News

For immediate release Tuesday, January 24, 2017

City’s new Transportation Management Centre officially opens

Leading-edge facility will improve traffic flow, provide real-time traffic information for Winnipeg drivers

Winnipeg, MB – Winnipeg’s new Transportation Management Centre (TMC) officially opened and will begin to improve traffic flow as well as provide real-time traffic information to drivers using the Waze app Mayor Brian Bowman announced today.

The leading-edge facility will be monitoring all 650 signalized intersections across the city, and is capable of remotely responding in real-time to signal malfunctions and unexpected traffic incidents to maintain and improve traffic flow.

“I’m thrilled to officially open Winnipeg’s new Transportation Management Centre,” said Mayor Brian Bowman. “This is a cutting-edge, high tech tool that will help improve traffic flow and assist drivers on a daily basis. Winnipeg has been an epicenter of innovation and by combining new technologies with connectivity through the Waze app, the new TMC is blazing a new trail for our city and modernizing how we manage traffic flow.”

Drawing on cutting edge technology, the TMC will lead to smoother flowing traffic as well as real-time traffic information for Winnipeg drivers so they can make better decisions on their commute. By using Waze, the free, real-time crowdsourced traffic and navigation app powered by the world’s largest community of drivers, Winnipeg drivers can share and receive anonymous traffic information from the TMC to assist them with deciding which routes to take and which routes to avoid.

As part of the implementation of the TMC, 70 traffic cameras have been installed at strategic locations around the city acting as the TMC's eyes on the street. With this visual information as well as anonymous data shared from drivers through the Waze app, TMC operators can respond in real-time to unexpected situations like collisions, stalled vehicles, barricades, special events and adverse weather. Traffic signal timing can be done quicker now that they can be adjusted remotely from the TMC and crews no longer need to physically attend to an intersection to make adjustments.

Unlike most major cities in North America that have freeways, Winnipeg depends primarily on a network of major roadways and nearly 650 signalized intersections. The TMC also enables the City to monitor the health of the traffic signal network for malfunctions such as flashing lights and make quicker fixes. Rather than relying on citizen reports, traffic signals will alert the TMC when they go into flashing mode and crews can be dispatched rapidly.

Council approved a $3.6 million capital investment for the TMC, and has an annual operating budget of $500,000.

TMC Fast Facts:               

• ​All 650 of Winnipeg’s signalized intersections connected in 8 months to a state-of-the-art central management system with cellular modems.
• 100% connectivity to achieve two-way communication between all traffic signals and a centralized hub is uncommon for a city of Winnipeg’s size.
• Remote signal timing changes can now be made within minutes versus days, facilitating rapid response to unexpected incidents such as collisions, stalled vehicles, barricades, special events and adverse weather
• An advanced traffic incident management system incorporates information feeds from 311, the signals management system, connected sensors and Waze to capture and share all traffic and road related incidents.
• Real-time alerts about traffic signal malfunctions will be sent directly to the TMC, saving 30-40 minutes versus waiting for a citizen to report it, enabling faster repairs and info for the public.
• 70 traffic monitoring cameras acting as the TMC’s eyes on the street were installed in three months.
• A partnership with Waze provides free real-time, two-way communication between drivers and the TMC to create the most up-to-date and comprehensive travel information source in Winnipeg.
• A state-of-the-art audio/video system combined with a data driven video wall provides situational awareness to TMC operators.
• A $3.6 million capital investment spent on the TMC will have a citywide benefit.

For more information about the TMC, visit www.winnipeg.ca/TMC

Media inquiries should be directed to the City of Winnipeg Media Inquiry Line at 204-986-6000 or via email at City-MediaInquiry@winnipeg.ca. 

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