News
October 24, 2025
Spadina streetcar can be a frustratingly slow ride. One councillor thinks she has a simple fix
Dianne Saxe wants the city to look at its streetcar signal timings in order to speed up the service.
## Spadina Streetcar: A Slow Ride No More? Councillor Proposes Signal Timing Overhaul
The Spadina streetcar, a vital artery of Toronto's public transit system, is often the subject of commuters' frustrations. Known for its scenic route and convenient stops, it's also notorious for its sluggish pace. Now, Councillor Dianne Saxe believes she has a simple, yet potentially impactful solution to address the issue: optimizing the city's streetcar signal timings.
Saxe argues that the current signal timings are not adequately synchronized with the streetcar's operations, leading to unnecessary stops and delays. In essence, the streetcar is frequently forced to halt at intersections, even when there's no cross-traffic, simply because the light is red. This stop-and-go pattern not only increases travel time but also contributes to passenger discomfort and overall service inefficiency.
"We need to take a serious look at how the traffic signals are programmed along the Spadina route," Saxe stated. "By adjusting the timings to better align with the streetcar's speed and schedule, we can significantly improve its efficiency and make it a more attractive option for commuters."
The councillor's proposal calls for a comprehensive review of the signal timings along the entire Spadina streetcar line. This review would involve analyzing the streetcar's travel patterns, traffic flow, and pedestrian activity at each intersection. The goal is to identify opportunities to optimize the signal timings, ensuring that the streetcar receives priority whenever possible, without unduly disrupting other traffic or compromising pedestrian safety.
While the concept seems straightforward, its implementation could require careful coordination between various city departments, including transportation planning, traffic management, and public transit. It will also necessitate data collection and analysis to determine the optimal signal timings for different times of day and traffic conditions.
The potential benefits of this simple fix are considerable. A faster, more reliable Spadina streetcar could encourage more people to choose public transit, reducing traffic congestion and carbon emissions. It could also improve the overall commuting experience for thousands of Torontonians who rely on the streetcar to get to work, school, and other destinations.
Saxe hopes that her proposal will be taken seriously by the city and that resources will be allocated to conduct a thorough review of the Spadina streetcar signal timings. If successful, this initiative could serve as a model for improving streetcar service on other routes throughout the city.
The Spadina streetcar, a vital artery of Toronto's public transit system, is often the subject of commuters' frustrations. Known for its scenic route and convenient stops, it's also notorious for its sluggish pace. Now, Councillor Dianne Saxe believes she has a simple, yet potentially impactful solution to address the issue: optimizing the city's streetcar signal timings.
Saxe argues that the current signal timings are not adequately synchronized with the streetcar's operations, leading to unnecessary stops and delays. In essence, the streetcar is frequently forced to halt at intersections, even when there's no cross-traffic, simply because the light is red. This stop-and-go pattern not only increases travel time but also contributes to passenger discomfort and overall service inefficiency.
"We need to take a serious look at how the traffic signals are programmed along the Spadina route," Saxe stated. "By adjusting the timings to better align with the streetcar's speed and schedule, we can significantly improve its efficiency and make it a more attractive option for commuters."
The councillor's proposal calls for a comprehensive review of the signal timings along the entire Spadina streetcar line. This review would involve analyzing the streetcar's travel patterns, traffic flow, and pedestrian activity at each intersection. The goal is to identify opportunities to optimize the signal timings, ensuring that the streetcar receives priority whenever possible, without unduly disrupting other traffic or compromising pedestrian safety.
While the concept seems straightforward, its implementation could require careful coordination between various city departments, including transportation planning, traffic management, and public transit. It will also necessitate data collection and analysis to determine the optimal signal timings for different times of day and traffic conditions.
The potential benefits of this simple fix are considerable. A faster, more reliable Spadina streetcar could encourage more people to choose public transit, reducing traffic congestion and carbon emissions. It could also improve the overall commuting experience for thousands of Torontonians who rely on the streetcar to get to work, school, and other destinations.
Saxe hopes that her proposal will be taken seriously by the city and that resources will be allocated to conduct a thorough review of the Spadina streetcar signal timings. If successful, this initiative could serve as a model for improving streetcar service on other routes throughout the city.
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Technology