The City of Burnaby plans to equip traffic signals with cameras that can detect buses at three intersections along Canada Way in the hope of improving the experience on transit.
City staff want to reduce delays at bus stops and intersections, which were problem areas highlighted in a report to the transportation committee last week.
Feedback from bus drivers, along with transit data, indicated transit delays are mostly caused as buses in the pull-out bus stops have to wait for gaps in the traffic flow to merge back into the travel lane, as well as delays through intersections.
Staff hope to solve the problem by introducing “transit-signal priority” cameras and enhanced traffic signal hardware at Willingdon Avenue, Deer Lake Parkway and Burris Street, according to the staff report.
The cameras will detect buses in the pull-out bays and activate corresponding traffic signals to create gaps in the traffic flow.
The cameras will also detect buses approaching an intersection and “adjust the traffic signal timings to improve bus priority,” according to the report.
A TransLink report notes there are different ways to use the cameras, including:
- Enabling the same “phase,” such as a left-turn signal, twice in the same cycle, providing an additional opportunity for a bus to clear an intersection
- Prolonging a green light to allow transit more time to clear an intersection
- Ending a red light for cross traffic and providing an earlier green signal
Staff considered removing the bus pull-out bays, meaning buses would stay in the travel lane for loading and unloading, but found that would only save time at bus stops and not intersections. The stopped buses would also impede traffic, blocking vehicles behind them.
The city has submitted a funding application to TransLink’s bus speed and reliability program, which is expected to pay for the full project.
Staff will monitor the impact of the program and make adjustments as necessary.
