qw-c\-\ B Rqion af P d REPORT

Wohkiq foh you Meeting Date: October 25, 20q2 Regional Council

For Information

DATE: September 12, 2012

REPORT TITLE: 2010 TRAVEL TIME STUDY

FROM: Dan Labrecque, Commissioner of Public Works

OBJECTIVE

This report is to inform Regional Council on the key findings of the 2010 Travel Time Study. The study is a comprehensive survey of travel time, speed, and delay across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and surrounding areas. The survey covers all 400-Series highways, expressways in the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area (GTHA) and arterial roads in th.e City of Toronto, and in the Regions of Peel, York, and Durham.

The 2010 Travel Time Study is a comprehensive survey conducted jointly by the Ministry of Transportation (MTO), City of Toronto, and the Regions of Peel, York, and Durham. The survey collected samples of travel time, speed, and delay on Provincial highways, expressways, and major arterials across the GTA and surrounding areas. The survey finds as a result of continued GTHA population and employment growth congestion continues to increase on roads and highways. While there have bee improvements to the road network, adequate road capacity continues to be a limitin

The slowest MTO 400-Series highway sections within the Region of Peel are southboun Highway 410 and eastbound Highway 401 in the morning peak period, and westboun Highway 401 in the afternoon peak period.

e In general, the survey finds that major arterial roads in Peel Region are more congested i the afternoon peak period than in the morning peak period. The Gore Road and Airpo Road are among the slowest arterials in both directions during the morning peak period.

0 Travel on the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane is found to be as much as 38 per c faster than on the General Purpose lane (GPL) during the morning peak period eastbound Highway 403.

0 The study provides an important data set to monitor the operating characteristics of majo aff in planning an

September 12, 2012 2010 TRAVEL TIME STUDY

DISCUSSION

I . Background

Starting in 1996, the MTO has conducted travel time surveys on the Provincial highway network in the GTHA. The study results are used to identify areas of significant congestion, monitor facility performance to aid in priority planning of future road improvements projects, traffic management strategies and transportation initiatives.

In 2006, the Travel Time Study included a select group of arterial roads within the Region of Peel and City of Toronto. The Regions of York and Durham started participating in the 2008 study. At that time, the need for travel time data on arterial roads was recognized as an essential element for monitoring the performance of the arterial road network. The 2010 Travel Time Study is a joint study with MTO, City of Toronto, Regions of Peel, York, and Durham.

In 201 0, the travel time survey covered 13 major 400-Series highways, and 11 8 arterials for a total of approximately 4,800 km covering both directions. The study area of the 2010 travel time survey is found in Appendix I.

Surveys were collected between September and November in 2010 using GPS equipped passenger car-travelling at the average speed of the traffic stream. Survey hours covered the morning peak period from 6:00 am to 9:30 am, mid-day period from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm, and afternoon peak period from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm.

2. Peel Region Findings

In the 2010 Travel Time Study, Peel Region's arterial analysis included 35 major routes covering approximately 940 km of roads such as Queen Street, Hurontario Street, Dixie Road, and Mayfield Road, among others. Arterials surveyed in Peel Region can be found in Appendix II.

The 2010 Travel Time Study covered approximately 450 km of MTO 400-Series highways within the Regions of Peel and Halton such as Highway 401, Highway 410, Highway 403, Highway 427, Highway 407, and the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEVV). Appendix Ill summarizes the 2010 Travel Time Study findings for the 400-Series highways in Peel Region, GTA and surrounding areas. Appendix IV summarizes the findings for the arterials surveyed in Peel Region.

Arterial Roads in Peel Region

The following presents highlights of the Travel Time Study findings relevant to Peel Region:

Arterials in the afternoon peak period experience lower speeds than the morning peak period, and are therefore more congested than the morning peak period. This trend is consistent across the other participating Regions and the City of Toronto.

a In terms of average travel speeds, Table 1 outlines the five slowest arterial road sections during the morning and afternoon peak periods in Peel Region. Both directions (northbound and southbound) of The Gore Road (Queen Street to Highway 50) and Airport Road (Ripson Street to International Centre) experience the slowest average speeds in the morning peak period. The Gore Road has been identified in the Region's Capital program for widening from 2 to 4 lanes in 201 5.

