The Road Safety For Canadian Practitioners online training program, presented by TAC & ITE Canada, allows you to tailor your learning to your specific professional development needs Five courses are offered:
Foundations of Road Safety
Measuring Safety
Human Factors and Road Safety
Solving Safety Problems
Implementing Road Safety Programs
Courses are delivered through TAC’s Online Training Centre as self-paced, on-demand modules that include recorded lectures, case studies, exercises, supplemental reading lists & quizzes
Lectures in each course range from 3-6 hours. In total, the five courses offer 24 hours of learning. Modules are accessible for 6 months after payment.
The five modules can be purchased individually or as discounted bundles. Find complete course details and prices at tac-atc.ca.
More Information: www tac-atc ca/en/events-and-learning/online-training
Peter Topalovic dives into the rich history of our conference host city and showcases disruptive progress underway in Hamilton towards transformative change of its transportation systems
Regular registration open until May 24! Preview the sessions, speakers, events, and tours coming to
Purvez Irani shares the background and benefits of the City of Kamloops’ city-wide traffic model plus lessons learned for other municipalities who might consider similar efforts
We sit down for an in-depth interview with road safety pioneer Geni Bahar about her career, contributions to the industry, and advice for both emerging and experienced professionals
Get to know this Canadian Rising Star and active
Pedram Izadpanah Ph.D.,
P.Eng.President, ITE Canada
president@itecanada.orgThe month of May is an exciting time in my hometown of Burlington, Ontario where the Japanese cherry trees are in full bloom along our waterfront. This beautiful spectacle draws visitors from near and far to downtown Burlington, and I hope that you, our members, are also enjoying the beauties of spring in your own communities across Canada.
Spring also means the preparation for our upcoming ITE Canada Annual Conference in Hamilton, Ontario. The Hamilton conference’s Local Arrangement Committee (LAC), in collaboration with the National Technical Program Committee (NTPC), is tirelessly curating a lineup of high-quality technical sessions and engaging social events. The conference logistics are shaping up excellently, with members from every corner of the country registering to attend. Hamilton is ready and eager to welcome us all. Adding to the excitement, this issue of Transportation Talk features an insightful article by Peter Topalovic about Hamilton. A fun fact: the first traffic signal in Canada was installed in Hamilton on June 11, 1925—nearly a century ago! There is still time to register for the conference happening June 9-12 and join hundreds of transportation professionals from across the nation.
Continuing our commitment to mentorship, as outlined in the 2020-2024 ITE Canada Strategic Plan, ITE Canada is facilitating connections between students and mentors during the Hamilton conference. This initiative continues to be a highlight and success. In this issue, we also profile Geni Bahar, president of NAVIGATS Inc. Geni has been a champion for road safety and a role model for many in our profession. She has a remarkable story and shares invaluable insights and inspiration for both young and experienced professionals in this piece.
I am also thrilled to officially announce the establishment of the Future Transportation Leaders Fund This independent charity foundation will support the next generation of transportation professionals and has been granted charitable status by the Canada Revenue Agency, enabling it to issue tax receipts for donations. This new foundation will manage donations for ITE Canada’s awards and scholarships program. Expect more exciting updates during the Hamilton conference and in future communications. I extend my deepest thanks to founding board members Bruce Belmore, Gene Chartier, Jen Malzer, and Ryan Vanderputten for their visionary leadership.
To build our leadership capacity and strengthen our governance, the board has approved the separation of the Treasurer and Secretary roles on the Executive Committee, and our membership has ratified changes to our by-laws. Learn more about these changes on page 6. We have launched a Call for Nominations, open until May 31, for the new Secretary position and encourage you to consider putting your name forward; learm more on page 8.
Before I close, let me highlight a few noteworthy announcements:
• Congratulations to Julia Salvini, who will join the ITE International Board of Direction as our next District Director, having been acclaimed following our recent Call for Nominations. Julia will return to the Executive Committee in January 2025.
• The next offering of our popular Removing Barriers: A Workshop on Achieving Accessibility in Transportation Systems training is scheduled for May 29 and 30. Learn more on page 28 and register on the ITE Canada website. We are also seeking proposals for our 2024-2025 professional training program; see the RFP here
• The ITE McMaster University Student Chapter, along with other Southern Ontario universities, is organizing a Student Leadership Summit (SLS) during the Hamilton conference weekend. It promises to be an excellent networking opportunity with a compelling lineup of speakers.
• The ITE Canada Board will meet on Sunday June 9, 2024, during the Hamilton conference to update our strategic plan for the next four years.
I hope that you all have a great spring and see you in Hamilton in just a few weeks!
Sincerely,
Pedram Izadpanah, Ph.D., P.Eng. President, ITE Canada
Canadian District Director, ITE director@itecanada.org
Hopefully, by the time you are reading this, spring has arrived in your neighbourhood and the dark days of winter are over. Around my house, that means cleaning up the yard, changing the winter tires and taking my bike off the indoor trainer! This spring has been an eventful one with the total solar eclipse reaching millions across our continent. I hope some of our members in the east took the opportunity to get out and watch this once-in-a-lifetime event.
This spring has also been an eventful season at ITE. The 2025 ITE International elections have concluded and I would like to congratulate incoming International President Karen Aspelin, P.E., PTOE (F) and incoming Vice President Gordon Meth, P.E., P. Eng., PTOE, PTP, RSP2I, T.E. (F). Also, I would like to congratulate Julia Salvini as the new ITE Canada International District Director beginning in January 2025 for a three-year term.
The ITE International Virtual Spring Conference occurred March 19-20, bringing together more than 1,000 transportation professionals to share ideas and information on traffic safety and innovation. The opening plenary saw the largest attendance at more than 600 participants and more than 185 unique agencies registered.
I had the opportunity to attend the International Board of Direction meeting in Omaha, Nebraska this April, which was held in conjunction with the Missouri Valley District (MOVITE) Annual Meeting. The City has a revitalized waterfront along the Missouri River with modern infrastructure and does an excellent job of integrating art into its public domain. This was a great backdrop to our meetings.
One of the areas of focus in the ITE Strategic Plan 2024-2026 is to elevate our leadership position in transportation safety. The IBOD was presented with an overview of the ITE Safety Roadmap - Changing the Culture of Transportation for Safety by Dr. Matthew Hardy, our new Chief Technical Officer. Watch for more information to come on this initiative.
Using the Safe System Approach to achieve Vision Zero is a goal many transportation authorities across Canada have been advancing over the last decade. Despite these efforts, there is still a long way to go and I encourage all of our members to assess the work you do each and every day through a safety lens. ITE provides many transportation safety resources for our members. I encourage you to review these and participate in the ITE Safety Council’s activities, open to all ITE members.
The Joint ITE International and Mid-Colonial Annual Meeting and Exhibition will be held in Philadelphia this summer from July 21-24, 2024. The #ITEPhilly2024 Headquarters Hotel is the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown. The Creating Safer, Smarter Mobility theme has led to the development of many great sessions, tours and events. I look forward to seeing some of our ITE Canada members there. Join me for a run in the morning so we can snap a picture with the Rocky statue atop the iconic Philadelphia Museum of Art stairs.
In addition, we have our ITE Canada Annual Conference coming up in Hamilton. As the Local Arrangements Committee District Liaison, I can teIl you there is a great technical program and exciting tours and events lined up. Thank you to all the LAC volunteers who have been working hard to make your member experience exceptional.
I strongly encourage you to check out the latest version of the ITE Journal as it provides many insights on People Centered Mobility and Pedestrian Accessibility. If you are looking for professional development opportunities, check out the ITE Canada training opportunities as well as the ITE International Learning Hub
Keep well, stay safe and if you have any questions regarding ITE, please contact me at esoldo@ itecanada.org.
Edward Soldo, P.Eng. (F) Canadian District Director
At this first meeting of the 2024 ITE Canada Board of Directors, a Board Orientation was conducted to provide both new and returning members an overview of their responsibilities, the organization’s structure, our Strategic Plan, and a summary of expectations. This is part of a larger effort to better equip our volunteers at all levels with more information and resources for their roles.
The formal meeting began with an update on the Hamilton Conference from Co-Chair of the Local Arrangements Committee and Director for Hamilton Section Jill Juhlke.
Associated Engineering provides customized, strategic transportation planning and traffic engineering services. Complementing our technical expertise, our specialist team brings strong project management, consultation, and facilitation skills. We work with communities, stakeholders, and First Nations to develop sustainable and resilient transportation solutions. Our services include:
▪ Transportation Master Plans
▪ Active Transportation Plans
▪ Modelling & Model Interpretation
▪ Business Case Development
▪ Policy Studies
▪ Functional Corridor Planning
▪ Intelligent Transportation Systems
▪ Safety Reviews & Audits
▪ Intersection & Network Analysis
▪ Traffic Operation Analysis
▪ Traffic Impact Assessments
▪ Traffic Accommodation Plans
▪ Traffic Signal Design
Following, Past President Ryan Vanderputten provided an update on the Training Committee which has had another successful year with two strong training courses. President Pedram Izadpanah shared news from the Technical Liaison Committee; the group continues to coordinate our appointees, partnerships, and technical awards for which we received a large number of submissions.
District Director Edward Soldo announced that Julia Salvini was the sole nominee for the District Director position (2025-2027). As such, she was approved by the Board as being acclaimed to the position. The Board then appointed three members to join Edward on the Nominations and Elections Committee overseeing the 2024 elections.
A brief financial summary was presented by Treasurer Destiny Piper for the first quarter of 2024 fiscal year end.
The meeting then shifted to review amendments to the ITE Canada By-laws. A new structure and terms for the Executive Committee were formally approved by the ITE Canada Board of Directors in December 2023, and the new charter was subsequently ratified by ITE International in January 2024. The Board discussed the changes to By-Law No. 1 and moved a motion for a Special Meeting of the membership to approve a final version.
Following the formal conclusion of the meeting, an update was shared by Steven Wood, Manitoba Section Director, about successes and challenges facing their Section.
On April 3, 2024, a Special Meeting of the membership was held to present and approve amendments to ITE Canada’s By-Law No. 1 due to the implementation of a new Executive Committee structure.
Previously, all members served in two-year terms except for the District Director, who serves a threeyear term as defined by ITE International.
The new structure will see the Executive Committee increase from five to six members (SecretaryTreasurer split into two roles); the President, VicePresident, and Past President each serving oneyear terms; and the Secretary and Treasurer serving two-year terms with alternating annual
elections for these two roles. See the sample timeline below.
The goal of these changes is to create more leadership opportunities with an additional member, reduced term lengths, and allowing individuals to nominate themselves for roles based on their strengths and skills (e.g., allowing members to serve as either Secretary or Treasurer instead of both).
These amendments were formally approved by the ITE Canada Board of Directors on December 6, 2023 and the new charter was subsequently ratified by ITE International in January 2024.
A resolution was passed by the membership on April 3, 2024 to approve the By-Law amendments.
With the impending change in Executive Committee terms and composition, a number of adjustments will be made with respect to the roles and responsibilities of each position. The organizational chart below highlights the liaisons, contacts, and
leads for our various committees, programs, and levels starting in January 2025. You can find a detailed overview of the specific duties and responsibilities of each Executive Committee member here.
ITE Canada is seeking a candidate to serve on the Executive Committee for a two-year term as Secretary, from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2026. The nomination deadline for this position is May 31, 2024 at midnight Pacific standard time.
