Mixed signals? How the new downtown bus rapid transit traffic setup works
Isha Bhargava | CBC News | Posted: November 28, 2024 10:00 AM | Last Updated: November 28
The downtown BRT loop has red lanes, unique traffic lights and buses turning left ahead of traffic
London Transit officials say new traffic signals for buses designed to make the system rapid are working, despite some motorists still confused by how they work.
On Sunday, twelve small, black traffic lights went live along King Street and Queens Avenue, between Ridout and Wellington streets. They make the new downtown Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) loop work, hanging alongside the usual yellow traffic lights at each intersection.
Under the new BRT system, buses now travel in their own lane, painted red, so they don't clog vehicular traffic with the goal of getting people on the bus to their destination quicker.
But a change to the design of London's downtown roads is causing some confusion, as Londoners adjust to the new lights and lanes.
"I just think people are confused or they're ignoring [the signals]," said Sarah Smith who lives downtown and has watched the initiation period. "I notice people are still turning right because they think they can or they're driving in the bus lane. People who don't come downtown often aren't used to it."
Even bus drivers, who are also learning how to navigate the new system, say there are growing pains that need to be worked out while motorists get used to what's expected of them.
"As long as they're paying attention to their regular signals, we'll navigate the transit ones and everybody should be able to navigate the intersection safely that way," London Transit Commission's Manager of Operations and Administration David Butler said.
CBC London took a ride on a bus to learn from a driver how the rules of the road work, now that BRT is in place.
Buses turn left first
Buses are now travelling along the red dedicated curbside lanes, using the priority signals at key intersections to pick up and drop off passengers at stops.
They can make advanced left turns on Wellington St. and Queens Ave. from the dedicated bus lanes on the far right curbside. So they're turning in front of regular traffic still waiting on a red.
"That's a new concept. But it's in the 'protected phase' and allows us to make the manoeuvres because all other vehicle traffic is restricted at the time," said Butler.
New bus lingo
Instead of stop, go, left and right, buses operate in three phases on the downtown BRT loop. There's a protected signal phase, a red signal phase and a permission phase. They're all insightful for drivers learning these new traffic rules.
The protected signal phase happens when the green directional arrows come on, and regular traffic is still stopped. This is when buses and bicycles in the red transit lanes can go straight, right or left. Everyone else, including pedestrians, must wait.
The red signal phase happens when, as the title suggests, the bus traffic light is red. At this time, the bus can only make a right turn, while regular vehicle traffic waits.
In the permissive phase, there's a green arrow telling bus drivers they can proceed straight through an intersection or make a right turn. No left turns are allowed.
"When we use these transit lanes we are doing defensive driving because we have to be cautious of other motorists on our side because sometimes they also move the same time as us," said Rupinder Singh, a bus driver who has been training others on how to navigate the new signal system.
He adds, from a driver's perspective, the new system is better for safety because it gives drivers more time and space to make necessary manoeuvres.
Yellow traffic lights still rule
If there's one rule LTC drivers and administrators want to drill home to motorists, it's that the regular yellow traffic lights are still the only directional guide on the road.
A second key rule is that the red lanes are not for regular traffic.
"We're going through some growing pains while motorists get used to the rules and regulations and what's expected of them. It's new for everybody, not just our bus drivers," Butler said.
The good news? Butler says, even in these early days, the buses are indeed arriving quicker, getting riders to their destination in much better time than before.