As spring turns to summer, the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) will host a landmark, two-day workshop, Preparing for Connectivity and Automation in Canada’s Transportation System. The workshop is hosted by TAC, with support from Transport Canada and the Intelligent Transportation Systems Society of Canada, June 21-22 in Etobicoke, Ontario.
Ninety participants representing all sectors of the transportation industry will attend this by-invitation event. The workshop is expected to identify connected and automated vehicle issues affecting TAC’s membership and help TAC develop a roadmap and action plan to address these issues. A summary report will be widely distributed following the workshop.
The workshop will identify key issues for road authorities resulting from the increasing deployment of CV/AVs, determine how stakeholders can collaborate to address these issues, and develop a road map for TAC on connected and automated vehicles. It will address a variety of questions, including:
Context
Connected and automated vehicles are rapidly developing and emerging within the transportation system. These vehicles are expected to have profound impacts on the transportation sector, including, but not limited to:
Government agencies, industry, and academia are organizing themselves to understand these transformational technologies and the impacts on the transportation system. For example, the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA) is examining policy and regulatory issues with respect to the deployment of AVs in Canada. ITS Canada is advancing knowledge about the technical aspects and applications of these technologies. Others are considering insurance, finance, cybersecurity, and broader socio-economic issues such as the impacts of artificial intelligence on jobs. Although Transport Canada has launched important initiatives such as its Advancing Connectivity and Automation in Transportation Systems (ACATS) program, there remains a gap regarding the impact of new technologies and vehicles on the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of transportation infrastructure and systems in Canada.
TAC has been monitoring connected and automated vehicle developments through its committee structure, with a particular emphasis on traffic operational issues. Last fall, TAC’s Board of Directors determined that a new, dedicated committee should be established to support the Association’s members in addressing the broad range of topics in this area.