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Reposted by Ontario Traffic Man

Sean Marshall @seanyyz.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

GO Transit passengers might be in for a shock after Labour Day as new timetables and new penalties come into effect. A lot of weekend trains are wiped from the schedule. seanmarshall.ca/2026/08/29/g...

seanmarshall.ca

GO’s September changes: higher fines, fewer trains

GO Transit passengers might be in for a shock after Labour Day as new schedules and new penalties come into effect.

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Reposted by Ontario Traffic Man

Sean Marshall @seanyyz.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Can’t say I’m surprised. The Brampton Chrysler plant has been in limbo for years. But I have an idea: the federal gov’t should buy it, leasing it to rail manufacturers that want to bid on contracts but don’t have a manufacturing presence here (Hitachi, CRRC, CAF, etc.). www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

cbc.ca

Stellantis is considering closing and selling Brampton Assembly plant, Unifor says | CBC News

A national union says it was told by Stellantis this week that it is seriously considering the closure and sale of the Brampton Assembly Plant.

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Ontario Traffic Man @ontariotrafficman.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Light Trucks disproportionately endanger other road users yet we still allow them to be sold without any speed limiting devices. Not even a 110 km/h speed limiter.

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Reposted by Ontario Traffic Man

More Transit Southern Ontario @moretransitso.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Today is the first day of permanent GO train service to Stratford. What we need now is for Metrolinx to purchase the rail corridor and upgrade track to increase speed. Stratford -> Kitchener currently takes 53 minutes, but it can be under 30 minutes with simple track upgrades.

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Ontario Traffic Man @ontariotrafficman.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Subcompact cars are no longer sold in Canada, yet they're still available in St-Pierre & Miquelon just 10km from the Canadian border. This is because SP&M accepts both Canadian and EU auto regulations, avoiding the need for automakers to develop a North-American variant to sell there.

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Ontario Traffic Man @ontariotrafficman.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

I've spent a lot of time monitoring train movements and the track owner whose dispatching seems the most hostile to Via is not CN or CPKC, it's the Government of Ontario. Others are noticing this as well:

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Ontario Traffic Man @ontariotrafficman.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

Surely if Light Duty Trucks don't meet the standards of passenger cars we should at least mandate automatic speed enforcement on them to minimize their harm. Light trucks are theoretically for tradespeople, why do they need to go more than 110 km/h?

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Ontario Traffic Man @ontariotrafficman.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Happy construction season to those who celebrate!

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Ontario Traffic Man @ontariotrafficman.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

@viarailcanada.bsky.social This is not an acceptable situation for paying customers on a 5-hour journey. If there's no window, don't put seats there. How about putting a luggage rack so you can relax the baggage limits?

Seats 16C/D in Car 4 of a Siemens Venture set have no window

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Reposted by Ontario Traffic Man

FastTrackTO @fast-track.to · 07/04/2026

Line 5's top speed is now 80 km/h in tunnels! Removing unnecessary speed restrictions is 3️⃣ on our ten-point plan, and a great first step to put #Eglinton on the fast track! Now it’s time for the surface section of Line 5, Line 6 and the #streetcars to follow suit. See more here:

fast-track.to

FastTrackTO

Home of the 10-point plan to save Toronto's streetcar system.

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Ontario Traffic Man @ontariotrafficman.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

This raised crossing is extremely effective at reducing speeds where pedestrians cross. Speed limit is 30 km/h on this local street but traffic slows to maybe 15 or so at the ped crossing. Draper Street, Toronto

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Reposted by Ontario Traffic Man

august 🍂 @auguststreet.ca · 24/03/2026

a great plan. the big takeaway here is that the plan needs to be implemented in full along entire routes to make a real noticeable impact on commutes and win public favour there is no one singular silver bullet. this will be one of *the* election issues going into the october mayoral race.

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Reposted by Ontario Traffic Man

JackTatt 🇨🇦 @jacktatttran.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

I checked my copy of the 2022 Streetcar Rule Book (my employer has an electronic copy because of a project). There are a lot of speed restrictions. For intersections, pedestrian crossings, switches, even passing streetcars. And Queensway, one of the best RoWs has a 10km/hr intersection limit!

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Reposted by Ontario Traffic Man

FastTrackTO @fast-track.to · 02/03/2026

With lagging left turns, the left turn phase follows the streetcar phase every cycle. This makes no difference to streetcar delay, and thus, minimal benefit to riders.

graphic showing leading left turns (before green) versus lagging left turns (after green) at a road intersection.