This is a newly-created position. The Secretary is responsible for banking transaction payments, creating invoices for external vendors, liaising with student chapters, and overseeing minutes and other documentation during Executive and Annual Meetings (with support from the Business Manager). Find out more about joining the ITE Canada Executive at the Town Hall meeting on May 3rd.
The Nominations Committee will undertake a general call for nominations that may also include a direct invite to potential candidates. Eligibility for the elected position will be determined by the Committee through an assessment of the nominee’s suitability.
Please review the recently updated ITE Canada Nomination & Election Policy provided here.
To apply, candidates must send a letter to the Nominations Committee Chair via email indicating their interest in the position, why they are suitable, and two signatures from ITE members in good standing.
Nominations shall be submitted by email to:
Edward Soldo, P.Eng., FITE
Canadian District Director and Nominations Committee Chair
Email: director@itecanada.org
ITE Canada will make space available on the corporation’s website to highlight candidate profiles including the following information:
• name of candidate that will be used on the election ballot
• a photo of the candidate
• a 400-word or less candidate statement
• optionally, links to social media profiles
Candidates for the District Executive Committee election shall abide by the following campaign rules:
• Individual websites are prohibited.
• Bulk mailing and direct advertising techniques— both postal and electronic—are not allowed. Bulk mailing for this purpose is defined as mailings of the same enclosures to more than 1 person.
• One on one personalized email communication is allowed by a candidate or by others on behalf of a candidate, expressing their perspectives (not those of others).
• Candidates may not contact Sections and Chapters for the purpose of advertising or endorsing their candidacy. Additionally, they may not encourage or promote the use of surrogates to campaign on their behalf.
• Candidates may attend District, Section, and Chapter meetings during the time period of their candidacy. Candidates may present on matters unrelated to their candidacy. They cannot present a campaign speech at any meeting. This does not preclude the candidate from carrying out their duties as an officer of a Section/Chapter or retaining a currently-held volunteer position.
• There is to be no malice toward other candidates.
Any breach of these rules may result in the Nominating and Elections Committee revoking the nomination of that individual for office.
ITE Canada invites individuals or firms to express their interest in providing professional training opportunities to our transportation community starting in Fall 2024. The purpose of this training program is to equip and inform participants with the latest trends and skills critical to their professional development, career success, and effective performance.
Training topics that ITE Canada would be interested in supporting may include but are not limited to:
• Speed Management
• Complete Streets
• Climate Change Considerations
• Health Impact Assessments
• New Ways of Transportation Demand Management Planning
• Roundabouts Operation and Analysis
• Equity Assessments for Transportation Projects (e.g. Gender-Based Analysis Plus)
• Emerging Technologies
• Curbside Management
• Safe System Approach and Proactive Crash Screening (alternatives to black spot analysis)
• Artificial Intelligence in Transportation
• Workforce in the Transportation Field
• Transport Resilience
• The new version of MUTCD
• Public Right of Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG)
• Road Safety Audits
• Different Approaches to Traffic Impact Assessments
• Fundamental Transportation Engineering and Geometric Design
Download the full Request for Proposals here.
To respond to this Request for Proposal, please submit the information requested to training@itecanada.org together with the curricula vitae of the trainer(s). This submission is intended to be a proposal in providing training on a topic along with demonstrable qualifications for being able to train others on the topic.
DEADLINE FOR QUESTIONS: May 3, 2024 at 11:59 pm (Pacific Time)
DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS: May 17, 2024 at 5:00 pm (Pacific Time)
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In June, Hamilton will host ITE Canada’s Annual Conference. Hamilton regularly plays host to major events such as the Grey Cup, JUNO Awards, Canadian Open, and many industry-focused events such as the highly successful 2023 North American Bikeshare & Scootershare Association (NABSA) Conference. Visitors often express that they experience something unique in Hamilton—a city of contrasts, a city in transition, and a city worth visiting.
In this article, I will provide a bit of history on why Hamilton is a city of contrasts and ‘transportation firsts’ and how this makes it one of the most exciting places in Canada to be working in transportation.
Long before the area now known as Hamilton was settled by Europeans, it comprised part of the traditional territories of the Erie, Neutral, HuronWendat, Haudenosaunee and Mississaugas indigenous peoples. The areas between the Niagara Escarpment and the head of Lake Ontario were settled by Europeans in the late 1700s and early 1800s with the town of Dundas being one of the first areas with commercial activity. Thus, since its beginning, Hamilton has been a city of contrasts—a city that is often associated with its manufacturing history and major industrial port but one which also contains a UNESCO World Heritage reserve. This natural area runs along the Bruce trail across the Escarpment, giving Hamilton another name: “City of Waterfalls.”
Historically, Hamilton has also been a “City of Firsts”. Hamilton established the first water works plant in Ontario, was the first City to provide electricity to residents and, as everyone who’s ever participated in the Traffic Bowl competition knows, had the first signalized intersection in Canada, installed in 1925. These early firsts were behind another of Hamilton’s long-established nicknames: “Ambitious City.” It was a term coined by Toronto reporters at the turn of the century to poke fun at Hamilton’s lofty development and industrial goals but is now a source of pride for Hamiltonians.
The City has always had a connection to transportation innovation, from the muchregarded Incline Railway system that existed in the late 1900’s to the establishment of the oneway street system in the 1950’s. In more recent years, Hamilton has been at the forefront in many ways with respect to transportation. Hamilton built Ontario’s first two-way separated cycle track (the Cannon Street Cycle Track) and launched the first free-floating public “smart bike” share system in Canada. The City was also an early adopter of commercial e-scooters.
Like most cities, Hamilton has been very much shaped by its transportation system. It is one of a handful of cities across Canada which has all four major transportation methods within its municipal boundaries – road, rail, air, and marine. While these systems have served to drive economic development, they have also created challenges in terms of compatibility. The aforementioned one-way street system, once thought of as innovative and critical to supporting economic growth, is now being reengineered from the perspective of creating more livable communities.
In recent years, Hamilton has taken strides to rebalance its transportation system in order to achieve its Vision to be “the best place to raise a child and age successfully.” This transformation is taking place through both incremental changes and bold changes.
Major changes are underway in terms of development, infrastructure, and policy frameworks. Hamilton is experiencing a development renaissance with billions of dollars in development investment in both the residential and industrial sectors. In the downtown, a new skyline is emerging. The in-progress Light Rail Transit (LRT) project is helping to spur this growth and help transform the lower city in a way that prioritizes transportation and housing equity—and the City has updated the policy context to support it. For example, the City recently reformed its parking standards to eliminate minimum parking requirements in a
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large portion of the City. Hamilton has also embraced the concept of building inwards and upwards through its adoption of an Official Plan that is based on a no urban boundary expansion approach.
In addition to major City-wide changes, the City has also embraced the concept of incremental change. The idea is that small changes, when implemented cumulatively over time, can lead to major transformations. These incremental changes range from things such as street murals to an expanding micro-mobility program.
A key focus for transportation has been on improving and expanding the separated bike network with the goal of closing gaps and creating a connected network. Investments in major facilities such as the award-winning Keddy Access Trail which connects the lower and upper city via the Niagara Escarpment have helped to accelerate progress on this network. In 2024, City of Hamilton Council approved the Accelerated Active Transportation Implementation Plan, which provides a blueprint for the installation of 150 km of active transportation infrastructure between 2024 and 2029, a planned $60 million investment. This is not done in isolation from city residents. Through public engagement initiatives such as Engage Hamilton and 100 in 1 Day as well as organized groups such as Mobility Lab and
Cycle Hamilton, the City develops AT projects and programs with the community as a major stakeholder and partner that helps make plans a reality.
Through extensive work with the community, the City has established many community-driven projects such as the Hamilton Bike Share system, the Everyone Rides Initiative equity program and the E-scooter program; making Hamilton one of the few cities in Canada to have all forms of public transportation and micromobility including on-demand buses and one-way carsharing.
Over the last decade, Hamilton has established one of the largest and most diverse shared mobility and micromobility programs in Ontario, which now includes: 50 station-based carshare vehicles; a free-floating carshare fleet of over 25 vehicles; the Hamilton Bike Share system, with 900 pedal bikes; and the Bird E-scooter program with 900 devices over 35 square km, representing millions of bike share trips and hundreds of thousands of e-scooter trips with users numbering in the tens of thousands.
Complementing infrastructure investments, the City also places high importance on transportation demand management and incentivizing the use of sustainable transportation modes. The City works with
employers and schools through the Smart Commute and Travel planning initiatives to help make efficient use of our active transportation and public transportation systems. City-run events like Bike Month and Open Streets, which includes the closure of 4 km King Street for active transportation, provide more opportunities for residents to discover walking and cycling as practical and convenient modes of transportation. Hamilton holds a Silver Bicycle Friendly Community and Walk Friendly Community designation and is on the way to achieving gold in the near future.
These are major accomplishments for a mid-sized city on the rise, but the City stays true to its roots, and equity considerations are at the center of this. Whether it is working with indigenous leaders in the development of plans and projects, enhancing the truck route network to ensure neighbourhoods thrive, or working with underserved, unhoused, newcomer and older adults in the development of active transportation programs, equity considerations are often prioritized in a way that enhances projects and communities. The Everyone Rides Initiative makes sure bike share is accessible to all ages and abilities. Environment Hamilton and Cycle Hamilton’s work on the Friendly Street program informed the City’s AT plans and helped enhance the work on all ages and abilities designs. The City is incorporating equity-led engagement into the development of the long-range integrated active transportation plan. These are just a few examples of how Hamilton is an embodiment of disruptive progress and leading on the path to safer, cleaner, and more equitable transportation, to quote the 2024 Annual Conference theme.
Hamilton remains a city of contrasts. It is still an industrial mid-sized city, striking a balance between indigenous, industrial, electric, and sustainable roots— especially when it comes to land use and transportation—all set in an area that’s nestled by the greenery of the Niagara escarpment, hundreds of waterfalls and a beloved park network. It’s a sight to see and an experience with surprises for all.
Join us at the ITE Canada 2024 Annual Conference in June to experience this city in transformation. Register at conference.itecanada.org.
Peter Topalovic, M.Eng. has been with the City of Hamilton for 15 years and specializes in sustainable mobility infrastructure, micromobility, policy, public engagement, and behaviour change. He is a board member of the North American Bikeshare and Scooter Association. Hamilton is his home, where he teaches at McMaster University.
ITE Canada and the ITE Hamilton Section are excited to welcome you to our 2024 Annual Conference happening June 9-12 in Hamilton, Ontario!
Register by May 24 as increased late registration rates come into effect after this date! ITE members receive additional discounts with further reduced rates for student and retired members.
Find all the conference-related info you need at conference.itecanada.org, via the ITE Canada email list, and by following #ITECanada2024 on social media.
The packed technical program features over 100 presentations, workshops, panel discussions, and innovative format sessions. This conference will offer professional development opportunities covering many topics such as active transportation, transit, new technologies, road safety, and much more.
Look forward to a kickoff keynote address by Jeff Casello of University of Waterloo with a welcome by Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath. On Tuesday, we’ll also host a Panel on Disruption featuring notable women in the industry.
Be sure to add a walking, cycling, e-scooter, or facility tour to your registration for an on-the-ground look at Hamilton’s unique challenges and successes.
Themes covered include placemaking through public art and culture, innovation in automotive research, industrial transformation, cycling infrastructure and two-way road conversions, and the unique solutions to overcome topographical challenges in transportation.