b-~\ - 3 - September 12, 2012 2010 TRAVEL TIME STUDY

During the morning peak period, motorists should expect to spend 50 per cent more time on the road traveling than during times when traffic flows freely. There are more congestion delays than signal delays in most corridors during both the morning peak period and the afternoon peak period. Level of Service (LOS) based on speed is a performance measure for arterial roads. Peel roads are considered over-capacity when the LOS falls below LOS D. In Peel, during the AM peak only 5 per cent of roadways surveyed operated below LOS D. In the PM peak, 10 per cent of roadways surveyed operated below LOS D.

a The average speed on Dixie Road is 51 kmlhr. During the AM peak period (7:30am), Dixie Road offers motorists a good alternative to Highway 410. Peel participated in the Travel Time Study as a pilot in 2006. The pilot was expanded to more roads in 2008 and more were added in 2010. As the program continues, the additional data will allow for trending. It will also provide the ability to monitor the positive impacts of capital investments on average speeds and capacity. Operational improvement projects that have led to higher speeds performance include the widening of Mayfield Road from Heart Lake Road to Dixie Road and the widening of Britannia Road from Queen Street North to Creditview Road.

Based on the data that are available in the Travel Time Study, the Region updates the Transportation Forecast Model and revises the Region's Long Range Transportation Plan and capital program accordingly. This data along with the modeling of future needs (based on growth) helps to asses the benefits that result from infrastructure investments as well as to establish a capital program to maintain a state of good repair, address existing deficiencies, and accommodate growth. Examples of road sections with low surveyed speeds that are planned for improvements are:

0 The Gore Road from Queen Street to Highway 50 (program for widening from 2 to 4 lanes in 2015).

e Steeles Avenue from Winston Churchill Blvd to Mississauga Road (Steeles Avenue from Mavis Road to Winston Churchill Blvd Environmental assessment study underway for widening from 4 lanes to 6 lanes).

a Highway 50 from Queen Street to Castlemore Road (construction is underway for widening from 4 lanes to 6 lanes).

I SB I The Gore Rd I Queen St I Hwy50 1 60 1 17

I NB I Airport Rd I Period

International Centre Ripson St

SB

NB

EB

1 WB I Britannia Rd* I Hurontario St I Mavis Rd 1 80 1 17

Airport Rd

The Gore Rd

Castlemore Rd

Afternoon

Ripson St

Hwy 50

The Gore Rd

Peak Period

I I I I I

WB

International Centre

Queen St

Hwy 50

WB

SB

18

Note: Construction on Britannia Road from Queen Street to Hurontario Derry Rd

50

60

70

60-80 WB

Eglinton Ave Hurontario St I Main St

17

23

23

Airport Rd

Dundas St

Dixie Rd

Hwy 403

Dixie Rd

Winston Churchill Blvd

Hwy 40.3

Burnhamthorpe Rd

9th Line

50-70

60

60

21

20

21

September 12,2012 2010 TRAVEL TIME STUDY

Hiahwavs in Peel Region

The slowest MTO 400-series highways sections in Peel and Halton can be found on Table 2.

Table 2: Five Slowest MTO 400-Series Highway Sections in the Regions of Peel and Halton

The following presents Key findings for the 400-Series highways in Peel Region:

e The 400-Series highway travel times in Peel Region decreased in 2010, reversing the trend from 2006 to 2008.

0 Main congestion areas are found on Highway 401, Highway 410, Highway 403, and the QEW. In particular, Highway 401 from Mississauga Road to Dixie Road, Highway 410 from Bovaird Drive to Highway 4011403, Highway 403 from Winston Churchill Blvd to Highway 4011410, and the QEW from Royal Windsor Drive to Fairview Street. Highway 401 from Dixie Road to Mississauga Road is the slowest 400-Series highway segment during the morning and afternoon peak periods. The slowest 400- Series highway segment in Peel is found on Highway 41 0 southbound from Bovaird Drive to Highway 4011403 in the morning peak period. The findings reinforced the travel demand and needs for improvements on Highway 410 and Highway 401 within Peel Region. Improvement projects that are important for Peel Region to relieve congestion are widening of Highway 410 from Highway 401 to Bovaird Drive and the widening of Highway 401. The widening of Highway 410 has been identified in the MTO Southern Highways Program 2011-2015 for future improvements project. The Highway 401 widening from Highway 410 to Hurontario Street is currently underway.

