Membership Happenings – January 2016

The Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) welcomes its newest members – Forum8(Canada) Corp., JD Northcote Engineering, MeteoGroup Weather Services and Emmanuelle Soudé.

Quebec City-based consulting engineering firm Roche Ltd., Consulting Group has changed its name to Norda Stelo Inc. "Our new identity better reflects who we have become, our new directions and the joint project we have undertaken to look to the future," explained Alex Brisson, President and CEO of Norda Stelo. Founded in 1963 and specializing in integrated projects, Norda Stelo employs over 1,300 people at 40 offices and has operations in nearly 50 countries.

Buckland & Taylor Ltd. has changed their name to COWI North America, along with Jenny Engineering Corporation and COWI Marine North America. As a merged company, the three bridge, tunnel and marine engineering consultants will now have 350 employees across 13 US and Canadian offices. Steven Hunt will remain President and CEO while Darryl Matson, formerly President & CEO of Buckland & Tayor, will become Senior Vice-President, Bridges.  

The City of Toronto has launched six key initiatives as part of its congestion management plan, which aims to cut congestion and increase road safety:

1. Develop and implement action plans for 10 congestion ‘hot-spots’ across Toronto identified through Big Data.
2. Develop a comprehensive curbside management strategy to respond to competing demands for curb space.
3. Pilot an upgrade of the city's "smart" traffic signal system in late 2016/early 2017 to adapt to real-time traffic volumes and allocate more "green time" to keep traffic moving.
4. Initiate a Traffic Assistance Personnel pilot using dedicated Toronto Police staff to direct and manage traffic at busy intersections.
5. Expand the existing Smart Commute program, which sees medium- and large-scale employers encourage different commuting options for their staff.
6. Develop a Road Safety Strategic Plan, using city data and international best practices to keep pedestrians and cyclists safe and reduce traffic fatalities.     

As of January 1, 2016, electric vehicles using the Autoroute 25 and 30 toll bridges and the fee-based ferry services provided by the Société des traversiers du Québec (Quebec Ferry Corporation) can do so free of charge. These incentives encouraging the use of electric vehicles were provided in the 2015-2020 Transportation Electrification Action Plan brought forward by the Ministère des Transports du Québec (MTQ) on October 9, 2015. To take advantage of these incentives, owners of electric vehicles or rechargeable hybrid vehicles must obtain a special license plate with green lettering issued by the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (Quebec Automobile Insurance Corporation).