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Ontario Traffic Man @ontariotrafficman.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

In this article, the City reveals that the Transit Signal Priority on the Eglinton LRT only allows green extensions up to 16 seconds, which is far less than the 30 s maximum that's programmed on streetcar lines and on Finch toronto.citynews.ca/2026/02/17/l...

City spokesperson Kate Lear said city staff has already worked out a plan for how green light extension can be added at intersections where LRT vehicles interact with traffic.

“The maximum amount of time that it is possible to extend the green light is 16 seconds for Line 5 – Eglinton LRT, and 30 seconds for Line 6 – Finch West LRT due to LRT frequencies,” Lear told 680 NewsRadio Toronto

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Ontario Traffic Man @ontariotrafficman.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

Ottawa's downtown protected cycling lanes may be cleared of snow, but they are not cleared of parked cars...

Cars illegally parked in the Laurier Avenue protected bike lane

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Ontario Traffic Man @ontariotrafficman.bsky.social · 08/02/2026

Only in Ontario would we install 7 signal heads at a midblock pedestrian signal. 4 transit signal heads and 3 traffic signal heads, for 1 transit lane and 2 vehicle lanes. (There's also a bike lane but it doesn't get a signal, haha)

Eglinton & Wyndford looking westbound. 4 transit signal heads and 3 vehicle signal heads

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Ontario Traffic Man @ontariotrafficman.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

It was nice of the maintenance crew to give my bike a much-needed wash while I was at work. I just wish they had taken my insulated helmet off the handlebars first. It's soaking wet and it's -10 degrees out for the ride home

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Reposted by Ontario Traffic Man

Sean Marshall @seanyyz.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

There’s your Ontario-built equipment going up against an unarmed crowd.

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Ontario Traffic Man @ontariotrafficman.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

Just because e-bikes are less hazardous than cars doesn't mean we should accept unnecessary hazards. Canada/US allow much faster and heavier vehicles to operate without license or insurance than other countries. Is it really so unacceptable to limit e-bikes to 25km/h / 250W like other countries?

Kinetic energy of 25 km/h bicycle: 2194 Joules
Kinetic energy of 25 km/h Dutch e-bike: 3665 Joules
Kinetic energy of 32 km/h Ontario e-bike: 7783 Joules

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Ontario Traffic Man @ontariotrafficman.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

Daily reminder that the primary benefit of railway electrification is not to reduce railway emissions. It is to enable faster acceleration which reduces travel time and thereby increases frequency without adding operating cost. That then attracts more riders and thereby more revenue.

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Reposted by Ontario Traffic Man

ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 03/01/2026

The Government of Canada having foreign travel advisories for "exercise high degree of caution" for most of Western Europe, but still keeping the USA in full green, is insane. travel.gc.ca/travelling/a...

Map of Canada's travel advisory warnings ranging from green to red. I can't list every country's status in the alt text but please visit https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories for more details

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Ontario Traffic Man @ontariotrafficman.bsky.social · 29/12/2025

The TTC has imposed a 25 km/h limit on the surface portions of the subway, presumably due to freezing rain yesterday. But making the subway slow and infrequent will encourage people to drive on slippery roads instead. It seems like "add a speed restriction" is the TTC's solution to every concern.

25 km/h subway train on Line 1 at Wilson Yard

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Ontario Traffic Man @ontariotrafficman.bsky.social · 29/12/2025

It's so frustrating when the Google AI summary has clearly found the information I'm looking for, but it's not in the sources it links. I can't cite the AI summary because it's often wrong. Even here it claims GO Expansion is a project of ProRail, the rail infrastructure operator of the Netherlands

Google AI summary with an accurate description of the Dutch ETCS Level 2/3 railway signalling system, which links to documents that don't describe that system.

The summary also says that GO Expansion (a project to improve regional rail in Ontario, Canada) is a project by ProRail, the railway infrastructure manager of the Netherlands. Which is obviously not true.

