INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS IN CANADA; CURRENT PRIORITIES AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

This paper presents an overview of current Canadian priorities and activities concerning intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and identifies future directions for their development in Canada. Current Canadian activities include traffic management systems, electronic toll collection, transborder and mainline preclearance projects with the United States, traveler information systems, commercial vehicle operational efficiency systems, and human factors research for motor vehicle safety. The evolution of ITS in Canada has been facilitated by a cooperative partnership centered in the Transportation Association of Canada called ITS Canada. This organization presently (May 1995) has 206 members representing 132 organizational entities including public agencies, private companies, and universities. Since its launching in 1992, ITS Canada has monitored developments internationally, sponsored workshops and ITS activities in Canada, and facilitated Canadian presence at international ITS events. This paper draws on the work of ITS Canada to present a national perspective on current priorities and future directions for ITS development in Canada.