07-10-2023, 10:18 AM
(07-10-2023, 06:50 AM)nms Wrote: I can't remember, are there sections of the Ion route where the LRVs can be sped up without any engineering changes? Or would it result in uncomfortable speed changes for passengers whenever the LRV hits a tight curve?
There are many areas where Ion could simply drive faster. Anywhere it’s parallel to motor vehicle traffic and in the middle between other vehicles, it should be doing at least the speed of uncongested traffic, typically 10km/h faster than the limit. For example, King St. near GRH. Southbound approaching Erb St. the only explanation for the snail like pace of the service is safety paranoia. We’ve discussed the section parallel to Courtland a few times.
In addition to the actual speed of travel, there is also the issue of signal priority. The LRT often does not get priority. For example, if an LRT is waiting to leave Allen northbound and Allen has the green, King St. motor vehicle traffic will get its green first when the LRT should instead.
Signalling in general has been poorly handled. I also have complaints about other traffic being held up, not because an LRT is going through (which is fine; there is no reason why a few motorists should go before an LRT with dozens of people on it), but because an LRT will be going through or has recently gone through or even is just nearby. Signals should clear faster after the LRT is gone, and should be designed only to stop conflicting movements. For example, when the southbound LRT crosses Erb St., Caroline St. traffic should get a green; at Allen St., only King St. traffic in the same direction as the LRT should be stopped.