The winners of four Technical Achievement Awards given by the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) were approved during the recent Spring Technical Telemeetings. Congratulations to these deserving organizations, and thanks to the many others that submitted applications, as well as to the numerous volunteers who helped select this year’s winners.
British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
Highway Maintenance Contract Training Course
The Ministry’s performance-based approach to long-term contracts for highway maintenance encourages innovation, but requires a shared understanding and high level of trust between parties. To this end, the Ministry developed specialized training for staff and contractors to improve knowledge and skills, and to create positive working relationships. Using a variety of instructional techniques, more than 420 participants were successfully trained over 19 two-day sessions in 2018-19.
City of Ottawa, Ontario
Going Green by Seeing the Greens
Ottawa’s EcoDrive II project showed how connected vehicle technologies can help drivers reduce fuel consumption and emissions. City fleet vehicles were equipped to receive real-time traffic control information, and in-vehicle displays showed drivers how to adjust their speed and reach the next intersection during a green signal. Fuel savings averaged about 5%, representing significant financial and environmental benefits.
British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
Road Weather Information System and Variable Message Sign Integration
By combining road weather information system (RWIS) and variable message sign (VMS) technologies at seven rural highway locations, severe winter collisions have been reduced by more than 30%. Each location features one RWIS plus a VMS facing each direction. Weather and road conditions are analyzed every 15 minutes, and an algorithm selects an appropriate message to display for drivers.
City of Nanaimo, British Columbia
Nanaimo Goes Dutch
Nanaimo’s new Complete Street Design Guideline incorporates guidance on creating Dutch-style raised intersections (with continuous sidewalks and cycling facilities on the major street) where drivers use local streets to enter or exit neighbourhoods. Concurrent to the guideline’s development, it was tested and refined through the design of the Metral Drive Complete Street project, which (when constructed) will show Canadian communities an innovative way to enhance the priority and safety of walking and cycling.