Development of an Updated "Traffic Signal Operations Policies and Strategies" Document for the City of Toronto

Congestion of road networks is a persistent problem in almost all large and growing metropolitan areas. In the City of Toronto, a combination of transportation policies and strategies are applied to address congestion issues. One way of mitigating the impacts of congestion is through consistent, safe, and efficient control of traffic signals. Historically, the City’s traffic signal operations were guided by Standard Operating Practices (SOPs) that were inconsistent, incomplete, or out-of-date. A consolidated document to provide guidance to City staff and consultants was not available. To address this gap, a three-member Working Group was established to develop the City's Traffic Signal Operations Policies and Strategies document. The policies and strategies in this document complement and support the broader vision, goals and objectives of the Toronto Official Plan and Transportation Services Division Strategic Agenda, providing guidelines for the City's signal operations while promoting the consistent, safe, and efficient control of traffic signals for all road users. This paper discusses the policy developmental framework and the policy-making process used to develop the policies and strategies of traffic signal operations in Toronto. It also addresses the challenges and sensitive issues that arose during the process.