While streetcar systems benefit from a strong identity, they face considerable challenges due to mixed traffic operations. These problems have been compounded by growing urban auto traffic, which has increased competition for limited road space and time. Active traffic signal priority (TSP) has been identified as a cost effective way to better manage traffic systems to make on-street public transport more reliable, faster and more cost effective. While the implementation of TSP is growing throughout the world, there are relatively few studies which have examined their application to streetcar based systems. This paper reviews the experiences of TSP in Melbourne, Australia and Toronto Canada. These cities run some of the world?s oldest and largest streetcar based TSP systems. This paper describes the TSP systems adopted in both cities including key experiences. TSP performance is reviewed including an assessment of problems and issues identified. The review established that TSP systems in both cities have many similarities including the configuration of approach/request loop and stop line/cancel loop detection, the degree of priority provided and the targeting of clearance phases for turning traffic at intersections. There are some slight differences in the handling of bunching trams and opposing tram movements, which are better handled in the Toronto case. Both systems see rather different futures for TSP development. Toronto is focused on full system-wide TSP roll out and algorithm methodological advancement, while Melbourne aims to make priority more conditional on the degree of lateness of trams and on the degree of traffic congestion experienced.
Abstract