Among the many valuable technical discussions at the Fall Technical Meetings, this summary highlights key themes and emerging issues raised during the Chief Engineer Panel and Council sessions.
Chief Engineers Panel – Key Issues
Discussions highlighted higher infrastructure costs and reduced flexibility for context-sensitive solutions. There is interest in clearer guidance, better training, and policies that support responsible engineering judgement and innovation.
Discussions highlighted higher infrastructure costs and reduced flexibility for context-sensitive solutions. There is interest in clearer guidance, better training, and policies that support responsible engineering judgement and innovation.
Jurisdictions reported shifting climate patterns, including drought, fire activity, and shortened winter road seasons. These changes are placing pressure on infrastructure systems and supply routes serving remote communities. The conversation noted the need for resilient infrastructure planning and design approaches.
Public agencies continue to face shortages in technical and senior roles, along with succession planning challenges. Adjustments to compensation, onboarding, and talent strategies were discussed as key to maintaining expertise and delivery capacity for increasingly complex infrastructure programs.
Emerging work on strategies to protect public spaces from vehicle-based attacks was shared. This reflects a broader trend toward integrating security considerations into transportation and public-space design.
Safety, Design & Operations Council – Key Issues
Council members continued discussions on decorative and non-standard crosswalk treatments. With limited national guidance and accessibility and comprehension concerns for visually impaired users, members emphasized the need for consistent direction. Work is underway to clarify acceptable applications, including MUTCDC language and non-technical guidance, to support clearer, more consistent practice.
Council members continued discussions on decorative and non-standard crosswalk treatments. With limited national guidance and accessibility and comprehension concerns for visually impaired users, members emphasized the need for consistent direction. Work is underway to clarify acceptable applications, including MUTCDC language and non-technical guidance, to support clearer, more consistent practice.
Council members highlighted ongoing challenges in which roadway geometry and cross-section design encourage drivers to exceed posted speed limits. Wide lanes and shoulders often conflict with intended operating speeds, reducing posted speed compliance. The need for stronger alignment between posted speeds, roadway function, and design cues, in addition to appropriate traffic calming measures, was emphasized.
Discussion focused on the role of RCUTs as an alternative intersection design to improve safety performance at high-risk locations. While RCUTs offer a cost-effective solution used widely elsewhere, adoption remains limited in Canada due to public familiarity and acceptance. Ongoing engagement and education are needed to support understanding and evaluate suitability on a case-by-case basis.
Council members discussed the variations in approaches to right-turn channels across Canadian jurisdictions. Traditional low-angle channelized designs are often associated with higher turning speeds and increased risk for pedestrians and cyclists. While higher-angle, lower-speed designs can address some issues, it does not fully resolve concerns in all contexts. Some jurisdictions continue to build traditional low-angle right-turn channels, while others have stopped implementing right-turns entirely and are removing them during retrofit projects.
Infrastructure and Asset Management Council – Key Issues
Similar to discussions at the Chief Engineers Panel meeting, Council members noted ongoing challenges in recruiting and training qualified staff for maintenance, operations, and construction roles, as a significant portion of the workforce approaches retirement. Capacity gaps and the need to accelerate training and succession planning remain priorities to ensure continuity of service delivery and operational expertise.
Similar to discussions at the Chief Engineers Panel meeting, Council members noted ongoing challenges in recruiting and training qualified staff for maintenance, operations, and construction roles, as a significant portion of the workforce approaches retirement. Capacity gaps and the need to accelerate training and succession planning remain priorities to ensure continuity of service delivery and operational expertise.
Similar to discussions in the Chief Engineers Panel meeting, Council members discussed the importance of ensuring today’s design standards and maintenance strategies are sufficient for future climate conditions. Members emphasized the need for proactive adaptation and resilience across infrastructure programs.
Discussions highlighted the growing need for standardized and modernized asset management practices. Emerging considerations include climate impacts, digital tools, accessibility needs, and community equity. Addressing this issue will likely require collaboration across multiple TAC Councils and Committees.
Sustainability remains a key focus, with a project on low-carbon road infrastructure seeking funding, and an ongoing TAC project on the use of reclaimed asphalt pavement in asphalt mixtures. These efforts reflect a broader shift toward sustainability and reducing emissions in construction and maintenance.