Delegates rave about the social events that make our conference so memorable:
• Friendly competition at Traffic Bowl
• Mingle with friends and new connections at the Welcome Reception and Student Mixer
• Enjoy our Annual Banquet at the beautifully restored former CN train LIUNA Station
• Celebrate our community’s finest at the conference-closing Excellence in Transportation Awards luncheon
Time’s running out to book your Sheraton Hamilton hotel room at discounted rates ($174+). Secure your room before May 7!
Detailed travel information for getting to Hamilton by air and transit (with directions and costs) are now posted on our conference website. Plus, get info on Hamilton area attractions to add on to your trip.
You often hear about a City-wide water, sanitary sewer or stormwater model. What about a citywide traffic Model? Usually, macroscopic models using software such as EMME or VISUM are developed or updated when a City’s Transportation Master Plan or Official Community Plan is updated. Macroscopic models are great for reviewing future capacity needs for major collectors and arterials or new roadway links required due to future growth. However, from a municipal perspective, most congestion-related complaints that a traffic department receives are related to congestion or delays experienced at intersections. At the intersection level, microscopic modelling becomes more valuable than macroscopic modelling for evaluating intersection-level network performance.
Located in interior British Columbia, Canada, the City of Kamloops has a population of approximately 98,000 people (Statistics Canada, 2021) and is one of Canada’s five fastest-growing metropolitan areas. Kamloops is also at the crossroads of three major highways and the Canadian Pacific and Canadian National railways, making it a key transportation hub. As of 2021, single occupant vehicle (SOV) mode share in Kamloops was 81%, indicating that Kamloopsians are highly dependent on motor vehicles for transportation.
Cities often group signalized intersections in zones and model them using Synchro/SimTraffic software. This is a common approach to optimizing traffic signal timings and coordination within each zone. Sometimes intersections are modelled in Synchro/SimTraffic as part of a traffic study and the city relies on that information. Therefore, Synchro models for parts
of a City may only be discontinuous and/or outdated based on when a zone was optimized or when a study was completed. This may have a significant impact when making infrastructure upgrade decisions for future capital planning projects or assessing development applications based on fragmented or outdated information.
With this in mind, in 2021, the City of Kamloops decided to develop a City-Wide Traffic Model. The Vision was:
• Assessing the performance of all existing signalized intersections, roundabouts, and unsignalized intersections that may be warranted for signalization in the near future.
• Provide a ‘Snapshot’ of the Transportation Network during a single time horizon of 2021 (existing traffic) and a future horizon year of 2031
• Identify what infrastructure improvements are required now and in the future for accurate Capital Budget Planning purposes.
In total, 93 intersections had to be analyzed using Synchro/SimTraffic for signalized and unsignalized intersections, while Sidra was used for analyzing roundabouts. The detailed breakdown was:
• 75 signalized intersections
• 10 future signalized
• 8 pedestrian signal
• 6 roundabouts
Before developing a city-wide traffic model, Kamloops was divided into 13 different signal timing zones, which were modelled in Synchro. Since timelines of the traffic counts used in these zones varied over numerous years, Synchro analysis varied considerably and it was not uncommon for the volumes used to develop the signal timing plans to be outdated by a decade.
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The first step was to consolidate and reduce the number of zones to six to make future optimization tasks of the road network more efficient and manageable. See Figure 1. This action reduced the risk that a zone may be neglected for a decade. Consolidation means that several signalized intersections can be optimized together in a road corridor rather than optimizing just a few signals in bits and pieces and leaving other signals unoptimized for several years.
The city had conducted traffic counts between 2016-2021. To represent the traffic volumes in one snapshot of time, all volumes were adjusted to the year ”2021” by applying an annual 1.5% growth rate (non-compounded) which was confirmed with baseline counts based on previous studies.
The AM (7-9 AM) and PM Peak (3-6 PM) volumes were selected for traffic modelling. Traffic impacts due to the COVID-19 pandemic were considered, but not applied to the model, as the true impacts due to the pandemic at the time were unknown. Using pre-pandemic volumes was a conservative approach and the decision has since paid off, as traffic volumes have not only recovered but increased since 2019 as of 2022.
Key traffic engineering parameters were used to evaluate intersection performance:
• Average Delay (sec)
• Volume/capacity (V/C) ratios
• Level of service (LOS)
• 95th Percentile Queue (m)
When implementing and developing the model in the software, all existing movements/lane configurations were maintained and the existing signal timing plans were incorporated into the Synchro software to determine the true current performance of the intersections.
Intersections with an LOS of E or F, or a V/C ratio greater than 0.95 were considered to have poor overall operational performance and were selected for further analysis. Figure 2 shows a sample output table of the CityWide Model for signalized intersections in North Kamloops, with the traffic parameters with poor operational performance indicated in red.
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Need to brush up on core concepts and methods in the practice of traffic engineering? ITE members have free access to TrafficWiki, a dynamic online tool and reference guide on many topics including:
• Traffic Engineering Study Basics
• Access Management
• Data Collection Techniques
• Level of Service Concepts
• Volume Studies
• Speed Studies
• Traffic Flow Characterization
• Design & Control for Interrupted Flow
• Urban and Rural Design & Operations
• Traffic Calming
• Intersection Studies
• Road Users
• Safety Studies
• Probability and Statistics
• Complete Streets
• Event and Incident Management
• Work Zones
• Travel Demand Forecasting
• Parking Find it at wiki.ite.org
Sixteen intersections were identified as having poor overall performance as shown in Figure 3. Fifteen of the sixteen intersections operated poorly in either the AM or PM peak hour, however the intersection of Battle St and Columbia St operated poorly in both peak hours. Synchro Software helped to highlight individual traffic movement performance, movements with poor operational performance were then tabulated.
Vehicular Queue storage overflow is another issue that is commonly analyzed in traffic modelling. Both Synchro and SimTraffic queue lengths (95th percentile) were compared and checked against the existing available storage lengths at each intersection. During the analysis, it was found that queue lengths were also sensitive to signal operation parameters such as the number of pedestrian calls, signal coordination, signal phasing, and green time. Figure 5 shows an example of the queue length analysis table. The results of the queue length analysis have identified locations where it is necessary to increase the storage lane length or in some cases add a dedicated left/right turn lane.
FIGURE 3. Intersections in red with poor overall LOS and table identifying individual movement performance issues. (Source: City of Kamloops, ISL Engineering and Land Services Ltd.)
Traffic operations analysis was also conducted for a 10-year time horizon. Traffic volumes were estimated using the simplifying assumption of a city-wide annual 1.5% growth rate applied to the existing traffic volumes which resulted in a combined 15% increase over 10 years. For each critical movement identified during the 2031 horizon year, potential improvement measures were suggested to improve traffic operation. These potential improvements ranged from simple signal optimization and lane
reconfiguration tasks to major intersection improvements such as constructing multi-lane roundabouts.
Fifteen (15) intersections were identified as requiring geometric improvement measures. For each geometric improvement (such as additional lanes or major intersection changes), schematic drawings were prepared with preliminary-level cost estimates.
While the investment has been significant, the City of Kamloops has seen many benefits arise from the development of a city-wide traffic model. Some key benefits from a municipal point of view are as follows:
• Budget Planning for Intersection Improvements: Allows for more efficient allocation of annual budget and future requests for budget increases based on an engineering study.
• Engineering Support for Decision Making: Provides evidence-based data to help Council/Elected Officials/Senior leadership team make well-informed infrastructure investment decisions.
• Development Cost Charges: Useful tool in identifying projects which require development-related funding improvements.
• Development Review: Helps the city to foresee existing and future limitations of the transportation network, giving transportation professionals the edge to make informed decisions when reviewing development-related Transportation Impact Studies.
• Municipal Infrastructure Planning Coordination: Can quickly identify if traffic capacity improvement projects can be constructed in conjunction with other infrastructure improvement projects such as utilities and road resurfacing projects. This generally results in construction cost savings for a city when projects are combined in the same location such as an intersection or road corridor.
• ’Snapshot’ View: It is easier to identify priorities for future capital projects when the key intersections of the network can be viewed for comparison, e.g. Figure 3.
Sometimes quick and timely answers are required to be provided to elected officials and senior leadership teams, especially during City Council sessions. Having a study like this at your fingertips helps transportation professionals provide meaningful and accurate information to decision-makers.
• Identify Quick Wins: Identify solutions that can be implemented easily now to improve traffic operations (such as signal timing adjustments), as it may be several years before construction can take place for the identified capacity improvement measure, due to several external and internal reasons including budget shortfalls.
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There were many lessons learned for the team in developing the city-wide traffic model for Kamloops. Here are a few aspects to consider for any municipalities looking at pursuing a similar project.
• The model is as only as good as the data inputted into it. Accurate and thorough data collection is required prior to developing a city-wide model and must be factored into the timelines and project plan.
• There can be notable cost savings if a city can have its own traffic count collection program. For example, the City of Kamloops has its own 3-year traffic count program where counts are conducted at all major intersections.
• Field verification is important to confirm that the model results are consistent with actual on-site operations. If the observations from the field do not match the conditions estimated by the model, calibrations should be made to reflect true operating conditions.
• The work does not stop after a model has been built. The model is developed to provide a snapshot of the transportation network performance during the same period, which means that the model needs to be updated periodically to capture changes. Without continuous upkeep, changes such as intersection improvements due to development-related projects or other capital projects will not be properly reflected.
• If a city has a 3-year count program, for example, it would be recommended to update the model every 3-4 years with fresh traffic counts and current signal timing plans to analyze the performance during the same time period.
The value of a city-wide traffic model is clear for the City of Kamloops. This effort has resulted in more efficient analysis and decision-making and an improved transportation network for the municipality.
Purvez Irani, MS, P.Eng., PTOE is a Professional Engineer with over 20 years of experience in Transportation/ Traffic Engineering. He has served in roles with Engineers and Geoscientists BC, Transportation Association of Canada, and has been an ITE member since 2003.
Geni is a transportation engineer, road safety pioneer, and President of NAVIGATS Inc. Traffic Safety Consultants. In this retrospective conversation, we delve into lessons learned, achievements, and advice from her storied 46-year (and counting) career. You can also learn more about Geni’s experience in this Member Highlight from the Fall 2011 Transportation Talk
Have you faced any unique barriers as a woman working in transportation?
I have lived and worked in six countries and met many different policies and cultures. I do not call them unique barriers as a woman working in transportation; I call them challenges to overcome and ensure that other female engineers will not have to go through the same challenges. On one occasion, I was told that I was not entitled to take maternity leave to look after my newborn baby because my position in the organization was ‘defined as an engineer’, and engineers did not get maternity leave. I learned that I was the first female engineer who was planning to come back to work after having a child! I worked hard to change that policy and to create work flexitime for family and personal reasons as well as family sick leave days.
Of course, I heard many biased remarks as a young female engineer. I decided very early in my career that whenever there were such remarks, I would never ignore them. Instead, I would take the time to share that the training and learning that I received at my engineering university were not different due to my gender thus everyone could expect that my performance would not be different from the male engineers. I was also very outspoken whenever I felt financially discriminated against as a female engineer including rejecting a job offer when I knew that I should have been offered a higher starting salary.
What factors would you attribute to your success as you enter your fifteenth year as the owner of NAVIGATS Inc. Traffic Safety Consultants?
I always keep in mind that the primary goal is to provide the safest transportation and that the paramount goal is that every road user will always reach their destination safely.
