JULY 2004 This newsletter is available online in an Adobe Acrobat Reader pdf file (379k). You can view it using the Reader plugin for your browser and/or download it for viewing offline. Free Reader software is available at the Adobe Systems Incorporated Website. ITS Canada Mission to France  Using the Canadian ITS Architecture for Evaluating the Safety Benefits of Intelligent Transportation Systems  ITS Canada Welcomes Delegation from Durban, South Africa  The Future of Transport in the UK  Innovation Through Partnership  511 for Traveller Information  Road Salt Usage Guide  Canadian Transport Futures Assessment (CTFA)  Transportation Research Board Announces RFP  Upcoming Events    ITS CANADA MISSION TO FRANCE By David Kamnitzer, IBI Group, and Michael De Santis, Lynx Technologies During the period of June 18 to 24, 2004, the French development and export agency UBIFRANCE organized a visit to France by a delegation from ITS Canada. The trip, which followed a similar visit by French officials to Canada during the fall of 2003, is part of a broader effort to strengthen ties between ITS professionals in the two countries, to foster an exchange of thinking and best practices, and to encourage partnerships between commercial organizations. This particular visit focused on public transport applications and was organized to coincide with the European Mobility Exhibition, which was held in Paris from June 16 to 19. The program for the visit included discussions with public agencies and private companies, such as RATP, CERTU, ASCOM, ALCATEL and SIEMENS, which helped to provide the participants with a broad understanding of how public transport is organized in France, and the current issues facing its continued development. The visit also allowed Canadian decision makers to meet with leading French suppliers of ITS products and services. Canadian participants in the mission included: Mr. James Byrnes, VP, Planification and Development Agence Metropolitaine de Transport (AMT)   Mr. Michael De Santis ITS Canada, LYNX Technologies Inc.   Mr. David Kamnitzer IBI Group   Mr. Bruce McCuaig, Assistant Deputy Minister Ontario Ministry of Transportation   Mr. Gary McNeil, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer GO Transit   Mr. Pierre Perron, Director, International Relations and Policies Co-ordination, Ministère des Transports du Québec   Mr. Michael Roschlau, President and CEO Canadian Urban Transit Association   Mr. Gary Webster, General Manager – Operations Branch Toronto Transit Commission Public Transport Investment in France Particularly over the past decade, French local authorities have had significant funds to invest in transit, with the result that most cities now boast high quality, dense transit networks. The majority of this funding is derived from a transit payroll tax (“versement transport”) that is paid by employers to the relevant local authority. Authorities set the rate of tax locally, which can vary from zero up to the maximum authorized by the Central Government (currently 2.6 percent). The Central Government has also traditionally subsidized local investments in public transport, although the level of subsidy has recently been dramatically reduced. One of the results of the recent availability of funds has been a significant investment in tramways, which have become a symbol of the modern French metropolis. However, the recent cutbacks in Central Government funding have reduced the ability of many local authorities to take forward their planned tramway investments, resulting in the cancellation of selected schemes and a reorientation of others towards lower cost solutions. Use of ITS Technology The general level of ITS deployment within transit is high, with many systems boasting real time information and smart card ticketing systems. This is equally true in Paris as in the smaller provincial towns, where ITS is seen as a relatively low cost method of enhancing the quality and image of transit. ITS is now becoming a standard feature of transit investment, rather than an optional extra. Lessons for Canada In addition to historical differences related to density and urban form that impact the feasibility of transit operation, the main differentiating feature between transit service in Canada and France is the availability of funds. At all levels of government, France appears ready to devote a much higher share of its wealth to ensure high quality transit services. France also appears willing to accept far lower cost/revenue ratios for transit operation than in comparable Canadian cities, as transit is viewed as a critical public service within a broader transport and urban land policy framework. “The mission was an excellent opportunity to exchange with our French colleagues,” advised Michael De Santis, who represented ITS Canada on the mission. A presentation was made to ITS France members and UBIFRANCE representatives detailing ITS Canada’s activities. A brief overview of the Canadian government’s ITS Plan for Canada: En Route to Intelligent Mobility was presented, as well as an overview of ITS projects within Canada. Delegate members complemented this presentation by providing additional information regarding specifics on ITS deployment within their respective agencies. A modern