Systems in Operation
Toronto (Highway 401) Compass System
The Highway 401 Compass System within Toronto went into operation in early 1991. The initial section covered 16 kilometres through the centre of Toronto between Martin Grove Road and Yonge Street. Highway 401 is the "main street" for many Toronto commuters, and has a unique express/collector configuration and a cross-section with a minimum of 12 lanes. Some sections carry in excess of 350,000 vehicles on an average day.
Over the years, the Compass System has been continuously evaluated, enhanced and expanded. The current system stretches from the Highway 403/Eglinton interchange to Highway 401/410 interchange and easterly to Harwood Avenue for a distance of approximately 59 km. As of December 2002, the Hwy 401 system is made up of 94 colour CCTV cameras, 33 LED type changeable message signs, 630 vehicle detection stations and over 3100 vehicle detectors to help manage traffic on Highway 401.
Traffic Management Strategies
The Highway 401 Compass System employs four traffic management strategies that complement each other:
Effective traffic management on busy urban freeways such as Highway 401 begins with timely detection and confirmation of traffic incidents or slowdowns. Incident management procedures that provide coordinated on-site activities by emergency response personnel can preserve and protect human life, maintain a reasonable level of safety for all participants, minimize delay to the travelling public and minimize damage to public/private property. Timely and accurate traffic condition information must be supplied to motorists to allow them to choose an alternate route and lessen their chances of collision with stopped vehicles ahead. Compass combines all of the above strategies, and has produced significant benefits.
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Mississauga (QEW) Compass System
The Mississauga Compass System, constructed on the Queen Elizabeth Way in 1975, was the first system installed in Ontario. It was designed to smooth the flow of traffic between Erin Mills Parkway and Hurontario Street, where large number of vehicles entering the freeway during morning rush hours created stop-and-go driving conditions.
The Traffic Operation Centre for the Mississauga Compass System is located at QEW and Highway 10. The major components of the system are similar to those used in other systems.
As of December 2002, the Mississauga Compass system consists of 18 CCTV cameras, two LED changeable message signs, 11 ramp metering stations and approximately 76 mainline vehicle detector stations.
Traffic Management Strategies
The Mississauga Compass System employs five traffic management strategies that complement each other:
- Detection and Confirmation
- Incident Management
- Motorist Advisory
- Congestion Management
- Demand Management (see below)
Demand Management
Unique to the Mississauga Compass System is the use of Ramp Metering as a demand management strategy. Vehicle access to the freeway is regulated through the use of ramp metering signals on interchange ramps. These computer-controlled signals, which look like standard traffic signals, allow vehicles onto the freeway at a specified rate to maintain optimum traffic flows. At the same time, queue detectors prevent backups on the access ramps. Experience shows that ramp metering shortens overall trip times for motorists, even though there are short waits at the ramp signals. On the QEW, ramp metering has been placed on eastbound access ramps between Ford Drive and Cawthra Road. It only operates for about three hours in the morning on weekdays, yet makes a significant contribution towards improvement of traffic flows on the freeway.
Burlington Compass System
The Burlington Compass System was installed in 1986 for the purpose of alleviating traffic congestion, particularly during construction activities and peak traffic times on the Burlington Bay James N. Allan Skyway. It soon proved its worth by enabling operators to quickly detect traffic slowdowns, disabled vehicles and collisions. The result was a reduction in traffic congestion, accidents, and delays on the Skyway corridor.
Traffic Management Strategies
The basic components of the Burlington Compass System are the same as the other systems. It utilizes the following traffic management strategies:
Unique to the Burlington Compass System is an interconnection with the lift bridge on the parallel arterial road. In the event of high winds or major incidents, the operator can direct traffic to bypass the Skyway using the lift-bridge and Eastport Drive. A communications link between the lift-bridge operator and the Compass control centre allows the operator to know when the bridge will be lifted so that this information can be used in making system bypass decisions and to inform drivers of the lift-bridge status.
As of December 2002, the system consists of 24 CCTV cameras, six fibre-optic/flip-disk changeable message signs and 154 vehicle detector stations.
Ottawa (Highway 417) Compass System
The Ottawa Compass system was first installed in 1997 and has since been expanded and improved, enhancing the quality of images suitable for Internet dissemination. This system provides a basic incident management system with a minimum of infrastructure. The complete system provides video coverage along approximately 21 km of Highway 417 from Highway 416 in the west to Regional Road 174 in the east. As of December 2004, the system consists of 11 CCTV cameras mounted on tall buildings or 50-60 foot poles along Hwy 417.
Similar to other Compass systems, the Ottawa system enables operators to quickly detect traffic slowdowns, disabled vehicles and collisions. Incidents are therefore cleared quickly by dispatching the appropriate response crews as soon as the Compass operator becomes aware of it.
The Ottawa Compass system utilizes both fibre optic cables and microwave technology for transmission of real-time video signals.
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Last modified: December 03, 2008