I believe in the critical importance of a long term relationship between consultants and clients. Many factors help to create that foundation, including striving to bring the best you can from your experience and expertise to every project, listening to your clients and internalizing their vision and objectives, and creating strong multi-disciplinary teams of professionals to develop and deliver the products.
Active volunteer participation in the transportation associations since my early career years provided many opportunities to increase my network by meeting, creating, and maintaining friendships with colleagues from agencies of all kinds—small and large, private, public, provincial, federal or local. I believe volunteering enables one to contribute and share one’s experience and expertise at the same time as learning so much from others. For over 30 years, I have actively participated in the activities of Transportation Association of Canada (TAC), Transportation Research Board (TRB), National Academies of Sciences’ Safety Cooperative
Research Program (NCHRP), Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), Canadian Association of Road Safety Professionals (CARSP), among others. As a result, I have been recognized with honours such as: Emeritus Member of ITE’s International Transportation Safety Council (2009), TAC and Transport Canada’s 2007 Transportation Person of the Year (the first woman to receive this award), CARSP’s 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award, and TRB’s 2024 Appreciation Award.
What advice would you give to the younger generation just getting started in the transportation profession?
My advice is to never stop learning! Do as much professional development as possible; do not wait and always reserve time outside your working hours for your personal professional growth. I recommend taking the initiative to search for courses and enroll. Hopefully your company will support and fund your professional growth but, even if not, be prepared to always invest in your own career, and be proud to show your credentials by being a certified professional in transportation (tpcb.org).
You can find learning opportunities everywhere you look. I love to travel and look for interesting transportation and road safety aspects in different countries. On a recent trip to Iceland, I learned that the city of Akureyri installed hearts in their traffic signals in 2008 when the financial crash took place and the city wanted to show positive thinking.
Furthermore, I encourage you to take every opportunity to attend conferences, workshops, webinars, read journals, initiate meetings with colleagues, participate in professional panels, etc. As I noted above, by becoming an active member of the relevant associations, one can reap many benefits and should be a priority in your career!
A unique traffic signal heart Geni discovered on her travels in Iceland
In your 2011 Member Highlight, you said, “I would like to see a PTSafetyE in the near future.”
In October 2018, the Transportation Professional Certification Board (TPCB) launched a new Road Safety Professional (RSP) Certification. Tell us about your involvement.
I have been involved since the very beginning. The concept of an RSP designation had its origins in Canada in 2013. While I was serving as the Chair of the TAC Road Safety Standing Committee (RSSC, today, the Road Safety Committee), the RSSC adopted a five-year strategic plan (2014-2018). One of the key outcomes of the strategic planning process was identifying the need for an RSP designation within Canada to formalize the road safety skill set, employing academic training and experience as is done for many other professional designations. The RSP designation would indicate a standardized and recognized professional preparedness to practice as a road safety professional, recognizing the multidisciplinary facets of road safety work and the professionalism within this work.
Around the same time, TPCB began exploring the need for an additional certification to add to the existing Professional Transportation Operations Engineer (PTOE) and Professional Transportation Planner (PTP) certifications. In 2016, the RSSC’s RSP Subcommittee joined forces with the TPCB toward the development of a Canadian-American RSP certification. The goal of the RSP certification is to allow transportation professionals to demonstrate their competency to provide for the safety of the travelling public and validates road safety as a science-based profession. The establishment of the RSP in the United States and Canada included broad-based involvement of transportation and safety organizations and associations. I served as both a member of the RSP Steering Committee that laid
the groundwork and as a subject-matter expert to develop the certification, and, since 2019, I have been the first Organizational RSP Director on the TPCB Board of Directors. I am also so very proud to be the first ever certified Road Safety Professional (RSP Level 1 and RSP Level 2).
I’m thrilled to see the increasing trend of certified RSP professionals. Since its launch in October 2018, there are today close to 1,000 certified RSP Level 1 and almost 200 certified RSP level 2 in North America. For more information about the RSP certification, take a look at this ITE Journal article from January 2021 as well as the TPCB website (tpcb.org).
What are some major strides forward that you’ve seen in the transportation field?
For a professional like me who has had the opportunity to work in different countries and continents, the strides forward are not seen or found in similar ways around our planet.
In Canada and USA, I believe that one of the major strides since I graduated in Civil Engineering, has been the incorporation of human factors and road safety explicitly in the planning, design, and operations of transportation systems and road networks. Engineering professionals are more aware of the need to incorporate road user’s needs and limitations in their planning and designs and consider the safety consequence of decisions based on evidence-based knowledge and experience. They recognize the intrinsic relationships among road design, traffic
engineering, human behaviour, vehicle type, emergency services, and road user of different ages and abilities.
What are some opportunities or challenges to come for the transportation industry in the future?
This is a broad question as we have a very large industry, and the opportunities and challenges will be quite significant especially with the trend in development of vehicles. The road network and its users will require great changes to adapt and learn to lead a safer environment.
In the specific field of road safety, the real implementation of Vision Zero and Safe System (with interacting pillars: safe roads, safe speeds, safe users, safe vehicles, safe post-collision response and medical care) will demand a significant change of the traffic safety culture of the engineers, planners, civil engineering and transportation university professors, councillors, and all political decision makers. The opportunity for our industry is to continue to advance the science of road safety and create additional tools to quantify the expected safety effects of new/ innovative measures and support the evidence based decision-making process. It is fundamental that investments will indeed be placed in Safe System measures that will translate into the Vision Zero goal. The desire to promote walking, biking, and other modes of transportation cannot be realized safely unless the infrastructure is in place to provide their safe mobility. Nowadays, we are in the process of developing the safety requirements and the challenge is how to expedite this implementation of measures towards the prevention of fatalities and serious injuries of vulnerable road users—an all too frequent occurrence.
Employment: Senior Transportation Planning Engineer at WSP Canada
Education: University of Costa Rica, Licentiate Degree in Civil Engineering (2013); University of British Columbia, Master of Applied Science in Civil Engineering (2017)
First job in transportation: Transportation Researcher at LanammeUCR (2013)
Hobbies: Playing, watching, and talking about soccer; playing guitar; cooking
Family: Married to Kris and dog-dad to Latte
City of Residence: Vancouver, BC
Place of Birth: Buenos Aires, Argentina
What was your first ITE event?
The UBC ITE Student Chapter Industry Night in 2016, shortly after moving to Canada. It was my first time meeting the local transportation industry. I’ve been attending every year since, first as a student and now as a professional.
What is your ITE involvement (past and present)?
I’ve been involved with the District and International levels of ITE since 2020 in a few technical roles, collaborating on the ITE Trip Generation Manual update and the creation of professional development programs on road safety (through TAC) and transportation impact assessments. I have also contributed to many events such as presenting at the UBC ITE Student Chapter Industry Night and the 2022 ITE Canada Student Leadership Summit, where I talked about
the challenges young professionals face when entering the workforce. Since 2023, I’ve been volunteering with ITE International as a LeadershipITE alumni mentor (having graduated from the program in 2022) and as a member of the Young Member Committee.
Through my volunteer work at various levels of ITE, I’ve been awarded the ITE Canada Rising Star and the Greater Vancouver ITE Young Professional of the Year, and listed as an ITE International Young Leader to Follow.
What do you value most about your ITE membership?
Networking, for sure. I love the sense of community you get from participating at the different levels of ITE. I am grateful for the people I have met along the way and the many opportunities that have unfolded as a result of my engagement with ITE.
What attracted you to the transportation profession? Did you have another career in mind?
I chose civil engineering over architecture thinking it would be similar but with more math. I was so wrong! I found my calling in transportation engineering and a specialization in road safety, motivated by the realization that preventing road casualties could mean that someone’s family member or friend could travel safely home.
What is your favourite mode of transportation?
I like driving. I know it may not be the most popular choice these days, but there is something relaxing about long drives, scenic routes, and seeing new places. By far, my favourite road to drive on is the Sea-to-Sky Highway, between Vancouver and Squamish, in BC.
How would you describe your job to someone you just met at a party?
“Did you notice that the traffic signal’s left-turn phase has two seconds more of green time? No? Well, that was me. You’re welcome!” Kidding aside, most of my work consists of making sure new developments don’t impose a substantial detriment to traffic conditions. My goal is to make sure people travel from A to B in the shortest time and distance and as safely as possible.
Tell us about a project you’re proud to have worked on
There are many projects I’m proud of. In particular, the Lansdowne Transportation Master Plan. When built, this new development will help redefine transportation in Richmond, BC and bring new housing and commercial opportunities within a transit-oriented community. This was the first large and complex project I got to work on after moving to Canada.
I’m also currently working with the ITE International Young Member Committee on an initiative called Meet a Young Member, where we get to spotlight young transportation professionals in ITE’s eCommunity. It’s fun being involved with the more social side of the industry and helping recognize those already making a difference in the transportation profession.
What is one aspect of work that you enjoy?
I enjoy doing Transportation Impact Assessments for land development. TIA projects can be diverse, dynamic, and challenging. This type of work requires problem-solving and considering both short- and long-term strategies to improve the transportation network. I enjoy driving around Metro Vancouver and seeing the many land development projects I’ve worked on so far: I like to believe I helped make transportation in these communities a bit better.
Have you pursued any professional designations through ITE (such as RSP, PTOE)?
I got my PTOE designation back in 2019 to remain current with the traffic engineering practices. It’s also a great way to reconnect with the basics. My friends tell me I have a thing for filling out application forms, so I guess it’s only a matter of time until I apply for more designations. The RSP1 might be on the horizon, who knows?
Who has had the greatest influence on your career?
Many have had a great influence on my career, from my wife to family to mentors to colleagues.
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However, if I had to pick one, it would be my friend and colleague Matt Taylor. As a fellow transportation engineer, Matt and I spent most of the last decade working together and he helped me navigate the local industry after I moved to Canada. In our own competitive yet collaborative ways, we push each other to always give our best and keep growing both professionally and personally. I’m confident my career wouldn’t have followed the same path without Matt’s influence and, for that, I’m truly grateful.
What will you hope to have accomplished at the end of your career?
I always wanted to get involved with international projects and help develop transportation planning and infrastructure in different regions across the world. Because of my background, I hope to get the opportunity to work on a few Latin American projects throughout my career; that would mean a lot to me.
As you reflect on your career, do you have any lessons learned or challenges that you would like to share with emerging transportation professionals?
Learn to manage expectations. Not just from others, but from yourself as well. It’s typical for young professionals entering the workforce to try to grow as quickly as possible, to be seen as key players despite their limited experience, and take on way more work than they can manage. I used to be like that. We should teach young professionals that it’s okay to say “no” to more work if they are feeling burnout, that it’s okay to make mistakes, and that it’s okay to ask questions. Nobody goes from student to expert overnight: it takes years, if not decades. It’s important to be patient and enjoy the ride.
This course will be delivered as two half-day virtual sessions
This workshop is offered by the ITE Canada Training Committee and will be facilitated by Alexandre Nolet, M.Eng., RSP 1 , P.Eng. & Stefan Tsang P.Eng., RSP 1 of True North Safety Group and Cara Wilkie (LLB, LLM) & Haley Gienow-McConnell, Ph.D. of Left Turn Right Turn.
Ǭ May 29 + 30, 2024
Ǭ 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Eastern Time) / 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. (Pacific Time)
Ǭ ITE Member (Individual or Public Agency): $250
Ǭ Non-Member: $290
Ǭ Student: $220
This workshop will provide transportation practitioners with a comprehensive understanding of accessibility in transportation and relevant standards, guidelines, and best practices as they currently exist. Insights will be provided on how to integrate them into transportation system planning, design, and operation.
