisions because of red-light running in one direction over the entire period.

The city knows the cameras can increase rear-end collisions, but it’s focus is on preventing the more severe angle collisions, such as T-bone crashes.

According to Manconi’s memo, “site selection is based on the occurrence of collisions that could be prevented by reducing the incidence of red light running at a signalized intersection.”

Adding more red-light cameras was part of Mayor Jim Watson’s re-election campaign in 2014.

The City of Ottawa is budgeting $800,000 more in revenue from red-light cameras in 2017.

The fine for running a red light is $260, plus a $5 service fee and $60 victim surcharge.

[email protected]
twitter.com/JonathanWilling

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/city-announces-20-new-red-light-camera-locations

[gjhall]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

City announces 20 new red-light camera locations

Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen
Published on: March 13, 2017 | Last Updated: March 13, 2017 6:05 PM EDT

The city has released the full list of locations for 20 new red-light cameras.

In announcing the intersections Monday, the city said there will be a total of 54 locations across Ottawa with cameras capturing red-light runners by the end of the year.

The new red-light camera intersections are:

• Arlington Avenue at Kent Street
• Aviation Parkway at Montreal Road
• Bank Street at Riverside Drive South
• Bay Street at Slater Street
• Bronson Avenue at Powell Avenue
• Catherine Street at Kent Street
• Cedarview Road at Fallowfield Road
• Coldrey Avenue at Kirkwood Avenue
• Elgin Street at Slater Street
• Gladstone Avenue at Rochester Street
• Hawthorne Road at Leitrim Road
• Heron Road at the Canadian Tire access (155 metres west of Bank Street)
• Hog’s Back Road at Prince of Wales Drive
• Innes Road at Orléans Boulevard
• Lyon Street at Slater Street
• Murray Street at Sussex Drive
• Old Tenth Line Road at St. Joseph Boulevard
• St. Joseph Boulevard at Tenth Line Road
• Tenth Line Road at Vanguard Drive
• Walkley Road at Glenhaven Private

The city started installing some cameras last year and it expects to have all the new cameras running by the fourth quarter of 2017.

Transportation services GM John Manconi explained the location rationale in a memo to council.

The city’s traffic gurus looked at crash statistics over three to four years to decide on the new camera locations. They looked for intersections with an average of three or more angle collisions annually because of red-light running, and five or more angle collisions because of red-light running in one direction over the entire period.

The city knows the cameras can increase rear-end collisions, but it’s focus is on preventing the more severe angle collisions, such as T-bone crashes.

According to Manconi’s memo, “site selection is based on the occurrence of collisions that could be prevented by reducing the incidence of red light running at a signalized intersection.”

Adding more red-light cameras was part of Mayor Jim Watson’s re-election campaign in 2014.

The City of Ottawa is budgeting $800,000 more in revenue from red-light cameras in 2017.

The fine for running a red light is $260, plus a $5 service fee and $60 victim surcharge.

[email protected]
twitter.com/JonathanWilling

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/city-announces-20-new-red-light-camera-locations

Won't anyone think of the red light runners! This is a tax grab on people who are unsafe drivers! Totally unfair. Sad!

[eltodesukane]

"...plus a $5 service fee and $60 victim surcharge." Why?

[phil235]

Originally Posted by eltodesukane

"...plus a $5 service fee and $60 victim surcharge." Why?

I think the reason for the service fee is clear. Victim surcharges are prescribed by law - https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/000161. They go to a fund that assists victims of crime.

My question for you would be why not? With the amount of red light running that goes on, and the risk associated with that behaviour, I would be happy with $1000 fines.

[ars]

The only thing I don't like about intersections with red light cameras is that the cameras are pretty unforgiving. That is, they catch you even if you missed the yellow light by a micro second, which causes people to slam their brakes at yellow lights, which, in my opinion, replaces one hazardous scenario(red light runners) with another(people suddenly coming to a stop at a yellow).

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by ars

The only thing I don't like about intersections with red light cameras is that the cameras are pretty unforgiving. That is, they catch you even if you missed the yellow light by a micro second, which causes people to slam their brakes at yellow lights, which, in my opinion, replaces one hazardous scenario(red light runners) with another(people suddenly coming to a stop at a yellow).

People are supposed to stop on yellows anyway, so nuts to them.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by ars

The only thing I don't like about intersections with red light cameras is that the cameras are pretty unforgiving. That is, they catch you even if you missed the yellow light by a micro second, which causes people to slam their brakes at yellow lights, which, in my opinion, replaces one hazardous scenario(red light runners) with another(people suddenly coming to a stop at a yellow).

This is a problem with the yellow not the camera. Often because the delay is set to the posted speed limit which is artificially low. King Edward for example has limits as low as 40 KM/H when 70 KM/H is the speed of traffic. If it turns yellow it can be difficult to stop in time.

[ars]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

People are supposed to stop on yellows anyway, so nuts to them.

That's only half correct, per the Ontario Driver's Handbook:

A yellow — or amber — light means the red light is about to appear. You must stop if you can do so safely; otherwise, go with caution.

Considering the people I'm talking about slam the brakes right when the light turns from green to yellow to avoid getting a fine, I wouldn't consider that stopping safely. This is with traffic traveling briskly behind them at a normally safe distance.

Originally Posted by YOWetal

This is a problem with the yellow not the camera. Often because the delay is set to the posted speed limit which is artificially low. King Edward for example has limits as low as 40 KM/H when 70 KM/H is the speed of traffic. If it turns yellow it can be difficult to stop in time.

Hmmmm that's a very good point and I didn't think of that angle.

Either way, I'm glad that they put more red light cameras, red light runners are one of my pet peeves on the roads, but I wish they did allow for some more leniency/margin of human error with the cameras.

[acottawa]

Also a lot of intersections are gigantic. It can be 40+ metres from the stop line to the far side.

I think a better way to improve safety would be to replace some of these mega intersections with roundabouts.