In 2004, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was established between the
Provinces of Alberta and British Columbia (BC) and Parks Canada to set the
framework for a collaborative and coordinated approach in delivering highway
traveller information across all three jurisdictions. The MOU was built upon a
vision shared by the tri-party group that the public shall receive timely, accurate,
and consistent highway traveller information in order to plan their trips or adjust
their travel plans accordingly. It further defines that the objective of sharing and
disseminating traveller information is to enhance the safety and efficiency of the
movement of people and goods in and around the Banff National Park along the
Trans Canada highway and the adjacent provincial highway systems
Since the MOU was established, The Ministry of Transportation of British
Columbia has launched a new province-wide web-based traveller information
system called Drive BC. In addition, Alberta in partnership with British Columbia,
Parks Canada, the Alberta Motor Association (AMA), and IBI Group, are piloting
a new web-based traveller information system called Drive West. Transport
Canada has provided co-funding for this project, under the Intelligent
Transportation Systems (ITS) funding initiative of the Strategic Highway
Infrastructure Program (SHIP).
The Drive West system closely matches that of the BC system and provides
information regarding highway closures, delays, incidents, construction zones,
and real-time information on road conditions, including access to roadside
cameras. Motorists can use this information to plan their trips better and avoid
delays caused by construction, weather, collisions, or other incidents.
Some of the unique characteristics of this project are that the web site acts as a
map-based portal to traveller information sites in BC, Alberta, mountain parks
and neighbouring provinces and states. Information is entered by multiple
agencies through a common web interface and includes road event information
entered directly by the contractors responsible for maintaining the road network.
Roadside camera images from Alberta’s deployment of a road weather
information system are displayed with an overlay of the current weather
information along the road network.
This multi-jurisdictional project is a first step to identifying the most efficient way
to provide consistent information seamlessly across the various borders to the
travelling public. Some of the issues identified and lessons learned will be
explained in the paper, such as success of data entry, consistency of presented
road information, and future opportunities.
