I asked
readers to suggest ways commuting and traffic could be made better
in 2006. The following ideas cover a lot of ground.
Michael Kenny of Toronto calls attention to “the abysmal state of
the traffic light system” in greater Toronto. He writes, “As you
correctly state, the current state of roads/transportation in the
GTA needs significant improvement, and it’s a big job. But it seems
to me that we in fact have lots of roadways -- what we don't have is
a traffic light system that supports this. I am not suggesting we
don't need more roads, but let’s start improving what we have and
see where that gets us.”
Mr.
Kenny included some examples of particularly disruptive signals,
which I can look into for a future column. Drivers experience
inconsistent signal timing on a widespread basis. City engineers
across Ontario still have the aim of smoother traffic flow, but
“progressive” or “green wave” signal systems are being expanded
slowly, or not at all. I’ll report back on current efforts.
Dave
Moreira of Burlington offers a number of suggestions: “1. The MTO
should cancel the requirement for [Drive Clean] automobile emission
tests forthwith. The tests are ineffective and a waste of everyone's
time and money.
“2.
Much stronger incentives are needed to encourage the use of public
transit. Toronto should, for example, be encouraged to impose a toll
on non-commercial vehicles entering the city, such as is being done
in London.
“3.
Something needs doing to improve on-the-road habits of Ontario
drivers. I suspect that license tests are too easy to pass and
should be made more rigorous and demanding. I observe, for instance,
that [a majority] of Ontario drivers prefer to drive on the left. On
four-lane highways it is common to see a car approach another in the
outer lane, pass it using the inner lane, and then steer back into
the outer lane! A campaign to enforce ‘keeping right except to pass’
(in light traffic situations, obviously) would go a long way towards
making driving in Ontario safer.
“4. I
share your doubt that a master transportation plan [for the Greater
Golden Horseshoe] will come to pass. Back in the 70's, when I was
heavily involved in the building of rail transit equipment, the
Davis government came up with TATOA (Toronto Area Transit Operating
Authority) that was supposedly going to perform wonders by
coordinating the activities of the various transit operations in the
GTA. The body was set up and staffed, but as far as I was able to
see, nothing of any great consequence was accomplished. The idea was
sound, I'm sure, but I suspect that the political obstacles in its
way were too difficult to overcome.”
Brian Outinen would
like to add to the GTA traffic wish list, “Light rail lines along
all of the 400 series highways in the GTA. Imagine -- LRTs could run
every fifteen minutes, in both directions too, between the 6 a.m and
midnight, and every half hour otherwise. Commuters would drive only
as far as the nearest 400 series parking lot.
“Using a free swipe
card, provided by the Ministry of Transportation, you enter the
parking lot for free, and swipe to board the LRT, also for free. The
swipe card will eliminate the abuse of the free parking by motorists
who park and don't use the train. Don’t want the card? Then pay a
fee to park and ride.
“I know this is
wishful thinking, but I find it strange that the only answers the
politicians seem to come up with are more buses on the already
crowded roads. It is stranger still that no ideas are implemented to
remove private vehicles from the roads and highways [while still
addressing] the needs of commuters who work shifts or compressed
work schedules.”
Ed Drass
edrass@nationalpost.com