self-guided articulated tram on wheels, the PHILEAS tram is manufactured by Advanced Public Transport System BV of the Netherlands “An invitation has been extended to our counterparts in France,” reported Michael, “to join us at next year’s ITS Canada Annual Conference, which will be taking place May 15 to 17, 2005, in Québec City, and will allow all ITS Canada members to acquire a European perspective on ITS.” ITS Canada would like to thank the organizers in France for making the mission possible: Hervé Segata and Claire Bœuf of UBIFRANCE Bernard Basset (president), Georges Dobias (past president) and Stéphane Péan (manager) of ITS France. View a report (in French) on ITS France’s website, www.atec-tec.net/fr/its_accueil_f7.asp   USING THE CANADIAN ITS ARCHITECTURE FOR EVALUATING THE SAFETY BENEFITS OF INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS The National Research Council of Canada has published a paper by Homayoun Vahidi and Tarek Sayed entitled Using the Canadian ITS Architecture for Evaluating the Safety Benefits of Intelligent Transportation Systems. The paper explores issues associated with poor data, lack of an evaluation framework, and inconsistent terminology used to attribute benefits to ITS application areas. View the paper at http://pubs.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/cgi-bin/rp/rp2_abst_e?cjce_l03-032_30_ns_nf_cjce6-03.   ITS CANADA WELCOMES DELEGATION FROM DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA By William Johnson, Director – ITS Canada ITS Canada, in conjunction with Industry Canada and Ontario Exports, hosted an incoming mission from the eThekwini Municipality, formerly Durban Metropolitan Council, South Africa, to the Greater Toronto Area on July 19, 2004. The mission was led by Victor Baloyi, CEO of the eThekwini Transport Authority, and included the Deputy Head of Public Transportation, Erik Moller, and Councillor Velile Lutyeku. The mission’s primary purpose was to learn about public transport services and capabilities in Canada, and specifically, in Toronto and Vancouver. ITS Canada organized a very busy schedule of site visits and briefings for the delegates with the TTC, GO Transit, Union Station, the Subway system, GO bus operations, York Region Transit Project, COMPASS and other stops across the Greater Toronto Area. A highlight of the day was a networking luncheon held at the Hilton Suites, Markham, to enable the delegates to meet with members of ITS Canada to share information. The members present included Joseph Lam, Chair of ITS Canada and luncheon host, Lynton Erskine, Delcan Corporation, Robert Bruce, EIS Electronic Integrated Systmes, Ron Stewart, IBI Group, John Fung, International Road Dynamics and William Johnson, Consultant. Chairman Joe Lam welcomed the delegates to the luncheon. Victor Baloyi introduced members to the emerging transport opportunities in the eThekwini Municipality. His agency, the eThekwini Transport Authority, was created to develop and implement transport plans and strategies for the entire region. Victor identified the priorities as people movers, passenger information systems, corridor development and upgrading the rail system. A principle driver for progress is the prospect of hosting the World Cup in South Africa. Erik Moller followed up with a brief outline of the transport situation in Durban and the eThekwini Municipality. Roughly the size of the GTA in area and population, the region has experienced declining levels of public transport service and is in urgent need of investment and innovation. The focus is on service to users and the objective is “a cost effective public transport system that maximizes the mobility of users and is in harmony with the evolving land use structures” While SCOOT is used for traffic signal control, transit signal priority for transit operations is an emerging need. In his summary, Victor emphasized that along with public transport, freight transport and HOV and bus lanes are also high level priorities. For further information, copies of the Overview Report, The Fundamental Restructuring of the eThekwini Public Transport System, are available from ITS Canada. ITS Canada’s Durban Networking Luncheon L-R Lynton Erskine (Delcan), Phil Russell (Industry Canada), Victor Baloyi (CEO – eThekwini Transport Authority), John Fung (IRD), Robert Bruce (EIS), Councillor Velile Lutyeku, Erik Moller (Deputy Head of Public Transportation), Joseph Lam (ITS Canada) and William Johnson. Thanks to Ron Stewart (IBI Group) who also participated and took the photo.   THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORT IN THE UK The UK’s Secretary of State for Transport set up a comprehensive Road Pricing Feasibility Study to examine how a new system of charging for road use could help make better use of UK road capacity. The study commissioned a wide range of work, and considered whether and how road pricing might work, not whether it should be adopted. The report sets out the conclusions under the following headings (among others): The Importance of Public Opinion How Would National Road Pricing Work? Implementation: Institutional Issues Pathfinders Conclusions and next steps Also published on July 20, 2004, is the Future of Transport White Paper, which reviews factors that will shape travel and transport over the next thirty years and sets out how the UK Government will respond to the increasing demand for travel, maximizing the benefits of transport while minimizing the negative impact on people and the environment. View full details, including both reports, at www.dft.gov.uk/strategy/futureoftransport.   