WINNIPEG - April 24, 2012 - In an effort to constantly improve traffic flow throughout the City of Winnipeg, the Public Works Department has continued working on Winnipeg's Traffic Signals Management System. Begun in 2008, the project is a major building block for prompt response to signal malfunction, preventing traffic congestion, and reducing driving time across the city.
"Once the system is fully functional we will know immediately when a traffic signal is not working properly. We will then be able to deploy staff into the field to address the issue rather than the public needing to call in, report it, and wait in traffic until it gets fixed," said Luis Escobar, City of Winnipeg's Manager of Transportation.
This project was approved as part of the 2008 Capital Program with $2,300,000 per year identified for 2008-2012 inclusive within the Capital Program.
This year, through the Enhanced Traffic Signals Management Project, 65 signalized intersections will be completed in the Downtown area and Grant Avenue from Pembina Highway to Barker Boulevard. The addition of these intersections complements the approximately 135 synchronized intersections already completed along the following routes city-wide:
- Lagimodiere Boulevard from Headmaster Row to Bishop Grandin Boulevard
- Main Street from Euclid Avenue to Fernbank Avenue
- St. Mary's Road from Burland Avenue to Marion Street/Goulet Street
- St. Anne's Road from Aldgate Road to St. Mary's Road
- Portage Avenue from Vaughan Street to St. Charles Street
- Bishop Grandin Boulevard from Lagimodiere Boulevard to Waverley Street
- Pembina Highway from River to rue des Trappistes
- McPhillips Street from Notre Dame Avenue to Templeton Street
- Fermor Avenue from Dunkirk Drive to Lagimodiere Boulevard
- Henderson Highway from Hespeler Avenue to McIvor Avenue
The Traffic Management System will form the foundation of a future Traffic Management Centre. Operators in the Traffic Management Centre would continuously monitor traffic cameras strategically located at key intersections or along routes for traffic congestion problems or emergencies. Traffic information would then be communicated to the public through variable message signs, internet, and through the media. Upon Council approval of funding, the public service would intend to have a Traffic Management Centre implemented within about three years.
About the Enhanced Traffic Signals Management Project
The Enhanced Traffic Signals Management Project involves traffic light timing changes as well as replacement of 40+ year old equipment, installation of a centralized computerized control system of traffic lights, development of a traffic monitoring pilot project, implementation of a wireless communication network, completion of a detection and traffic counting program, and design of a Traffic Management Centre.
Traffic Monitoring Pilot Project
The Traffic Monitoring Pilot Project was completed in January to test the new wireless communication network capabilities in supporting video cameras installed at certain signalized intersections for the purposes of monitoring traffic.
Eight video cameras are currently installed and operating at the following intersections:
- Pembina Highway/Osborne Street/Corydon Avenue (Confusion Corner)
- Bishop Grandin Boulevard & St. Anne's Road
- Bishop Grandin Boulevard & Dakota Street
- Bishop Grandin Boulevard & St. Mary's Road
- Main Street & Euclid Road
- Main Street & Chief Peguis Trail
- St. Mary's Road & St. Anne's Road
- Lagimodiere Boulevard & Regent Avenue
Wireless Communication Network Upgrade
In the coming months, the Wireless Communication Network Upgrade Design will be completed. This project identifies equipment requirements and locations to support current and future Traffic Signals and Traffic Management Centre wireless communication needs. Future additions and expansions to the current network will be implemented according to the wireless communication network master plan.
Detection and Traffic Counting Study
The Detection and Traffic Counting Study, to be completed by this summer , evaluates the performance of selected vehicle detection/counting technologies. The findings will assist in the provision of a more efficient traffic management and monitoring program, particularly relating to traffic signal operations.