Led by transportation and accessibility experts from True North Safety Group and Left Turn Right Turn, this training will offer insights relevant to wide range of transportation professionals in their day-to-day practice to promote inclusive, user-friendly transportation systems including road designers, transit operators, traffic engineers, transportation planners, and others.
Ǭ Comprehensive understanding of universal design principles and their significance in equitable transportation networks.
Ǭ Understand the diverse requirements and unique challenges faced by individuals with disabilities, older adults, and other transportation stakeholders.
Ǭ Become familiar with accessibility standards and guidelines and best practices in accessibility for specific facility types.
Ǭ Apply concepts learned to enhance practical understanding and application of accessibility principles.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TRAINING PROGRAM?
Contact the Training Committee at training@itecanada.org
QUESTIONS ABOUT REGISTRATION?
Contact ITE Canada at info@itecanada.org
ITE Canada has a strong partnership with the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC). One of the cornerstones of this relationship is participation on a number of TAC technical councils and committees through Appointees. In this edition of TAC Tidbits, our Appointees share updates from the TAC 2024 Spring Technical Meetings.
The 11th Edition of the US MUTCD has been published and provides new guidance on vulnerable road users, accessibility, speed limit setting, new technologies including readiness for connected and autonomous vehicles. While the US MUTCD is not applicable in Canada. It provides alternative guidance to Canadian practitioners and is an indication of new applications that may be considered in the future. The flashing yellow arrow was introduced in the 2009 Edition of the US MUTCD, and its feasibility is being explored a 2024 TAC Project. Members can look to the April 2024 ITE Journal for many of the MUTCD updates.
TAC projects nearing completion:
• Warrant for Traffic Signals at Intersections in Close Proximity of Railroad Grade Crossings
TAC projects on the horizon or being proposed include:
• Update to Canadian Guide for Setting Speed Limits
• Unsignalized crossings for pedestrians and cyclists
• Micromobility and road safety
• Pedestrian safety at signalized intersections
• Active transportation geometric design guide
Russell Brownlee M.A.Sc., FITE, RSP1, P. Eng.
President and Transportation Safety Engineer | True North Safety
James Donnelly P.Eng., PTOE, Principal / Senior Transportation Engineer | Urban Systems
Kari Fellows P.Eng., PTOE, RSP1
Senior Transportation Engineer | WSP
The Workforce Development Council (WFD) analyzed a recent survey on professional development, training, quality tracking, and mentorship within 55 TAC member organizations. Results will guide deeper investigations, best practice sharing, and solutions addressing professional growth challenges. The Council is also planning a survey on employee recruitment and retention trends.
For the TAC 2024 Conference in the Fall, the WFD is preparing a series of engaging events. Two panel discussions will address challenges faced by practitioners at different career stages and explore effective recruitment and retention strategies. A thought-provoking debate between professors and practitioners will offer diverse perspectives on transportation education. Additionally, a technology-focused workshop will explore assistive technologies to bridge knowledge gaps and enhance professional development.
Stay tuned for more information from TAC.
Carlos Perez P.Eng. M.Sc., PMP
Transportation Development Engineer | City of Calgary
We had another great spring Mobility Council meeting! The committees that report to the Council (Active Transportation Integrated Committee, Mobility Management, Transportation Finance, and Transportation Planning) are all very busy and doing great work. In our five hour meeting, we were also treated to a presentation by Ignacio Tiznada-Aitken, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Toronto Scarborough, on “The Mobilizing Justice Research Partnership: Overview and Research Case Studies” (mobilizingjustice.ca).
Of note for membership is the continuing theme of municipalities across the country prioritizing active transportation implementation. Some emerging topics are around accessibility and the suggestion that TAC prioritizes and considers creating guidance that could be applicable across the country to achieve better consistency in designs. Also, the Transportation Planning Committee is interested in developing material that helps practitioners plan and analyze multimodal networks.
Ryan Martinson M.Eng., P.Eng., RSP1Principal + Sustainable Transportation Specialist | Martinson Golly Ltd.
The Active Transportation Integrated Committee (ATIC) reviewed a number of key updates in the Spring 2024 meeting.
• The committee reviewed the sessions to be run by ATIC during the upcoming Fall 2024 TAC conference. Sessions will address a broad range of active transportation planning & design considerations relevant to practitioners
• Status updates for Committee projects were provided at various levels of completion, including the recently finalized Active Transportation Project Snapshot
• A series of presentations centering the needs of users with disabilities, including a presentation covering the recent Translink/MoTI publication of “Design Guidelines for Bus Stops Adjacent to Cycling Infrastructure”.
Project Engineer | McElhanney
On April 15, 2024, the Mobility Management Committee held a virtual meeting. To start, the Chair of the Transportation Planning Committee provided an overview of their project topics and working groups. The committee also learned about the latest challenges and opportunities in micromobility through a presentation and Q&A with the City of Toronto, which is currently developing its micromobility strategy.
The committee also discussed the progress on the Shared Micromobility Services in Canadian Communities: Synthesis of Practice, which is set to be a key session for the Fall Conference. Although only one funding partner has been identified, the committee plans to determine if there is enough support for the subsequent proposed Synthesis of Practice on Curbside Charging for Electric Vehicles.
Principal | Mobility Foresight
The Geometric Design Committee (GDC) project report “Access Management: Synthesis of Practice” is available for free download. Another online training session on “Roundabout Planning and Design” is planned for the fall. A waitlist is available for the next round of registration. The online course on chapters 1-4 of the TAC Geometric Design Guide (GDGCR) is now anticipated for early 2025 and will be about 6 hours long.
Additionally, the GDC is reviewing proposed updates to GDGCR chapters 3, 5 and 10. The most discussed topic was the recommendation of up to 3% cross slopes. A pooled-funded project was also proposed for a new Canadian Roundabout Design Guide. This publication will aim to include guidance on accommodating pedestrians, cyclists, and pedestrians with vision loss and information on turbo roundabouts.
Thaise Mota P.Eng.Transportation Engineer | Alta Planning + Design Canada, Inc.
Under Road Safety Committee, Road Safety Workforce Subcommittee is resuming activities, since paused in Spring 2023, to continue creating training opportunities for road safety professionals and supporting the education and training of future road safety workforce. Project Idea Subcommittee is working to deliver a primer on Micromobility and Road Safety within the next 12 months and also to update 2nd edition of the TAC Canadian Guidelines for Establishing Posted Speed Limits. In 2022 and 2023, Vision Zero Safe System Subcommittee delivered 3 resources, that were the culmination of several years of work towards the subcommittee’s mandate and can be found in the TAC library. Another exciting initiative of this subcommittee is formation of a Book club that is open to everybody, including non-TAC members. Truth and Reconciliation Working Group with important objectives is working on developing their Lunch & Learn series and will participate in the upcoming Book Club session on May 3, 2024. Furthermore, the working group will be on TAC Symposium on Equity on May 30 and take part at TAC Conference Panel – Indigenous Road Safety.
Farhad Shahla M.Eng., P.Eng., PTOE, PMP Manager, LRT Technical Services and Approvals Coordination | City of Hamilton
The Technology Council welcomed 35 attendees to its Spring 2024 meeting. In the meeting, TAC’s Executive Director highlighted the successful response to the online training program “Road Safety for Canadian Practitioners,” developed in partnership with ITE Canada, attracting approximately 60 new registrants. TAC is actively working to create French version of the course.
Currently, the council is actively engaged in two significant projects. The first involves a volunteer project on the development of a “Data Harmonization Framework for Road Authorities,” aimed at addressing challenges and opportunities in standardizing key datasets across road authorities. The second one is a pool funded project and focusing on “Micro-Utility Devices in Public Rights-of-Way” under the CAV Integrated Committee. Expected deliverables include a comprehensive report and a subsequent webinar hosted by TAC.
Additionally, Technology Council emphasized on increasing submissions for the Technology Achievement Award category, particularly seeking projects involving emerging technologies. The turnout in this category is low thus far.
Senior Transportation Engineer | Calgary Transit, City of Calgary
The Connected and Automated Vehicles Integrated Committee Spring meeting was held on April 8, 2024. More than 35 industry professionals have attended the meeting. In the meeting, Transport Canada and TAC have discussed and launched a pooled-fund project proposal (titled Invasion of Micro Utility Devices: The Good, the Bad, and Considerations for the Future of Transportation). None of us are sure of the potential of micro-utility devices; how they will impact road safety, traffic operations, security, etc. Since these micro-utility devices will operate along our infrastructure, a strategic framework and regulations for all municipalities are needed. Furthermore, Bern Grush, executive director of the Urban Robotics Foundation, gave a talk on “Walking with Robots”, which showcased several applications of micro-utility devices and let us to think about whether these are CAV related problems and how that may impact our transportation systems. Last but not least, global regulation development for CAV operation is on-going, expected to be completed by 2026.
Project Manager - Transportation Engineering | City of Hamilton
1. CARSP Conference 2024 – June 16-19, 2024. The theme is “Safe Mobility: Achieving Vision Zero in Urban and Rural Environments”. Learn more about it here. Sign up for conference updates here (unsubscribe anytime).
2. Symposium: Navigating the Road to Improving Health and Wellness for Commercial Vehicle Drivers Pre-Conference | Sunday, June 16, 2024. Learn more here
3. Enhancing Neighbourhood Safety for Children: Innovative Strategies Workshop Post-Conference | Wednesday, June 19, 2024. Learn more here.
4. CARSP webinar series Monthly CARSP webinars on Road Safety Topics – free to CARSP members, $50 fee for non-members. Learn more here. Past CARSP webinars are made available to the public in CARSP’s Youtube Channel as well as in the CARSP website.
5. Upcoming Webinars offered:
Ű Topic: E.R.A.S.E. (Eliminate Racing Activity on Streets Everywhere) – Innovative Police and Municipal Strategy for Dealing with Car Meets (i.e. Car Rallies)
Speaker: Todd Snooks, Police Officer, York Regional Police.
Date: April 25th 12pm-1pm EDT.
Ű Topic: Centering Disability in the Design and Implementation of Cycling Infrastructure
Speaker: Dr. Ron Buliung, Distinguished Professor in Disability and Ableism Studies
Date: May 23rd 12pm-1pm EDT.
6. Past Webinars (Last Six):
Ű Topic: Understanding mandatory alcohol screening
Speakers: Joanna Wells; Douglas J. Beirness
Ű Topic: Comparison of the number of pedestrian and cyclist injuries captured in police data compared with health service utilisation data in Toronto, Canada 2016– 2021
Speakers: Linda Rothman; Alison Macpherson
Ű Topic: Hearing from police leaders: perspectives on surveying police personnel about traffic enforcement attitudes and behaviours
Speakers: Brenda Suggett; Navoda Rillagodage
Ű Topic: Building CapaCITY/É for Sustainable Transportation
Speakers: Marie-Soleil Cloutier; Emily McCullogh
Ű Topic: Ottawa Motorcycle Safety Strategy
Speaker: Stefan Tsang
Ű Topic: Which technologies will make my driving safer?