e HOV lanes on 400-Series highways are generally moving faster than the GPL during all periods. Travel time on the HOV lane is found to be as much as 38 per cent shorter than on the GPL during the morning peak period on eastbound Highway 403.

pw-cl - 5- September 12, 2012 2010 TRAVEL TIME STUDY

Table 3: Five Slowest MTO 400-Series Highway Sections in the GTA and Surrounding Areas

3. Findings in other GTA Municipalities

Bovaird Drive Hwy 4011403 4 44

Congestion continues to be a significant issue in the GTHA as a result of continued population and employment growth. While there have been physical infrastructure improvements to the road network, adequate road capacity continues to be a limiting factor. Also, the peak periods are becoming longer over time, e.g. starting earlier and ending later particularly during the afternoon peak period. The peak period is as long as 8 hours along Highway 401 at Keele Street. About one-quarter of the provincial highways in the GTHA are operating at less than 80 kmlhr during the morning and afternoon peak periods. Congestion on the 400-Series highway network has a corresponding impact on adjacent arterials. In general, commuters in the City of Toronto and the Regions of Durham and York all experienced increase in travel time on a regular basis.

Afternoon Peak period

The Highway 401 continues to be the most congested highway in Toronto. The Highway 401 within Toronto is operating near capacity for most of the working day. Approximately 60 per cent of the City of Toronto expressways are operating at LOS F during the morning and afternoon peak periods. The magnitude of volumes during midday peak period has greatly increased over time. The inbound Don Valley Parkway and Gardiner Expressway in the morning peak period and the outbound direction of these routes in the afternoon peak period feature some of the slowest highway speeds, when compared to the MTO 400-series highways. The core congestion area remains in the downtown Toronto.

CONCLUSION

EB EB

NB WB

WB

Congestion continues to be a significant issue in the GTHA as a result of continued population and employment growth. While there have been improvements to the road network, adequate road capacity continues to be a limiting factor. Congestion is a prevalent issue in the core of the GTHA, but many outlying areas also experience increases in travel time. Arterial roads in Peel Region experience lower speeds in the afternoon peak period, and therefore more congested than the morning peak period. This is consistent with the findings from other jurisdictions.

Hwy 401 Coll Hwy 401 Coll Hwy 401 Coll Hwy 404 GPL Hwy 401 Coll

Hwy 401 Express

Mississauga Road Hwy. 400

Dixie Road Hwy. 401lDVP

Dixie Road Dixie Road

Dixie Road Hwy. 404lDVP

Hwy. 400 16th Avenue

Mississauga Road Mississauga Road

5 I 2 3 4 5

48 38 38 39 40 42

P w - L ( - G - September 12, 2012 2010 TRAVEL TIME STUDY

The 2010 Travel Time Study provides an important data set to monitor the operating characteristics of major highways, expressways, and major arterial roads, which assist staff in planning and implementing future improvements and traffic management strategies. Results from the travel time surveys are an important data set for the Region's Long Range Transportation Plan. It is important for the Province, the three Regions, City of Toronto, and the area municipalities to address the transportation challenges through their infrastructure improvements programs. It is also important that the Region of Peel continues to participate in future travel time studies to ensure that it has the most up to date information on the performance of its transportation network. This information will greatly assist the Region in making decisions on its transportation initiatives and in collaborations with its partners, including the area municipalities, the Province and Metrolinx.

Dan Labrecque Commissioner of Public Works

Approved for Submission:

W L D. Szwarc, Chief Administrative Officer

For further information regarding this report, please contact Margie Chung at extension 4510 or via email at margie. chung@peelregion. ca

lCIL Authored By: Margie Chung &

September 12, 201 2 2010 TRAVEL TIME STUDY APPENDIX I 1

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2010 TRAVEL TIME STUDY APPENDIX lllA

2010 TRAVEL TIME STUDY APPENDIX lllB

APPENDIX IVB

Arterials Roads in Peel Region - PM Peak Mean Speed