Thread by @EnglishRail

Very excited to see rapid movement on addressing the issues with speed on Finch LRT & the streetcars too, including today's TTC motions. This is a huge opportunity to fix longstanding problems, mirroring what we recommended in our @TorontoStar article. thestar.com/opinion/contri…

@TorontoStar Transit signal priority (TSP) is essential but not a silver bullet. Simple fixes like letting streetcars/LRVs move ahead of left-turning traffic are no-brainers. Today, streetcars can extend greens but true TSP does much more.

@TorontoStar The best systems actively manage the whole signal cycle, trimming red time for transit and adjusting subsequent cycles to keep traffic moving smoothly. The biggest gains come when the system can predict when the vehicle reaches the intersection.

@TorontoStar That’s why reliability + TSP reinforce each other: more consistent service = more effective priority. Line management matters. if vehicles leave terminals bunched, you can’t fix it down the line. We need monitoring departures, adding recovery time, and even redesigning terminals.

@TorontoStar Streets like Finch, Spadina & St. Clair are so wide that red lights are extremely long. European cities solve this with multi-stage crossings—pedestrians wait safely halfway across, shortening the whole cycle. Both pedestrians and transit get quicker green lights.

@TorontoStar Streetcars/LRVs are capped at speeds below parallel cars and buses. On Queensway, a right-of-way designed for 80kph now crawls at 30 even where there are no sidewalks. On Finch, the signalling forces operators to keep a buffer under already low limits.

@TorontoStar Antiquated switch tech is holding back the streetcar network. Operators still stop to visually confirm switch positions because the legacy control system is obsolete.

@TorontoStar Single-point switches also force slow crossings. Virtually every modern system—including our LRTs and Leslie Barns—uses double-point switches + modern controls. We shouldn’t be installing 1930s tech in 2025.

@TorontoStar None of these changes require megaprojects. They’re operational and technical choices—but they can transform the rider experience.
Faster trips don’t just make transit more appealing. They free up vehicles and operators, effectively increasing frequency at no added cost.