Environmental & Climate Change Council – Key Issues
Council members discussed significant developments in legislation at both the federal and provincial levels. The newly established Major Projects Office (MFO) was highlighted, including its mandate, scope and initial transportation projects. Council members also emphasized their plan to work on strategies to enhance information sharing and engagement with federal and provincial partners.
Council members discussed significant developments in legislation at both the federal and provincial levels. The newly established Major Projects Office (MFO) was highlighted, including its mandate, scope and initial transportation projects. Council members also emphasized their plan to work on strategies to enhance information sharing and engagement with federal and provincial partners.
Wildlife-vehicle collisions remain a major risk to road safety and biodiversity. The Council received a presentation on an innovative alternative to traditional fencing and wildlife crossings that has shown success in Sweden. The approach uses AI-driven sensors and bioacoustics to deter animals from roads, rail, and airports. Recent advances in generative AI now enable the decoding of animal signals at scale, allowing species-specific deterrents, such as danger calls, to redirect wildlife away from infrastructure.
Council discussions also touched on several emerging priorities, including:
- Climate change mitigation and adaptation
- Fisheries and road ecology
- Excess soil management
- Erosion and sediment control
- Indigenous relations in transportation
- Transportation noise and vibration mitigation
Mobility Council – Key Issues
A national survey on equity in transportation was conducted by the Transportation Planning Committee, providing insight into current equity practices and priorities. The following key areas for future work were identified:
- Access to opportunities for under-served groups
- Transportation affordability
- Mobility for people with different disabilities
- Embedding equity into budgeting, scoping and RFPs
A national survey on equity in transportation was conducted by the Transportation Planning Committee, providing insight into current equity practices and priorities. The following key areas for future work were identified:
- Access to opportunities for under-served groups
- Transportation affordability
- Mobility for people with different disabilities
- Embedding equity into budgeting, scoping and RFPs
Council members discussed the need to strengthen the understanding of emerging modelling tools and practical applications. Priority topics include:
- Understanding new modelling approaches using artificial intelligence
- Understanding the modelling of innovative technologies, including shared mobility services and automated vehicles
The concept of complete networks emphasizes planning at the network level to ensure safe and efficient accommodation of all modes within constrained rights-of-way. Rather than focusing on the corridor or intersection level, this approach encourages practitioners to identify priority networks for each mode before initiating design work at the street level. A proposed volunteer project will define the concept of Complete Networks within the Canadian context and provide case studies of network-level interventions that prioritize non-auto modes.
Jurisdictions across Canada vary widely in their approach to channelized right turns, ranging from full removal to maintaining legacy designs. A proposed volunteer project will compile the various practices across the country to provide a resource for road authorities updating their design guidance documents. This initiative will involve collaboration across multiple committees, including the Geometric Design Committee, the Active Transportation Integrated Committee, and the Traffic Operations & Management Committee.
Technology Council – Key Issues
AI applications in transportation remain a priority across TAC councils and committees. Council members discussed efforts focused on understanding practical uses and ensuring organizations leverage AI effectively.
AI applications in transportation remain a priority across TAC councils and committees. Council members discussed efforts focused on understanding practical uses and ensuring organizations leverage AI effectively.
Agencies and technology vendors face growing challenges in procuring, maintaining and implementing ITS and related technologies amid economic pressures. The Council’s working group continues to provide programming to support members, and a TAC-led discussion paper on procurement strategies is nearly complete.
Capturing and addressing emerging technologies within TAC’s focus areas is a key Council priority. To broaden its scope, the Connected and Automated Vehicles Integrated Committee will transition to an Emerging Technology Integrated Committee.
Council members discussed the ongoing need for robust data management strategies, including governance frameworks, an inventory of existing datasets, education, privacy, and cybersecurity measures.
Workforce Council – Key Issues
Council members discussed the continuing challenges of organizations in recruiting and retaining qualified personnel at all stages of the employee lifecycle.
Council members discussed the continuing challenges of organizations in recruiting and retaining qualified personnel at all stages of the employee lifecycle.
Council members discussed the potential need to harmonize requirements for continuing education and professional certification across provinces.
Similar to the Technology Council meeting, Council members highlighted the need to capture and address emerging technologies within TAC’s focus areas.
Council members discussed the challenges many organizations encounter in meeting workforce diversity targets.