Speaker: Martin Lavallière
The Greater Vancouver Section welcomed the 2024 executive team to lead this year’s events:
• President - Breanna Jackson
• Vice President - Matthew Woo
• Secretary - Maryam Tabeshian
• Treasurer - Trevor Demerse
• Past President - Khelen Upadhyay
The Section hosted several events as part of the Spring 2024 season, including a virtual technical presentation on Highway 5, a bus priority measure tour, and a mixer in conjunction with local planners.
The February seminar had Victor Wang and Jonathan Ho present from Kiewit Engineering Group Canada ULC on the BC Highway Reinstatement Program for Highway 5. With the atmospheric river, flooding, and landslides that impacted numerous highways throughout the province, Kiewit presented on the transportation engineering work that supported rebuilding the affected roadways.
In March, ITE Greater Vancouver hosted an R6 Rapidbus tour lead by Niccolai Wang from TransLink. The tour took participants for a ride along the entire corridor, with stops at key intersections to examine bus priority measures. The tour provided a hands-on experience for members to learn about the planning and implementation process for the new infrastructure, as well as see the operations in person.
For the April event, ITE Greater Vancouver teamed up with the Planning Institute of British Columbia (PIBC) to host a seminar and mixer. For the technical presentation, Tessa Williams presented research findings that reviewed transportation practices for promoting sustainability and equity for planners and engineers.
ITE Southern Alberta started off the year 2024 with a January Luncheon that included a presentation on Bus Priority Measures in Calgary: Benefits and Requirements by Bidoura Khondaker, City of Calgary. Bidoura’s presentation focused on the key requirements, design aspects and benefits derived from the bus priority measures implemented by Calgary Transit in making public transit service more efficient and reliable for the users.
In February, Jamie Hilland from Urban Systems presented on Integrating Health into Transportation Planning where he provided a guided review of the Integrating Health in Planning guide, an overview of the Health Impact Assessment five-step process and other methods to consider health implications in the next transportation plan or project. ITE Southern Alberta also organized an industry-student mixer in February with the Civil Engineering Undergraduate Society with an aim to network and share knowledge and experience in the transportation industry.
Our March Luncheon included a presentation by City of Calgary’s Jen Malzer on What’s Coming –Designing Public Spaces in Calgary. In this presentation, Jen reinforced the need for community space investment and provided an overview of the project continuum that is being developed as an approach to support project advancement from policy, prioritization, design, delivery, and operations.
The April luncheon consisted of a presentation where Willem Klumpenhouwer, an independent transit research and data consultant presented on Just Transit Futures: Equity Analysis of Transit Infrastructure Projects. In this presentation, Willem talked about how we can evaluate existing and future conditions through a quantitative,
equity-focused lens and incorporate these measures into business cases and long-term planning exercises.
Also in April, ITE Southern Alberta organized a social night at Kensington Pub where members were invited to enjoy some beverages and snacks, catch up on winter highlights, and discuss plans for the year ahead.
For our upcoming May event, we have begun planning student presentations where students from University of Calgary will have an opportunity to present their research work/ projects and showcase the great work that they are doing.
In an impressive display of collaboration on February 26th, the ITE Sections of Northern Alberta, Southern Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba kicked off the year with the jointly hosted ITE Canada Prairie Sections joint virtual event. The event was a huge success, captivating the audience and fostering dynamic engagement with presenters through interactive breakout rooms.
Highlighted Topics:
• Emergency Response for Alberta Wildfire Evacuation
• Road Safety Act Discussion
• Technology on the Highway: Are We There Yet?
• Rural Intersection Road Safety
On March 27th, the Saskatchewan Section proudly hosted its 3rd annual Student Presentation Competition, showcasing the scholarly prowess of students from the University of Saskatchewan. Mohammad Majid Abedi from the University of Saskatchewan took the 1st place prize with his compelling presentation on A machine learning tool for collecting and analyzing subjective road safety. Dominic Tran from the University of Saskatchewan secured the 2nd place prize with his insightful presentation on The connection between Active Transportation in Industrial neighborhoods and human health. Ariel Arosemena from the University of Saskatchewan claimed the 3rd place prize for his intriguing presentation on Understanding the perceived barriers and enablers to using public transport for different groups of users.
The Saskatchewan Section would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the esteemed panel of judges who generously volunteered their time and expertise for the Student Presentation Competition: Stella Madsen (Associated Engineering), Destiny Piper (KGS Group), and Charlie Billings (Ministry of Highways).
Looking ahead, ITE-SK are excited to announce our upcoming Spring Session, a comprehensive day-long event brimming with locally-focused presentations. Join us in Regina at the Queensbury Convention Centre on May 15, 2024, as we delve deeper into the latest advancements and challenges in transportation.
Stay connected with us on Facebook: @ITESaskatchewan
In February, the ITE Manitoba Section co-hosted the the first ever Prairie Sections’ Joint Virtual Event— Beyond the Horizon: Future-Proofing Transportation on the Prairies—along with the Northern Alberta, Southern Alberta, and Saskatchewan sections. This was an interactive session and included two breakout sessions. Speakers focused on four key topics relevant to the current state and long-term vision of transportation on the prairies:
• Dr. Stephen Wong, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Alberta, presented on Emergency Response for Alberta Wild Fire Evacuation.
• Marcia Eng, a Senior Transportation Engineer with over 23 years of diverse transportation planning and operations, urban design and construction, and project management experience, led a Road Safety Act discussion.
• Derek Jaworski, a graduate of the University of Regina Faculty of Engineering and professional with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways since 2006, presented on Technology on the Highway: Are We There Yet?
• Dr. Craig Milligan, a recognized international expert in road safety engineering and product manager for safety technologies at Miovision, led a discussion of rural intersection road safety.
In February, the ITE Manitoba Section kicked off its annual Kean Lew Student Presentation Competition, where a panel of judges review student papers and select up to three students to present at the University of Manitoba. Paper topics were wide-ranging, including the methodologies for examining shifts in public discourse on electric vehicles to the assessment of safe speeds for trucks in adverse weather conditions. Congratulations to Tara Saeidi for winning first place with a paper titled Estimation of Bus Origin-Destination Matrix Using Passenger Boarding Counts: An Application of Transit Symmetry, as well as Sai Balla and Homa Motavallian Naeini for placing second and third, respectively.
In March, the ITE Manitoba Section co-hosted a technical presentation and luncheon at the University of Manitoba with their ITE Student Chapter. Philip Mikulec, CEO of Peg City Car Coop, presented on the car sharing platforms impact on mobility within Winnipeg’s transportation system as well as various opportunities and challenges. The luncheon was specifically held at the University of Manitoba to encourage participation by students and allow for greater networking.
The ITE Toronto Section continues to coordinate opportunities for professionals and students in our sectional area to engage with colleagues and advance their skills. Over the last few months, we have hosted several events, including two we will highlight below. In addition, continue to engage with our local Student Chapters to assist them in delivering their events.
On February 21, 2024, we held a free in-person event to showcase the winner of the 2023 ITE Toronto Project of the Year Award: the University of Toronto’s “Electric-Cargo Pilot Study in Toronto.” Speaker Usman Ahmed (University of Toronto) discussed the successful electric-cargo (e-cargo) tricycle demonstration project that was conducted in partnership with Purolator Inc. In August 2022, Purolator replaced delivery trucks on the University of Toronto St. George campus, and in neighbouring communities, with e-cargo tricycles to demonstrate the potential for this innovative solution.
On April 12, 2024, we hosted a Vehicle-for-Hire Data Management webinar. Speaker Matthew Lee (City of Toronto) presented on how the introduction of Private Transportation Companies (PTCs) in Toronto has influenced travel patterns, congestion, equity, transit, and curb usage. The presentation detailed the methods employed in the analysis of taxi and ride-hail data to identify key impacts on the operation of the city’s street networks. Participants had an opportunity after the presentation to ask questions and discuss the studies’ applicability for other jurisdictions.
On April 24, we hosted a sold-out Downtown Bike Tour led by Sonya De Vellis, Bicycle Safety Education Coordinator at the City of Toronto. The tour included stops to view and discuss a variety
of cycling infrastructure constructed in Toronto, such as cycle tracks, bicycle lanes, bike boxes, contra-flow lanes, sharrows, accessible platforms, neighbourhood greenways and a future protected intersection.
To keep up-to-date with upcoming ITE Toronto events, please follow ITE Toronto on social media or visit our website at toronto.itecanada.org
More information will be released soon on ITE Toronto’s celebration of its 50th Anniversary in 2024. We look forward to celebrating with our community of transportation professionals over the next year and hope to see many new faces at our events. Additionally, we look forward to seeing many of you soon at the ITE Canada Conference in Hamilton.
The Atlantic Chapter has their Spring Technical Session fast approaching in May 2024 where we will have presentations and lunch provided for the attendees. The night before we will have our networking event for the Technical Session attendees to converse and have a fun night out.
On February 27, 2024, we hosted two virtual presentations over lunch from University New Brunswick and from Dalhousie University. The presentation topics included Elements Related to Pedestrian Safety at Roundabouts from Alex Gallant (UNB) and Climate Action Evaluation: Lessons from Multiple Canadian Cities from Ahsan Habib, PhD (DAL).
Members from the Atlantic Chapter will be traveling to the Annual Conference held in Hamilton and will be welcoming ITE Canada members to attend Halifax 2025 Conference
The UBC ITE Student Chapter has had a very busy and eventful spring semester, and we’re excited to share some highlights.
Our spring term featured multiple events, including our annual Industry Night, seven lunch and learn presentations, a tour of the new R6 RapidBus here in Vancouver, and even our first Student Training Workshop!
On February 13th, the UBC ITE SC held its Annual Industry Night, which was a resounding success. In attendance were over 80 students from civil engineering, regional planning, and first-year engineering, along with approximately 70 industry members from multiple organizations and companies around the Metro Vancouver area. The event included sponsor presentations as well as open networking periods guided by discussion prompts to help break the ice between students and industry. To further support student networking, our chapter released a Networking Tips Poster on our social media channels, to help students prepare for the evening.
This year, our chapter provided each top-tier sponsor with a lunch and learn presentation spot to come and present a technical topic to students. Below is a list of the lunch and learns hosted by our chapter this term - be sure to check out our LinkedIn page for recaps of each event!
Jan 31, 2024 Mott MacDonald The Lifecycle of Transportation Projects
Feb 28, 2024 Urban Systems Case Study: Livable Deep Cove + Rapid Implementation of Active Facilities
Mar 13, 2024 ISL Engineering From City-Wide Analysis To Conceptual Design: Exploring ISL's Transportation Planning Projects in the City of Burnaby
Mar 15, 2024 Parsons The Integrated Approach to Transportation Planning
Mar 20, 2024 WSP Canada From University to Industry: Navigating Our Paths in Transportation
Mar 27, 2024 McElhanney Shaping Communities with Innovative Engineering: Exploring Case Studies in Western Canada
Apr 10, 2024 Binnie A Workshop in Traffic Engineering
On March 6th, we hosted our first-ever Student Training Workshop. A PTV Group certified VISSIM trainer guided students through a comprehensive 3-hour online workshop. To improve accessibility, the event was made available to students from other universities. The event attracted 85 RSVPs from around the world including the United States, Europe, India, and Egypt, which materialized into over 40 attendees.
Finally, on March 21st, in collaboration with the ITE Greater Vancouver Section and TransLink, our chapter helped host a tour of the new R6 RapidBus. The tour included a full ride of the newest addition to the RapidBus fleet, including discussions at key locations along the route with TransLink planners, which focused on the transit priority measures and corridor design decisions that were implemented. The event concluded with a social at a nearby restaurant.