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Ontario Traffic Man @ontariotrafficman.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

At the back cab of the Finch LRT you can see the speedometer, including the programmed speed limits. It would be useful if a pair of transit advocates could film a full ride with both the view out the front and the speedometer at the back so we can document the speed limits youtu.be/lectZKgdwTo

youtu.be

Finch W LRT speedometer - Albion to Kipling

YouTube video by Ontario Traffic Man Clips

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Ontario Traffic Man @ontariotrafficman.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

TTC Planning & Engineering has been proposing and implementing exactly this type of infrastructure for decades but they face opposition from the City. Queue Jump Lanes constructed by the TTC include: WB Lawrence & Dufferin EB Steeles & Don Mills WB Finch & Yonge EB Finch & Markham

Queue Jump Lane westbound on Lawrence Ave at Dufferin St

Queue Jump Lane eastbound on Steeles Ave at Don Mills Rd

Queue Jump Lane on Finch Ave at Finch Station (bypassing the queue approaching the Yonge St signal)

Queue Jump Lane eastbound on Finch Ave at Markham Rd

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Ontario Traffic Man @ontariotrafficman.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

In 2021 The City exempted the Finch LRT from the 50 km/h speed limit (allowing it to go 60), citing the importance of short round trip times. Unfortunately the TTC later enacted 25 km/h intersection speed limits, making 60 km/h unattainable between signals anyway. www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis...

The Finch West Light Rail Transit (LRT) is currently under construction and runs on a segregated, dedicated track along the surface of Finch Avenue West between Highway 27 and Keele Street. In July 2019, City Council approved a reduction in the posted speed limit from 60 km/h to 50 km/h on Finch Avenue West, between Albion Road and Yonge Street, which lies within the Finch West LRT corridor.

Contractual obligations for the operation of Finch West LRT, including end to end run time, require the LRT to be able to reach speeds of up to 60 km/h. Given the segregated nature of the LRT driven by professional drivers on fixed rails with superior stopping ability over regular vehicles with pneumatic tires, it has been determined that
an operating speed of 60 km/h for the LRT vehicles is appropriate in the segregated environment and is still in keeping with a Vision Zero oriented approach to road safety.

Accordingly it is proposed that the segregated portion of the LRT guideway on Finch Avenue West between Highway 27 and Keele Street be designated as a reserved lane for Metrolinx LRT Vehicles, Clearly Marked Transit Authority Vehicles and Clearly Marked Project Co. Vehicles, and that a speed limit be set for this reserved lane at 60 km/h

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Ontario Traffic Man @ontariotrafficman.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

If they can cut 9 minutes each way off the scheduled travel time, here's how frequent the service would be with the existing number of drivers and vehicles: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

With a 9 min reduction in travel time, Peak service would improve from every 6.5 min to every 5.3
Midday service would improve from every 9.8 min to every 8
Evening/Weekend service would improve from every 12.3 min to every 10

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Reposted by Ontario Traffic Man

More Transit Southern Ontario @moretransitso.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

This isn't something that needs to be funded through a budget. Signals on Eglinton and Finch already have signal priority installed. The problem is the way these signals prioritize (or don't) transit. Such as left turning cars going before LRT vehicles. 1/2

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Ontario Traffic Man @ontariotrafficman.bsky.social · 07/12/2025

The "R" in LRT doesn't stand for "rapid", it stands for "rail". Toronto's new Finch LRT does have rails so guess it has achieved its mandate!

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Ontario Traffic Man @ontariotrafficman.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

One of the nice things about the REM is that it provides a nearby illustration of how fast the O-Train could be if we wanted our rapid transit to actually be rapid: youtu.be/Wx7yOQqYeK4?...

youtu.be

OTrain vs REM: 1.5km race

YouTube video by Ontario Traffic Man Clips

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Ontario Traffic Man @ontariotrafficman.bsky.social · 02/11/2025

Metrolinx can't run night trains "due to track ownership"?! Metrolinx owns: 100% of Lakeshore East 100% of Stouffville 100% of Barrie Kitchener line to just before Bramalea Lakeshore West to Burlington. Rather than sharing their actual constraints they spew vague misleading bullshit.

“For yesterday’s game, Metrolinx added additional late-night trains on the Lakeshore West Line, Kitchener line, Stouffville Line and Barrie line to accommodate fans heading home. These trains were held as long as possible after the game and every train was at full capacity when it departed. Many customers were also accommodated on GO buses and on the UP Express,” the agency said.

“Due to track ownership and operational considerations, we cannot operate overnight or add additional trains past service time. We sincerely thank our customers for their patience throughout the playoff series as we have worked to support everyone travelling to and from the games.”

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Reposted by Ontario Traffic Man

justin taylor 🚄🎵🔋🌈 @nottaylorx.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

The difference in the time it takes a streetcar in Amsterdam vs. Toronto to clear an intersection after servicing a nearside stop.

