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Print | YORK REGION>Services>Regional Planning>Infrastructure |
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What is the Cordon Count Program
The Cordon Count Program is a vehicle and person survey that has been conducted in York Region on regular bases since 1983. Collecting consistent and accurate classified vehicle information is one of the very important elements in providing traffic statistics. It provides a time series data of traffic flow across a given set of screen-lines; this is done to monitor changes to the travel behavioral pattern and characteristics. The Cordon Count Program is traditionally coordinated together with the City of
The Cordon Count that was done in 2001 and the subsequent release of a report bulletin is the eighth in a series of similar studies done for the reasons mentioned above. The Cordon Count Program includes over 250 stations scattered along a set number of screen-lines thorough out the region. These screen-lines are imaginary lines that follow natural or man-made features such as roads or regional boundaries; a cordon represents areas enclosed by a series of screen-lines.
One-day counts were taken, at each station on weekdays, except Fridays, to provide a snapshot of traffic passing a specific point. This survey is conducted during the months of May and the first half of June, at peak periods between
The information collected through conducting regular cordon counts is used to assess the impact of developmental activities in areas of rapid growth or the addition of road infrastructure on the regional travel pattern.
An update to the 2001 "full" Cordon Study of only the boundary screenlines and selected 400 series highway stations was done in 2004. The next full cordon update is currently underway and expected to be completed by early summer, with a final report relased in the Fall.
Where are the Cordon Count Lines
Traffic counting stations are established at each point where a road or a rail route crosses a cordon line or screenline. Click here to see an example of the attached map. Vehicles and persons are counted in each direction in order to classify traffic by vehicle occupancy levels and types of vehicles using the roadways.
The Regional Boundary Cordon Lines were chosen to monitor both through traffic and traffic to and from York Region and the neighbouring regions. Comparisons have been made regarding the progressive change in traffic volumes.
The four internal cordon lines done in 2001 were chosen to reflect major urban and municipal boundaries. The South York cordon line generally conforms to the northern boundaries of Vaughan and Markham and the northern limit of urbanization in Richmond Hill. The East Gwillimbury cordon records north-south traffic to and from Georgina and East Gwillimbury. The last two cordon lines are located immediately west of Highway 404and along the east side of Highway 400. They have been designed to monitor the flow of east-west traffic within the Region.
Three minor screenlines were established in 1998 to monitor short-term changes in the Region. Two of these lines are located immediately west of Bathurst Street and McCowan Road between Steeles Avenue and Major Mackenzie Drive to monitor east west traffic flows attributed to the opening of Highway 407. The third line in this series is located south of Ravenshoe Roaddividing Georgina and East Gwillimbury between Leslie Street and Highway 48. This screenline monitors growth related traffic flows in the northern portion of the region.
Obtain a copy of the bulletin
To obtain the 2001 Cordon Count Bulletin click here. [pdf 375KB]
To obtain the 2004 update bulletin click here [pdf 470KB]
To obtain the 2006 update bulletin click here [pdf 449KB]
To obtain a paper copy of the bulletin or for further information please contact:
Omeed El-Zabet
Cordon Count Program Project Manager
Planning and Development Services