Over this summer, we are excited to be sending seven of our students to the Annual Conference in Hamilton. It will be a great opportunity to network and catch-up with other student chapters and ITE members, but also an opportunity to defend our 2023 Canadian Collegiate Traffic Bowl title.
Our executive team will hold a couple meetings over the summer months so that we can hit the ground running with new ideas and events for the 2024-25 school year!
This past winter, the ITE UofM Student Chapter continued to host numerous guest lectures, allowing representatives from organizations such as Tetra Tech and the City of Winnipeg to present to student chapter members about their respective lines of work. The UofM Student Chapter thanks these professionals for their time and knowledge!
The student chapter hosted yet another networking event during reading week at the local LOCAL Public Eatery! Students and professionals alike got together to discuss their work, both at school and in the office, and to get further acquainted with each other. Additionally, the student chapter helped ITE Manitoba find a venue for the Kean Law Memorial Student Paper competitions, and their quarterly luncheon held in March, both right here on campus!
Lastly, ITE UofM went to Vancouver for their technical trip! During reading week, 5 members flew out to explore the city’s transportation system, bring back various transportation ideas that could be implemented in Winnipeg, and experience getting around in a city much larger than our own. A great time was had by all, with lots learned about Vancouver, as well as the technical trip process. The student chapter thanks all those who attended!
This next school year, the student chapter hopes to keep hosting speakers, holding events, continuing to collaborate with ITE Manitoba, and to establish itself as a premier special interest technical society at the University of Manitoba.
‘I,’ ‘T,’ and ‘E!’
In March, the student chapter hosted an event where Mr. Richard Easley, a former Chair of the Institute of Transportation Engineers Goods Movement Council, engaged our members in a presentation via Zoom speaking about “Hidden Electric Vehicle Technology Implications”.
The chapter looks forward to attending the 2024 ITE Canada Conference scheduled for Hamilton.
On February 21, the TMU-ITE Chapter had the pleasure of hosting the ITE Toronto Section’s student presentations competition. This event brought together students from various local universities, providing them with a platform to showcase their insights and solutions to pressing transportation issues. TMU’s role as the host signifies the university’s commitment to developing academic excellence and supporting the next generation of transportation professionals
In January and February, volunteers from the Waterloo student chapter participated in two K-12 STEM outreach events. The first was with the Engineering Science Quest camp for students in grades 3-5 where students learned how pedestrian signals should be timed. Students were also involved with an activity pretending to cross an imaginary crosswalk acting out different types of people who might use a crosswalk. This activity was repeated in February with the Women in Engineering after school clubs.
The UW ITE student chapter partnered with the Ontario Building Envelope Council student chapter, the UW Steel Bridge Team, and the UW Concrete Toboggan Team to hold a joint networking event on February 27. This event hosted in the E7 ideas clinic was well attended by students as well as 12 industry partners, including our sponsors Paradigm Transportation Management Group and BA Consultants.
On January 25, Jacob Terry from Dillon consulting came to speak to students about transit for small and medium sized municipalities. Jacob works to develop transit master plans, design service routes, and propose alternatives for transit service delivery for municipalities and agencies of various sizes.
On February 8, the UW ITE Chapter were fortunate to host Jamie Black, an intermediate Project Engineer at GHD. Their talk, titled “The Road Less Travelled: My journey to becoming a Transportation Engineer and a peek into the world of Detailed Design” was about their experiences with rehabilitation, replacement, for
highways, bridges, and culverts. Jamie is also very passionate about inclusion and diversity and its incorporation into the Transportation Industry. Following this, UW ITE joined the McMaster ITE student chapter for a Heritage Railway Tour
Paula Sawicki, the manager of Transportation Planning at the Region of Waterloo, gave a seminar on March 8. A graduate of the University of Waterloo, Paula discussed the process of planning the ION project, the contributions of planners and engineers, as well a future vision for the community around transportation.
This semiar was appropriately followed with a tour at the ION operations facility. Students were able to see light rail cars undergoing maintenance and explore the garage and operations center for the ION light rail system. Facility personnel described the process that trains undergo to be certified for operation to keep the trains running smoothly and safely.
On March 15, Yishu Pu P.Eng., MaSc, a manager of Modelling and operations at WSP Canada, gave a seminar about railway modelling and simulation. Yishu’s presentation covered what railway modelling entailed, as well as a variety of large-scale rail transit infrastructure projects he has worked on.
On February 2, Enrique Torres, a member of the UW ITE leadership team, led a GIS workshop intended to analyse relationships between transportation and planning. This workshop went over service area analysis based on Major Transit Station Areas, which featured the intersection between transportation planning and planning policy. Workshops such as the one hosted by Enrique provide students with hands-on GIS
applications. This workshop allowed students to gain insights into the reciprocal influence of transportation networks and housing policies.
Chapter president Chris Skelton gave a presentation on how transportation engineers use different types of data during Love data week at the University of Waterloo. Love Data week is an international celebration of data held annually by the University of Waterloo library services.
The UW ITE chapter was fortunate to be able to participate in the University of Waterloo March Open house. This event is for high school students to learn more about the University of Waterloo and participate on campus tours of different faculties. As the current ITE chapter is composed mostly of engineering and planning students, the student chapter set up booths in both the environment building and engineering building to advertise ITE to prospective high school students.
The University of Toronto chapter has been busy throughout the whole of this spring term. Here are some of the highlights.
We hold weekly chapter-wide meetings that also serve as a seminar series with the goal of promoting research in transportation among graduate and undergraduate students at the University of Toronto. These can be seen in the table below.
The speaker at many of these events was Khadija Butt, Education Specialist with the Mobility Network at the University of Toronto. The Mobility Network is an interdisciplinary initiative that seeks to unite researchers and practitioners from across the transport domain. It is collaborating with our chapter in a number of endeavours, such as training seminars and a 5-minute thesis competition to be organized in the coming months.
Finally, the student chapter maintains a website, LinkedIn page, Twitter page, Instagram page and YouTube channel, where the recordings of the weekly seminars are posted.
January 15th Khadija Butt, University of Toronto
February 2nd Michael Hain; Luna Xi; Megan Drupals, all City of Toronto
Launch of the Mobility Network's 5MT Competition
Discussion of the new City of Toronto Zoning By-law
February 9th Hugo Cordeau, University of Toronto ‘If you build it, who will come?’ Evidence from Montreal’s bike-lane expansion.
February 16th Xiaoyu Wang, University of Toronto. Unlocking Urban Efficiency Insights and Innovations with eMARLINs in Traffic Signal Coordination
March 1st Nicholas Roberts, CPCS Climate change impacts and adaptation approaches for improving the resiliency of Canadian public transit systems
March 15th Kimia Kamal, Toronto Metropolitan University Deep Causal Inference Modelling for Travel Behaviour Analysis
April 5th
Melvyn Ming Xi Li, University of Toronto Developing a Smartphone-Based Travel Diary Tool
The University of New Brunswick Student Chapter had a great spring term this year. On February 6, 2024, we offered a lunch and learn with Dr. Andrew Northmore. Andrew Northmore is a former Student Chapter president and is now a Senior Transportation Engineer with Englobe. He talked about traffic management around active construction zones specific to his work on the Harbour Bridge construction project in Saint John, New Brunswick. Dr. Northmore spoke on the logistics of detour options when reducing the capacity of a major corridor. This lunch and learn offered students within the chapter both an idea of how traffic management is approached on a major construction project and some delicious pizza.
On February 27, 2024, our president Alex Gallant presented his thesis research at the ITE Atlantic’s Mid-Winter Session. This was a great opportunity to showcase the research that is happening at UNB. His thesis titled “Understanding the Relationships between Design Parameters, Operational Speeds and Pedestrian Safety at Roundabouts”, provided great insight to practitioners at the session. Both the chapter president and vice president defended their theses this spring. Our vice president William Morrison defended his thesis titled “An Investigation of Designated Pedestrian Grade Crossings and Flangeway Fillers”. Both Alex and William are now working at Englobe.
The 2024-2025 incoming executives have already started brainstorming for next year’s events for the student chapter, to make next year our best year yet. This summer, five UNB students will be attending the ITE Canada Annual Conference in Hamilton. UNB will be competing in the Traffic Bowl, looking for our first victory. Our current president, Alex Gallant will be presenting his thesis at the ITE Annual Conference as well.
Maddie Whitehouse our incoming vice president will be attending the University of New Brunswick Transportation Group field school in Stuttgart, Germany. This field school is a partnership with The Hochschule für Technik Stuttgart - University of Applied Sciences and The University of New Brunswick.
You can keep up to date with what is happening with our ITE Student Chapter by following us on Instagram @unb_ite.
