Drivers in St. John’s may happen upon an unfamiliar traffic light designed to give priority to Metrobuses.
The “queue jump” system is part of a new pilot project that is being implemented at intersections across the city to help buses stay on schedule.
The first of these lights have been installed at Freshwater Road and Stamps Lane. However, 16 intersections in the city are equipped with the technology—seven of which will be programmed to work at all times, the other nine will be used only when buses are more than five minutes behind schedule.
Metrobus general manager Judy Powell says it’s like an “advanced green” for buses.
She says when the light is red, the bus will proceed to the light in the right turning lane and wait until the light—a vertical white bar—gives the bus priority to travel through the intersection before the traffic in the through lane gets a green.
Each bus is equipped with new technology that will allow Metrobus drivers to communicate with the traffic signal equipment. Along with queue jumping, bus drivers can shorten their time at red lights, or hold a green light for buses approaching some intersections.
Transit queue jump lane now operational at Freshwater/Stamps in @CityofStJohns. Please don’t follow a bus through the intersection on the transit priority signal – doing so would be going through a red light! #nltraffic pic.twitter.com/csllk78LVp
— Metrobus Transit (@MetrobusTransit) April 12, 2021