INNOVATION THROUGH PARTNERSHIP Transport Canada’s ITS Research and Development Plan Intelligent Sign Management Transport Canada Funding: $99,799 Delcan Corporation, in association with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO), has recently launched a research project to model an intelligent sign management system with the support of Transport Canada. The intent is to develop the concept for a intelligent sign management system that is capable of considering multiple traffic management signing strategies, and then generate the most appropriate message content for each sign with respect to the sign location and the current traffic flow conditions. Background MTO’s Highway 401 COMPASS System has been in operation since 1991. The system is designed to quickly detect incidents or traffic problems and provide information to drivers. The program is being supported by a computerized response plan database that recommends messages based on specific operator inputs such as incident type, location and blockage conditions. In the event of any lane-blocking incident or road closure, real-time information about the number of lanes affected and the relative incident or roadwork location are provided on overhead DMS to forewarn upstream motorists so they can be prepared for the problems ahead. Most of the response plans are predefined and are invoked based upon the nature, location, and severity of the incident. The plans identify the necessary DMS(s) and associated message content. Under the current approach, system operators are often required to de-conflict response plans when there are multiple overlapping incidents. This method is adequate for dealing with a single incident at one location, but can quickly become inadequate when multiple incidents develop and/or other traffic conditions create complex scenarios. In addition, COMPASS also has a fleet of portable changeable message signs (PCMS) that are currently not integrated with the incident signing program within the central computer software. As part of continuing efforts to improve COMPASS operations and effectiveness, to improve handling of multiple events, and to provide additional real-time motorist information, the Advanced Traffic Management Section (ATMS) of MTO conceptualized a new signing approach that assesses current traffic conditions from the sign’s perspective to generate the most appropriate message content. Design Concept The intelligent sign management concept is a new approach intended to provide much greater flexibility in automatically developing messages to fit the current conditions. The project will provide the foundation for a significant advancement in current freeway traffic management practice. This new methodology is expected to provide the motorist better traffic information which in turn would enhance safety, reduce congestion, and lead to reduced driver frustration as the signs provide more specific and timely information. It is anticipated that the final product of this project would be used as a blueprint for the actual design and development of the intelligent sign message writer model, to be used in the next generation of COMPASS central computer software as well as other systems across the country. For more information, please contact David Tsui of the Ontario Ministry of Transportation at david.tsui@mto.gov.on.ca.   511 FOR TRAVELLER INFORMATION Development Plan Emerging for Canada 511 By Greg Loane, IBI Group Transport Canada Funding: $98,980 IBI Group was recently awarded a contract by Transport Canada under their ITS R&D Plan to develop a plan for implementing 511 in Canada. Transport Canada’s funding is provided as part of the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program. Prior to the award, the Canada 511 Consortium was completing its Phase 1 efforts to outline actions necessary to make a successful application to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) for 511 to be assigned for use as a weather and traveller information service for Canada. The IBI contract award by Transport Canada is timely, and several elements of the contract will now be integrated into the overall plan for Phase 2 of the Canada 511 Consortium. Significant progress is being made on the IBI contract; recent tasks include: An industry review concerning the benefits to be realized when public and private agencies implement telephone-based Traveller Information Services (TIS), the costs of deployment, and the lessons learned in similar deployments (primarily in the United States)   Establishment of a preliminary Canada 511 Development Plan   Preparation for the application to the CRTC for 511 to be assigned as a weather and traveller information service for Canada. In addition to the above, a project website has now been established by IBI Group to provide potential stakeholders with project background, objectives, and contact information. Interested parties may access the website at www.511Canada.ca. A first round of stakeholder consultations is currently being conducted. A web survey concerning TIS needs is being circulated to a selection of provincial, territorial, municipal and transit agencies. The survey results will help to establish a first draft of the 511 system Functional Requirements. The survey questions can be viewed on the project website. For further information, please contact: Paul Frigon at pfrigon@psrgroup.on.ca or Colin Rayman at colin.rayman@itscanada.ca.   