This is one of several articles profiling the online Spring Technical Meetings of TAC’s six councils and their committees that took place from March to May 2025.
TAC’s Infrastructure & Asset Management Council welcomed 45 attendees to its spring meeting.
Guest presentations
The Council received a presentation from Jean-Martin Croteau of Colas Canada on a tool for evaluating the carbon footprint of proposed road infrastructure projects.
Technical projects
The Council approved three new projects to seek funding partners alongside TAC’s other projects in development:
- A synthesis of practices for bridge deck joints
- A guide to bridge design for low-volume roads
- A cross-jurisdictional comparison of transportation asset management practices
The Council continues to solicit funding partners for three other projects:
- A synthesis of opportunities and practices related to low-carbon road infrastructure
- A new edition of TAC’s Guide to Bridge Traffic and Combination Barriers
- A study to recommend approaches for developing utility relocation cost estimates
Committee updates
The Council received updates from its six committees and a working group.
The Asset Management Committee attracted 65 attendees. It featured presentations on the City of Ottawa’s transportation asset management plan and on determining an affordable level of service. Discussions were held on infrastructure deficits, funding gaps, infrastructure preservation versus expansion, and aligning investment with expected levels of service.
The Construction Committee meeting involved 47 participants. The Committee held notable discussions on tariff uncertainties, alternate delivery of construction projects, health and safety issues in construction, engineering services use, and procurement practices.
The Maintenance & Operations Committee meeting was attended by 46 participants and included presentations on snow avalanche programs, winter road condition guidance, and winter maintenance practices.
The Pavements Committee had 105 attendees at its meeting. The Committee heard presentations on accelerated pavement testing for pavements in cold climates, pavement friction, accelerated pavement testing facilities, sustainable pavement structures, urban green infrastructure using permeable systems for sustainable stormwater management, and pavement maintenance treatments, triggers, and lifespan. The Committee also discussed pavement treatment performance and cost.
The Soils & Materials Committee held a meeting with 86 attendees. It featured presentations from Oklahoma State University on compaction studies on open-graded aggregate materials, and from the California Pavement Research Centre on balanced mix design for climate resilient gravel roads. Attendees discussed low-carbon life cycle analysis and materials inputs for pavement design.
The Structures Committee meeting had 49 attendees. It heard presentations on integral bridge abutments in Ontario, and on section 11 of the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code on joints and bearings. The Committee had a notable discussion on tariffs and their evolving impacts on projects.
The Northern Transportation Infrastructure Working Group meeting attracted 22 participants who discussed initiatives related to permafrost, climate change impacts on transportation infrastructure, and managing challenges in northern regions. A focussed discussion was held on challenges in cold regions.
Infrastructure & Asset Management Council Executive
The Council’s Executive includes:
- Chair – Brad Neirinck (City of Winnipeg)
- Vice-Chair – Ian Pilkington (British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Transit)
- Past Chair – Jennifer Graham Harkness (City of Toronto)
- Board Liaison – Stephanie Hébert (Transport Canada)
- Chair, Asset Management Committee – Chris Yang (City of Calgary)
- Chair, Construction Committee – Donald Maillet (Nova Scotia Public Works)
- Chair, Maintenance & Operations Committee – Jason Kittle
- Chair, Pavements Committee – Ania Anthony (Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways)
- Chair, Soils & Materials Committee – Amma Wakefield (Asphalt Institute)
- Chair, Structures Committee – Robert Simpson (New Brunswick Department of Transportation and Infrastructure)
Contact Craig Stackpole for more information on the council and its committees.
