About TAC

overview

Vision

Canada will be a world leader in transportation knowledge, for the benefit of our people, our economy and our environment. TAC will be recognized as a leader in creating the technical expertise and exchange of information required to build and maintain this position.

Mission

TAC is a national association with a mission to promote the provision of safe, secure, efficient, effective and environmentally and financially sustainable transportation services in support of Canada’s social and economic goals.

The association is a neutral forum for gathering or exchanging ideas, information and knowledge on technical guidelines and best practices.

In Canada as a whole, TAC has a primary focus on roadways and their strategic linkages and inter-relationships with other components of the transportation system.

In urban areas, TAC’s primary focus is on the movement of people, goods and services and its relationship with land use patterns.

Strategic Objectives

  • To be Canada’s transportation centre of expertise, providing a neutral forum for the exchange of ideas and the discussion of technical issues;
  • to contribute to the increased awareness of the importance of transportation to Canada’s economic and social well-being and to the availability and technical currency of transportation professionals in Canada;
  • to be the preeminent source of transportation materials for Canadian practitioners; and
  • to develop and to update guidelines and best practices primarily for road and road-related transportation matters.

Values

EXCELLENCE – We are committed to excellence.

  • By continuously innovating and searching for improvement, we are committed to excellence in knowledge creation and practice development.

RESPECT – We respect people and ideas.

  • We continuously strive for a collaborative environment that values and respects the work of everyone involved.

INTEGRITY – We behave with integrity.

  • We behave ethically and strive to be transparent, honest and fair in all of our activities.

ACCOUNTABILITY – We are accountable.

  • We are accountable to the needs of our members as set out in our mission.

APPRECIATION – We value the significant contributions made by volunteers.

  • We continuously seek ways to express our appreciation for the hard work and dedication of our volunteers and for the support that they receive from their employers.

Membership

Our growing network of transportation industry stakeholders and corporate members includes government transportation departments, municipalities, private sector engineering and consulting firms, academic institutions and trade associations. Individual membership is also available for students and retirees. Find out more about TAC's member benefits or join the association.

Products and Services

TAC offers a wide range of products and services to members and non-members. Most products and services are sold on a fee for service basis. Members receive a substantial discount on the selling price, as well as exclusive products and services.

History

TAC's origins date back to 1914, when the Canadian Good Roads Association (CGRA) was founded. CGRA was mainly concerned with the establishment of a superior national road network and was one of the main forces behind construction of the Trans-Canada Highway.

During the 1950s, CGRA became more involved with specialized technical activities and by the 1960s, its role had broadened, resulting in a name change to the Roads and Transportation Association of Canada (RTAC) in 1970.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, RTAC continued to expand its mandate to include all modes of transport for passengers and freight, and, in 1990, the name of the organization was changed to reflect the increased scope of activities.

In 2001, TAC adopted a more focused mandate, with a particular emphasis on roadway infrastructure and urban area transportation issues.

The Importance of Transportation

Transportation plays a vital role in our daily lives and contributes to Canada’s economic and social well-being. Check back periodically in this section of TAC's website for interesting articles and hot topics on the many facets of transportation.

The following transportation editorial supplements, produced by Media Planet, have been posted with permission. Although most articles focus on western Canada, case studies can be applied across the country. Opinions expressed in the reports are not necessarily endorsed by TAC.

March 2012 Sustainability Report

March 2012 Engineering & Infrastructure

June 2011 Vancouver Sun Report

December 2011 Calgary Herald Report

TAC's Contribution to Transportation

TAC contributes to the importance of the transportation industry by providing invaluable tools and resources to Canadian transportation professionals and celebrating their achievements in this essential sector.

Invaluable Resources

TAC provides an ongoing forum for the dissemination of knowledge, the exchange of information and the discussion of issues to advance the state of knowledge in transportation.  This collective exchange is the framework to develop and update national guides and best practices.  It also helps provide researched solutions to address the current and future challenges that the transportation industry faces such as climate change, the need to design and build better infrastructure, and increasing traffic congestion, just to name a few. 

Transportation Library

The association strives to be the preeminent source of transportation materials for Canadian practitioners by providing access to timely resources and information.  Our transportation library, one of the most comprehensive resource centres in Canada, offers online databases, links and information search services to ensure professionals have pertinent tools at their disposal. 

Technical Publications

Publications are the most visible legacy of TAC’s technical program and serve as a valuable resource to both members and the transportation community.  They can help practitioners increase the depth of their knowledge and better grasp client and stakeholder concerns.  Usually the product of pooled fund projects carried out under the guidance and approval of TAC’s councils and committees, publications would not be possible without the support and financial contributions of numerous agencies and organizations.

Annual Conference and Exhibition

To keep Canadian practitioners abreast of trends, issues and changes, the association also organizes an annual conference and exhibition.  Diverse topics and pertinent speakers help provide insight to embrace seminal changes affecting every segment of the transportation sector.  This gathering of seasoned experts helps them discover new strategies and solutions to face the future of transportation in Canada.

TAC Foundation

The association believes educating tomorrow’s transportation leaders can contribute to the progress of the Canadian transportation system and help address the current shortage of resources in the industry.  The TAC Foundation, a registered charity established by TAC in 2003, caters to this objective by providing scholarships to individuals attending universities and colleges in a number of transportation-related disciplines.

Celebrating Achievements in Transportation

Canadian Transportation Awards Program

Via the Transport Canada funded Canadian Transportation Awards Program (CTAP), the association recognizes outstanding contributions made to the transportation industry.  This includes the improvement or advancement of the transportation industry as a whole or any one of its modes or segments; the betterment of the industry in safety, sustainable development, research, technology, policy or corporate development; measurable improvements and benefits to transportation; and long-term contributions to the academic field to help tomorrow’s transportation leaders today.

TAC Awards

TAC presents a number of awards annually to recognize the efforts of volunteers and the technical excellence of member endeavours.  The awards showcase outstanding contributions to the transportation sector in education, the environment, road safety and sustainable urban transportation. 

Four types of awards are also conferred upon deserving transportation practitioners during the annual conference and exhibition for best technical paper on highway transportation; best paper related to the conference theme; student technical papers; and best exhibit at the conference.