Layth Abou Ezzeddine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
Dagmaw Abraha, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Calgary, AB
Kari Anderson, Watt Consulting Group, Calgary, AB
Rafael Andrenacci, GHD, East York, ON
Sarah Ang, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB
Kryztal Arcilla, City Of Toronto, Toronto, ON
Marina Aziz, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
Stephen Bak, Mohawk College, Kitchener, ON
Chris Baker, City of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB
Khaled Belhedi, St Catharines, ON
Vanessa Bellardinelli, City of Calgary, Alberta, Calgary, AB
James Benauro, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Calgary, AB
Jenishkumar Bhimani, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON
Simita Biswas, MPE a Division of Englobe, Calgary, AB
Damir Bjelica, WSP Canada Inc., Dartmouth, NS
Alireza Boory, University of North British Columbia, Prince George, BC
Rory Buckman, City of Vancouver, BC, Canada, Vancouver, BC
Lisette Burga Ghersi, City of Calgary, Alberta, Calgary, AB
Dale Calkins, City of Calgary, Alberta, Calgary, AB
Dino Castronovo, City of Brantford, Brantford, ON
Joshua Cayanan, City of Vancouver, BC, Canada, Vancouver, BC
William Chicquen, Carleton University, Orléans, ON
Afif Chowdhury, York University, Whitby, ON
John Coroza, City Of Toronto, Toronto, ON
Tristan Davies, , Acton, ON
Sonya De Vellis, City Of Toronto, Toronto, ON
Williams Diogu, , Scarborough, ON
Anahita Diyanoush, University of Waterloo, Kitchener, ON
Olivia Duong, ISL Engineering, Edmonton, AB
Ahmed ELNawawy, Western University , London, ON
Melissa Erkmen, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB
David Ferguson, City of Brantford, Brantford, ON
Ahmed Foda, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON
Amar Gacanin, City of Brantford, Brantford, ON
Peter Gang Liu, City Of Toronto, Toronto, ON
Laura Garet, City of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB
Chris Gimmer, City of Brantford, Brantford, ON
Gabriel Goral, City of Calgary, Alberta, Calgary, AB
Brian Gould, City of Vancouver, BC, Canada, Vancouver, BC
Yuhang Gu, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON
Lisa Guseva, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
Inderjit Hans, City of Brantford, Brantford, ON
Cindy Heselton, City of Calgary, Alberta, Calgary, AB
Markus Holzmair, Technical University of Munich, West Vancouver, BC
Md Shahadat Hossain, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC
Baharak Hosseini, , Cambridge, ON
Lily Huang, City of Brantford, Brantford, ON
Dominic Hudlin, Nova Scotia Dept. Of Transp. & Infrastructure Renewal, Lake Echo, NS
Saba Ikhlaq, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON
Amreen Imrit, University of Toronto, Richmond Hill, ON
Mark Jacklyn, City of Brantford, Brantford, ON
Hamza Janjua, McMaster University, Mississauga, ON
Aaron Janke, Ministry of Transportation of Ontario, North York, ON
Devadarshan Jayadas, University of Waterloo, Scarborough, ON
Samuel Jim-George, City of Calgary, Alberta, Calgary, AB
Sijia Jin, Vancouver, BC
Parinaz Joneidi Shariat Zade, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB
Varsha Joseph, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC
Simha Kalimipalli, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON
Tsugumi Kanno, City Of Toronto, Toronto, ON
Hossam Kasem, Burlington, ON
Chase Kehrig, Saskatoon, SK
Zakary Kellar, Mohawk College, Keswick, ON
Harbhagat Khangura, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB
Janak Kharel, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB
Mwendwa Kiko, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
Brian Kim, Paradigm Transportation Solutions Ltd., Maple, ON
Andrew Ko, ISL Engineering, Calgary, AB
Paul Krueger, City of Vancouver, BC, Canada, Vancouver, BC
Colin Kruger, University of Waterloo, Burlington, ON
Paul Krysztofiak, City of Brantford, Brantford, ON
Fred Laguerta, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Calgary, AB
Boris Lam, City of Calgary, Alberta, Calgary, AB
Matthew Lech, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON
Yuen Wei Leung, University of Waterloo, Burnaby, BC
Tom Li, City of Calgary, Alberta, Calgary, AB
Andy Liu, City of Vancouver, BC, Canada, Vancouver, BC
Yunfei Ma, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON
Robert Macleod, McGill University, Montréal, QC
Paul Malizia, City Of Toronto, Toronto, ON
Nabeel Mansuri, Univeristy of Toronto, Brampton, ON
Luciano Marchesan, York University, North York, ON
Samira Marzia, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON
Samuel Matrosov, University of Waterloo, Richmond Hill, ON
Kyle McKee, City of Calgary, Alberta, Calgary, AB
Stephan Menard, Al-Terra, Edmonton, AB
William Minchin, Watt Consulting, Calgary, AB
Sumana Mitra, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON
Jedwin Mok, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
Doug Mossey, City of Chilliwack, Chilliwack, BC
Dominic Mothe, McMaster University, Ancaster, ON
Erica Mthembu, Associated Engineering, Regina, SK
Keenan Murphy, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB
Alexander Napier, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
Rami Nehme El Hayek, City of Calgary, Alberta, Calgary, AB
Matheus Neves, Hamilton, ON
Adrian Newby-Clark, Mohawk College, Guelph, ON
Kelly Ngo, Paradigm Transportation Solutions Ltd., Mississauga, ON
Helya Oghabi, WSP, Hamilton, ON
John Oke, University of Waterloo, Whitby, ON
Daniel Pantazi, City of Calgary, Alberta, Calgary, AB
Evan Partington, City Of Coquitlam, Coquitlam, BC
Simran Patel, City Of Toronto, Toronto, ON
Urja Patel, University of Waterloo, London, ON
Keenan Patmore, City of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB
Wewalage Perera, Associated Engineering, Saskatoon, SK
Roger Petursson, City of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB
Colleen Qiu, City of Vancouver, BC, Canada, Vancouver, BC
Payvand Razaghizad, City Of Coquitlam, Coquitlam, BC
Atefeh Razzaghi, Saskatchewan Ministry Of Highways And Infrastructure, Saskatoon, SK
Zachary Redick, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB
Alexander Reis, British Columbia Institute of Technology, Burnaby, BC
Seth Richardson, City of Calgary, Alberta, Calgary, AB
Jacopo Rodigari, Southern Alberta Instiute of Technology, Calgary, AB
Ian Roman, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB
Peter Salmon, University of Victoria, Shawnigan Lake, BC
Igor Samardzic, City Of Toronto, Toronto, ON
Mounira Sayour, , Edmonton, AB
Wyatt Scoble, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Strathmore, AB
Aarya Sharma, University of Waterloo, Brampton, ON
Ali Shehabeldeen, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON
Mantekh Sidhu, British Columbia Institute of Technology, Surrey, BC
Suad Sidow, University of Toronto, Mississauga, ON
Sam Skalsvik, City Of Coquitlam, Coquitlam, BC
Robert Smith, City of Brantford, Brantford, ON
Chi Man So, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Calgary, AB
Nicole Sonnichsen, University of Calgary, Nelson, BC
Nathan Stayer, City of Calgary, Alberta, Calgary, AB
Danica Stradecke, City of Vancouver, BC, Canada, Vancouver, BC
Jobi Tabamo, City of Vancouver, BC, Canada, Vancouver, BC
Jeffel Tanagon, City Of Toronto, Toronto, ON
Trishel Tandiama, University of Waterloo, Belle River, ON
Brian Tang, City of Calgary, Alberta, Calgary, AB
Mantoj Singh Tiwana, University of British Columbia, West Kelowna, BC
Bator Toth, University of Waterloo, Burlington, ON
Sophia Tsan, Brampton, ON
Irina Tsirikhova, City Of Toronto, Toronto, ON
Costa Tzumerkas, University of Waterloo, Newmarket, ON
Vuk Uskokovic, BA Group, Toronto, ON
Zeinab Vosooghi, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON
Veronica Wambura, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
Kaili Wang, University of Toronto, Thornhill, ON
Zach Wang, City Of Toronto, Toronto, ON
Owen Webbe, Ryerson University, North York, ON
Laura Welsh, City of Brantford, Brantford, ON
Jaydon Wielders, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB
Katherine Wilson, City Of Toronto, Toronto, ON
Priscilla Wong, McMaster University, Woodbridge, ON
Michael Woollett, City of Calgary, Alberta, Edmonton, AB
Gary Wu, Mohawk College, Hamilton, ON
Hao Wu, City Of Toronto, Toronto, ON
Mohamed Yassin, City of Calgary, Alberta, Calgary, AB
Grace Zhang, University of Toronto, North York, ON
President .............. Pedram Izadpanah, Ph.D., P.Eng. president@itecanada.org
Vice President .......... Irini Akhnoukh, M.Eng., P.Eng., PTOE vicepresident@itecanada.org
Secretary-Treasurer Destiny Piper, P.Eng. treasurer@itecanada.org
Business Manager James Johnstone jkjohnstone@itecanada.org
Communications Lead Evonne Winchiu Donaher edonaher@itecanada.org
training@itecanada.org
Chair Adam St. Amant, P.Eng., PTOE
Past Chair ....... Ian Roth, P.Eng. Vice Chair ....... Marcia Eng, P.Eng. Committee Karin Huang, EIT
. . Hamed Esmaeeli, P.Eng.
Vancouver Island Bruce Beames, P.Eng. vancouverisland@itecanada.org
Greater Vancouver Breanna Jackson, P.Eng. vancouver@itecanada.org
BC Interior ............. Spencer Behn, P.Eng. bcinterior@itecanada.org
Northern Alberta ........ Alyssa Lefebvre, P.Eng. northernalberta@itecanada.org
Southern Alberta Lou Mak, P.Eng southernalberta@itecanada.org
Saskatchewan Sheliza Kelts, P.Eng. saskatchewan@itecanada.org
Manitoba ............... Steven Wood, M.Sc., P.Eng. manitoba@itecanada.org
Past President Ryan Vanderputten, P.Eng., M.Eng., MBA, FITE pastpresident@itecanada.org
District Director Edward Soldo, P.Eng., FITE director@itecanada.org
tlc@itecanada.org
Chair ........... Farhad Shahla, M.Eng., P.Eng. Vice-Chair Borg Chan, M.Sc., P.Eng., PTOE, RSP, FITE Committee ...... Erin Toop, M.A.Sc., P.Eng.
Syed Atif Ali, M.Eng., P.Eng., PMP
Past Chair Ryan Martinson, M.Eng., P.Eng.
technicalprogram@itecanada.org
Chair ........... Paula Sawicki, P.Eng. Vice Chair Garrett Donaher, P.Eng. Committee Amy Do, P.Eng.
Maryam Hasanpour, EIT Omar Shams, CET
Southwestern Ontario Jeff Jongsma, C.Tech, ESCP southwestontario@itecanada.org
Hamilton Jill Juhlke, C.E.T., FITE hamilton@itecanada.org
Toronto ................ Azadeh Heydari, P.Eng. toronto@itecanada.org
National Capital ......... Nii Noi Akuetteh, P.Eng. nationalcapital@itecanada.org
Québec Paul Bourque, IAITE quebec@itecanada.org
Atlantic Courtney Pyne, P.Eng. atlantic@itecanada.org
President(s)
Carleton University ........................ Adam Weiss ........................... Rulla Al-Haideri carleton@itecanada.org Adam.weiss3@carleton.ca
Dalhousie University Ahsan Habib Niaz Mahmud dalhousie@itecanada.org ahsan.habib@dal.ca
Lakehead University Juan Pernia Omotunde Adeniran lakeheadu@itecanada.org jpernia@lakeheadu.ca
McMaster University .......................
Moataz Mohamed ...................... Dominic Mothe and Olivia Wiper mcmaster@itecanada.org mmohame@mcmaster.ca
Mohawk College........................... Craig Sherwood ....................... Patrick Hehl mohawkcollege@itecanada.org craig.sherwood@mohawkcollege.ca
Montréal-Québec Étudiants
Ciprian Alecsandru Sandra Ristovic quebecstudents@itecanada.org ciprian.alecsandru@concordia.ca
Toronto Metropolitan University Bilal Farooq Vacant tmu@itecanada.org bilal.farooq@torontomu.ca
University of Alberta ...................... Tony Z. Qiu............................ Reza Mousapour ualberta@itecanada.org zhijunqiu@ualberta.ca
University of British Columbia .............. Tarek Sayed ........................... Steve Martin & Justin Policarpio ubc@itecanada.org tsayed@civil.ubc.ca
UBC Okanagan
Mahmudur Fatmi
Imrul Kayes Shafie ubco@itecanada.org mahmudur.fatmi@ubc.ca
University of Calgary
Lina Kattan
Amin Ashena ucalgary@itecanada.org lkattan@ucalgary.ca
University of Manitoba .....................
Babak Mehran .........................
Vishvam Thaker & Mohamed Farag umanitoba@itecanada.org Babak.Mehran@umanitoba.ca
University of New Brunswick ............... Eric Hildebrand & Trevor Hanson ........ Alex Gallant unb@itecanada.org edh@unb.ca / thanson@unb.ca
University of Toronto Marianne Hatzopoulou Yunhong (Doris) Tian utoronto@itecanada.org marianne.hatzopoulou@utoronto.ca
University of Saskatchewan Vacant Vacant usask@itecanada.org usask@itecanada.org
University of Victoria ...................... Laura Minet ........................... Muhammad Qasim uvic@itecanada.org lauraminet@uvic.ca
University of Waterloo ..................... Chris Bachmann ....................... Chris Lehmann Skelton uwaterloo@itecanada.org chris.bachmann@uwaterloo.ca
University of Windsor Hanna Maoh Dhwani Shah uwindsor@itecanada.org Hanna.Maoh@uwindsor.ca
Western University
Mohamed Zaki Hussein
Michael Mariano and Talha Ahmad westernu@itecanada.org m.zaki@uwo.ca
York University ........................... Mehdi Nourinejad...................... Won Mo (Tony) Jeoung yorku@itecanada.org mehdi.nourinejad@lassonde.yorku.ca