Sydney is not immune from games with priority. Bus priority at some
intersections has been a feature for some years, but there were times where
the old Road Authority would fiddle with it because it was "holding up"
other traffic. The much heralded priority on the Northwest Transitway
lasted only a few weeks before the Roads Authority quietly turned it off
unannounced. Some years ago I was waiting in my car at the lights at the
big Frenchs Forest intersection and there was a bus beside me waiting in
the lane for the priority light. I was thinking that's good, then next
thing the light goes green for me and stays red for the bus.

I think the tram priority on CSELR has only come to be because the last
government merged the Roads Authority into Transport for NSW and now they
have to do as they're directed from above. It makes me suspicious that the
new government has appointed a Minister for Roads when there's no actual
roads agency any longer. It wouldn't be the first time a Labor government
has weakened a major public transport agency, with all the consequences
that follow on from that (PTC).

The major reason that the priority situation is better in European cities
is that the city government typically controls both public transport and
roads and, since most city councils have a political objective of better
public transport, it's fairly easy to push through public transport
priority. In Australia it's all at state level and at the mercy of
whichever way the political wind is blowing on public transport vs roads.
My observation is that Melbourne street public transport in general is
fairly neglected by government.

Tony P

On Saturday 16 March 2024 at 14:09:15 UTC+11 Richard Youl wrote:

> Your definition of priority and mine seem to differ.

>

> I’m well aware of the right turn arrows brought up in some locations by

> the approach of a tram, and similarly the 7 second T lights between traffic

> light phases. I often make mention of them in my videos, but in no way

> could I call them priority. These are simply slotted in when a phase was

> going to end anyway, maybe seconds later, but just as likely a minute or

> more later.

>

> Canberra, Gold Coast and most of the time in Sydney, an approaching tram

> will interrupt an existing conflicting traffic light phase and receive a T

> light, mostly before stopping and just occasionally shortly afterwards.

> These sometimes fail when a tram coming in the opposite direction “steals“

> the T light but at least on the Gold Coast the wanted T mostly appears

> within 30 seconds.

>

> Alexandra Parade 54 seconds and Victoria Parade 71 seconds wasted waiting

> for permission to move off are living proof that nothing resembling

> priority exists at those locations, or anywhere else in Melbourne. Even at

> Johnston St right turning traffic got Priority over the tram that was

> nearly there. The closest I know of for priority would be where route 12

> trams turn between Mills Street and Canterbury Road. But those traffic

> lights are normally blank anyway, only being activated by an approaching

> tram. There may be a couple of other similar locations.

>

> I could not imagine too many tramways in especially Switzerland and

> Germany tolerating the long traffic light delays that are likely to occur

> anywhere in Melbourne.

>

> Instead of pretending there’s no problem, everyone should be urging their

> local State MP to get something done about it. Yarra would not care. They

> likely get more money running more trams due to slower average speeds.

>

> Also observant, but with video proof of the tedious delays.

>

> Richard

>

> > On 16 Mar 2024, at 9:45 am, Mal Rowe mal....@...> wrote:

> > On 15/03/2024 13:14, 'Richard Youl' via TramsDownUnder wrote:

> >> If Melbourne ever gets tram priority at lights (no doubt the traffic

> light programmers will want to keep their record of delaying trams as much

> as possible for over 80 years), it would easily beat Sydney.

> > Melbourne DOES have tram priority lights at many locations.

> >

> > That does not mean that every light goes green when a tram approaches,

> but every tram is fitted with a transponder that communicates with traffic

> light controllers.

> >

> > Most commonly a short T-light cycle is inserted to allow a tram to clear

> an intersection.

> >

> > Another common provision is a green right turn light to clear motor cars

> waiting to turn right on the tram tracks.

> >

> > Mal Rowe - observant passenger

> >

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>

>