The Province of Ontario established guidelines for the use of all regulatory traffic controls signals. The City of Vaughan maintains and operates 95 traffic signals across the City’s street network.

Traffic signals

For a traffic signal control to be allowed, one or more of the following four warrants must be met:  

Warrant #1 – Minimum vehicular volumes

Warrant #2 – Delay to cross traffic

Warrant #3 – Accident experience

Warrant #4 – Combination Warrant where two warrants maybe be combined to allow the installation of a traffic signal.

Pedestrian signals

The City criteria for the installation of pedestrian signals requires:

• Consideration for pedestrian signal installation when there is a minimum of 100 pedestrians for a 23-metre right-of-way roadway over a five-hour period, and the same five-hour period has a volume greater than 1,000 vehicles.
• Consideration for pedestrian signal installation when there is a minimum of 200 pedestrians for roadways greater than a 23-metre right-of-way over a five-hour period, and the same five-hour period shows a volume is greater than 3,000 vehicles.
• Time periods to study a potential signal installation area are 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., for a total five-hour period.
• Consideration for pedestrian signal installations should be reserved for roadways with a 23-metre wide right-of-way or greater (arterial, major and minor collector, feeder and industrial roadways).
• A pedestrian signal should not be considered where an opportunity for a safe crossing exists within 150 metres to either side of the proposed pedestrian signal location (e.g. at existing all-way stop controlled intersection or traffic-signal controlled intersection).
• A pedestrian signal should be prioritized by age groups, with special attention given to elementary school-age children and older adults.
• A pedestrian signal should not to be installed in front of or between residential homes unless there is full support in writing by the property owners. 

Traffic signals are regularly inspected to ensure they are in working order. If you see a traffic or pedestrian signal in need of service, or to request a new one, contact Service Vaughan at service@vaughan.ca or 905-832-2281. You may also make a request online: