Toronto partners with OVIN to launch AI and 5G traffic management pilot zone
The city of Toronto has teamed up with the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) to initiate a technology pilot zone project, in a bid to test technological solutions to the city’s transportation issues.
During the pilot phase, these companies will deploy new traffic cameras and sensor technologies that use AI and 5G networks to improve traffic management. Successful technologies may be adopted by the City to reduce congestion, improve road safety, and make transportation more efficient for residents, businesses, and visitors.
The partnership was announced by Mayor Olivia Chow and Raed Kadri, head of OVIN, along with the Honourable Filomena Tassi, minister responsible for FedDev Ontario, the Honourable Victor Fedeli, Ontario minister of economic development, job creation and trade, and the Honourable Vijay Thanigasalam, Ontario associate minister of transportation.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City and OVIN aims to allow small- and medium-sized enterprises to receive up to $100,000 in funding. According to the announcement made by the city of Toronto, the funding will be used to test traffic management technologies in real-world settings, utilizing 5G wireless connectivity and advanced computing technologies like AI.
“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,” says Raed Kadri, head of OVIN.
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.”
The initiative aims to support Toronto’s congestion management plan 2023-2026, with the goal of addressing the city’s traffic management challenges. Toronto city council adopted the plan in November 2023.
“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,” says Mayor Olivia Chow.
In conjunction with the congestion management plan, the city is also collaborating with telecommunications companies and their traffic technology partners, including Bell Canada with Caliber Communications, Rogers Communications with NoTraffic, and TELUS with Miovision. These pilot projects aim to reduce travel times, improve road safety, and enhance transit priority.
“Our government is working tirelessly to ensure our province has the transportation infrastructure we need to support our growing population. 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,” adds Vijay Thanigasalam, Ontario associate minister of transportation.
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Article Topics
5G | AI | connectivity
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