ROAD SALT USAGE GUIDE TAC has recently published a Salt SMART Learning Guide, providing information on winter road maintenance and the environmental management of road salts. This guide documents how road salt can be used to provide safe roads while minimizing the impact on the environment. Download a copy of the PDF at www.tac-atc.ca/english/educationandtraining/courses-saltsmart.cfm.   CANADIAN TRANSPORT FUTURES ASSESSMENT (CTFA) The CTFA Project is an exciting 5-year study being proposed to analyze the opportunities and risks that could arise from changes in future Canadian mobility. This timely investigation will combine the diverse experience and skills of well known Canadian and international social scientists, engineers and other researchers. Working together, alternative scenarios of what would drive change in Canadian transport over the period from 2010 through 2030 will be created based on differing demographic, economic, spatial, technological, and resource assumptions. These scenarios will become starting points in elaborating potential outcomes, including the socio-economic effects, spatial dynamics, and community impacts of future Canadian transport activity. At an expected cost of $2.4 million for the study, the CTFA has been soliciting involvement via a Letter of Support, financial assistance and/or an in-kind donation. With sufficient support, this important undertaking can be given the final “green light” so that the proposed research can commence in early 2005. If you have any questions or comments pertaining to the CFTA, please contact Anthony Perl at the University of Calgary at aperl@ucalgary.ca.   TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD ANNOUNCES RFP TRB’s Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) Program has issued a request for proposals for start-up funding for promising, but unproven, innovations in surface transportation systems. The program goals are to seek out and support new transportation solutions that are unlikely to be funded through traditional programs. To be considered during the current award cycle, proposals must be submitted by September 1, 2004. Visit gulliver.trb.org/publications/sp/idea_announcement.pdf.   UPCOMING EVENTS Transportation Research Board Mid-Year Meeting – Traffic Signal Systems July 25 to 27, 2004 – Toronto, Ontario signalsystems.tamu.edu   GML Days 2004 Conference July 25 to 29, 2004 – Vancouver, B.C. www.gmldev.org   Rural ITS Conference August 22 to 25, 2004 – Duluth, Minnesota Heather Dorr, Tel. 612-625-5267, hdorr@umn.edu   III Chilean Congress of Intelligent Transport Systems and II International Exhibition September 1 to 3, 2004 – Santiago, Chile www.itschile.cl   TRANSTEC 2004 September 1 to 5, 2004 – Athens, Greece www.transtec.gr   Urban Mobility Advanced Transportation International Forum September 15 to 17, 2004 = Tremblant, Quebec September 18, 2004 = St. Jerome, Quebec www.muta2004.com   TAC Annual Conference Transportation Innovation – Accelerating the Pace September 19 to 22, 2004 – Québec, Québec www.tac-atc.ca   XIII Pan-American Conference of Traffic and Transportation Engineering September 26 to 29, 2004 – Albany, New York www.eng.rpi.edu/panam   The Future of Canada’s Infrastructure Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, 2004 – Toronto, Ontario www.strategyinstitute.com – select Conferences   TechExpo 2004 October 5th, 2004 – Ottawa, Ontario www.fptt-pftt.gc.ca/events/2004techexpo/main_e.shtml   Infrastructure 2004 October 6 to 8, 2004 – Warsaw, Poland www.expoproof.com/Infrastructure/Infrastructure.html   Smart Move – The Middle East’s Only Dedicated Public Transport Show October10 to12, 2004 – Dubai www.smartmoveme.com   11th World Congress on ITS October 18 to 22, 2004 – Nagoya, Japan “Second Announcement” and “Call for Papers” now available – e-mail your request for copies of these documents to itscanada@itscanada.ca, or visit www.itsworldcongress.org for event information   Intertraffic Latin America October 27 to 29, 2004 – Mexico City, Mexico www.mexico.intertraffic.com/intertrafficmexico2004/e   III ITS Brasil Congress November 17 to 19, 2004 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil   Sixth Annual Workshop on Highway-Railway Grade Crossing Research November 22-23, 2004 – Montreal, Quebec www.tc.gc.ca/tdc/events/sixth.htm   Saudi Traffic December 5 to 7, 2004 – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia www.saudi-traffic.com   Smart Moving 2005 April 19 to 21, 2005 -Birmingham, England smartmoving@its-uk.org.uk   12th World Congress on ITS November 6 to 10, 2005 – San Fransicso, U.S.A.   Gulf Traffic December 12 to 14, 2005 – Dubai, UAE www.gulftraffic.com Newsletter published by ITS Canada. Submissions or comments can be emailed to itscanada@itscanada.ca.