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The City of Toronto is partnering with the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) to support a Technology Pilot Zone Project that will test innovative technology solutions to transportation challenges in the unique context of Toronto’s streets.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City and OVIN will provide eligible small- and medium-sized enterprises with up to $100,000 in funding to test traffic management technologies in real-world environments enabled by 5G wireless connectivity and leading-edge computing technologies including artificial intelligence (AI).
“As a vibrant, dynamic and growing city, it’s important to explore new ways to better manage all forms of traffic so we can keep Toronto moving. We are proud to partner with OVIN to leverage the potential of innovative traffic technology that can help ensure all road users have a smoother, faster and safer journey on our streets,” said Mayor Olivia Chow.
“As Ontario and Canada’s economic and tech powerhouse and largest metropolitan area, the City of Toronto is uniquely positioned to adopt innovative urban mobility technologies that will facilitate safer, cleaner, and more efficient transportation. The OVIN Technology Pilot Zone for urban mobility cultivates the unparalleled potential of made-in-Ontario innovation to address mobility challenges, while accelerating their commercialization and growth,” said Raed Kadri, Head of OVIN.
The MOU supports the City’s Congestion Management Plan 2023-2026 which Toronto City Council adopted in November 2023 to address traffic management that Toronto faces as a vibrant and growing city.
“Having secured over $43 billion in new electric vehicle and EV battery manufacturing investments over the last four years, our government continues to recognize the economic potential of advanced automotive technologies. We congratulate OVIN and the City of Toronto on the launch of their new Technology Pilot Zone, and look forward to the new innovations in urban mobility solutions that will be produced by Ontario-based SMEs,” said Victor Fedeli, Ontario Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.
As part of the Congestion Management Plan, the City is also partnering with telecommunications companies and their traffic technology partners – including Bell Canada with Caliber Communications, Rogers Communications with NoTraffic and TELUS with Miovision – to enable pilot projects aimed at reducing travel times, improving road safety and enhancing transit priority.
During these pilots, the companies will deploy new traffic camera and sensor technologies that utilize AI and 5G wireless networks to improve and accelerate traffic management strategies.
“The launch of the OVIN Technology Pilot Zone will help find ways to make transit more seamless and is a major step forward in realizing our vision for the future of urban mobility,” said Vijay Thanigasalam, Ontario Associate Minister of Transportation.
Following the pilots, the City may procure the technologies that successfully demonstrate the ability to alleviate congestion, improve road safety, enhance transit priority and make transportation more efficient for Toronto residents, businesses and visitors.
“The work being done through OVIN’s pilot zones is vital to the growth of Canada’s EV and connected and automated vehicle (CAV) technology and manufacturing sector, and the health of our communities and environment. That is why in February we invested $8 million to support the development and commercialization of new transportation technologies and innovative solutions in southern Ontario through this project,” said Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. |
