Luc Duval, ?Director of Engineering at City of Timmins, wants to expand the red flashing lights that are presently running from 6 pm to 6 am in the downtown to a 24 hour test in March. The city recognizes that traffic flows have changed from 1992 when the lights were first installed.
The Timmins downtown BIA has six signalized intersections along Third Avenue and Second Avenue. The South Porcupine downtown BIA has one signalized intersection at Main and Bruce. As traffic flows, volumes and pedestrian movements have changed over the last decades, the signalized intersections have unfortunately hindered efficient movements of motorists and pedestrians.
Prior to implementing this trial period, the Engineering Department conducted traffic counts and pedestrian counts at key signalized intersections. Those results were presented at Council and the engineering review confirmed that warrants for traffic signals were no longer applicable. In actual fact, most of the warrants for an all-way stop intersection were also not achieved.
Since August 2013, six downtown traffic signals have been operating on an all- red mode from 6pm to 6am. The trial has proven very positive on all fronts. Vehicle and pedestrian queues in all directions are practically non- existent. Travel across the BIA core has proven to be safe and efficient.
The benefits to eliminating the lights are many including time spend at lights, left hand turns can be reintroduced, eliminate expenses or maintenance and electricity and the existing infrastructure can be used for new signage and branding logos. According to the presentation, a fully signalized intersection has an estimated electrical usage of $1000 / yr. and the maintenance costs of $5000 / yr. The savings for 7 signalized intersections would be $42,000 / yr. The signalized intersection at Kirby and Pine is also a candidate for an all-way stop intersection and will be considered at a later date."Based on the general acceptance of changes made during the evening hours, the Traffic Department intends to proceed with a second phase of the project. For the month of March 2014, it is recommend full implementation of the all- red mode. This approach will consist of having all red flashing signals for 24 hours a day."
"In order to provide a sense of comfort for this initiative, we wish to point out that the traffic signal at the corner of Third and Balsam has been out-of-commission since the first week of December 2013 (following the Windsor Hotel fire). Over the last 8 weeks, that intersection has operated as an all-way stop configuration. No delays, no long vehicle queues and no accidents reported since the stop signs have been erected. The technical review supported the removal of traffic signals and a real- life test has confirmed the same. We can also report that the traffic signals at the corner of Main and Bruce inadvertently operated in an all- red mode for 5 days in September."
"The intersection operated efficiently for motorists and pedestrians during that time. As we take a deep look into all of our municipal assets, we find an opportunity here to remove a costly asset and replace it at very little cost. The BIA traffic signals were originally installed in 1992. The end-of-life for this infrastructure is upon us and an important investment is required, should we maintain the status quo. In addition, the 2014 Hydro Vault Upgrade project will require further capital investments at the six traffic signal locations. Such investment is considered unwise, in the context that the traffic signals are old and no longer serve the same purpose as in the past."