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Reposted by Ontario Traffic Man

Marco Chitti @chittimarco.bsky.social · 19/10/2025

99% of Canadians studies "We are taking inspiration from international peers!" Look inside The international peers 🇺🇸🇬🇧

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Ontario Traffic Man @ontariotrafficman.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

Electrifying railways is not greenwashing. Faster acceleration means more revenue. Shorter round trip times mean higher equipment productivity. Electricity is cheaper than fuel. Electric trains are cheaper to maintain. It's the most financially sustainable way to run a frequent rail service.

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Ontario Traffic Man @ontariotrafficman.bsky.social · 22/09/2025

Personellement je préfère des garages propres, mais à chacun son goût...

Handwritten sign reads "Vente de garage sale"

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Reposted by Ontario Traffic Man

Jen @envirojen.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

There is some irony in this government directive, following their own attempts to limit or remove barrier-protected bike lanes in Toronto and the rest of the province.

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Ontario Traffic Man @ontariotrafficman.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

In Ottawa when a road is reconstructed it's brought up to the current standards. That usually means that cycle tracks get added, as is currently happening on Greenfield Avenue:

Greenfield Avenue in Ottawa with cycle tracks under construction.

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Ontario Traffic Man @ontariotrafficman.bsky.social · 13/09/2025

It is insane to me that some people believe AI responses

Google AI search result: "GO Transit is known for its signature light blue colour"

Photo of green-and-white GO Transit vehicles. Photos by Richard Eriksson, 분당선M and Secondarywaltz via Wikimedia Commons

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Ontario Traffic Man @ontariotrafficman.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

Metrolinx claims that they can't reintroduce express trains on the Lakeshore East line since the 3rd track is out of service. That's a lie: most of the 3rd track is still in service and there's room for express trains ontariotrafficman.wordpress.com/2025/09/12/go-transit-lies-about-express-trains/

ontariotrafficman.wordpress.com

Ontario Traffic Man

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Ontario Traffic Man @ontariotrafficman.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

The fact that it's so commonplace to view speeding fines as a tax on average people demonstrates how inconsistent road design is with speed limits. If 15% of people are speeding, something is wrong with those people. If 85% of people are speeding something is wrong with the road design.

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Ontario Traffic Man @ontariotrafficman.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

Many American engineers responded to my multi-stage ped crossing video saying that they can't do Dutch-style ped green waves with American equipment. But the City of Madison, WI keeps proving them all wrong. Here's @jerryschippa.bsky.social showing one off: youtube.com/shorts/ltq2Q...

youtube.com

E Washington & EB HWY 30 Ramp (SB Ped Crossing)

YouTube video by Jerry Schippa

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Ontario Traffic Man @ontariotrafficman.bsky.social · 20/08/2025

Via Rail only makes up about 55% of the bus/train capacity provided in the Ottawa-Toronto market - which illustrates how much train ridership could increase if Via had more affordable tickets.

Pie chart showing that Via Rail currently provides only 55% of the bus + train capacity.

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Reposted by Ontario Traffic Man

Aaron Binder @aaronbinder.com · 08/08/2025

This temporary bike lane on Danforth near Pape is the best construction lane I've ever seen in Toronto. It reminds me of Vancouver and - I don't know about you - but I've got this warm, happy feeling in my stomach?

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Reposted by Ontario Traffic Man

Reece Martin @rmtransit.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

New York City has its classic express subway trains, but London actually also has its own express underground trains. Come learn more in this video with @ontariotrafficman.bsky.social ! youtu.be/cnrkztrLhqY

youtu.be

The "Express" Underground of London (w/ Ontario Traffic Man)

YouTube video by RMTransit

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Ontario Traffic Man @ontariotrafficman.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

This type of advocacy is why North American transit agencies predominently use the slower and more expensive Pay As You Enter model of fare collection. For Proof of Purchase to work, there need to be fare enforcement officers, but advocates freak out about any kind of enforcement.

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Ontario Traffic Man @ontariotrafficman.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

What is the point of having elections if we get a conservative government either way?

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Reposted by Ontario Traffic Man

Sean Marshall @seanyyz.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

Yes. If we really wanted to grow the economy, we’d fund higher education and scientific research to fill gaps left by a sudden American decline, along with the housing for it. There’s a big role for the federal government in that. Instead we’re going with tax cuts, austerity, and defence spending.

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