TRANSMIT: Travel-Time System for Border Crossings in Ontario’s Niagara Region

In recent years, increased border security measures and increased volumes of people and goods moving between Canada and the United States have lengthened border wait times. The Niagara Region of Ontario is host to a number of border crossings within a relatively small geographic area. This provides an opportunity to balance demand among the crossings if transportation agencies and travellers have adequate performance measures to make informed decisions. The Niagara International Transportation Technology Coalition, of which the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario is a member, has implemented the TRANSMIT system on the United States approaches to the Niagara border crossings. TRANSMIT is a traffic management system developed by TRANSCOM, that uses vehicles equipped with EZPass electronic toll collection tags to generate travel time information. E-ZPass is the electronic tolling system used on the New York State Thruway and on the Peace Bridge. The Ministry of Transportation is now working with NITTEC to expand this system to Ontario’s Niagara Region. Travel time information from the system will be provided to the public through the Internet. Information from the system will also be provided to border agencies, including MTO, to assist in border area traffic management and travel time messaging on variable message signs. By providing motorists with advanced warning of border conditions, traffic can be effectively managed prior to the border approaches and travellers can make the best choice for their needs, ultimately improving safety, increasing service and reducing delays.