CAA National

Smart Infrastructure

Canada’s roads and highways are our chief movers of people, goods, and services. It is critical to our society, and our economy that, roadways are kept safe and in good repair, and that we seek innovative data-driven solutions to infrastructure issues.

Since its inception, CAA has encouraged the development and management of road infrastructure that is safe and efficient. This vision recognizes the need for adequate public investment in modern transportation infrastructure and technology. It never forgets that better-engineered roads are also safer roads, for all who travel on or beside them.

Smart infrastructure takes many forms in the 21^st century. It’s not just about concrete and asphalt. It encompasses complete street design, so pedestrians, cyclists and motorists can all travel safely and efficiently. It includes planning now for autonomous vehicles, and the use of technology to improve traffic flows.

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The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) has released a first of its kind study which evaluates Canada’s worst Bottlenecks.

Highlights include:

Canada’s worst traffic bottlenecks are almost as bad as bottlenecks in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York City. Three of Canada’s worst bottlenecks rank among the top 20 worst bottlenecks in North America.
Grinding to a Halt, Evaluating Canada’s Worst Bottlenecks is the first study to fuse GPS data with vehicle volume data collected from provinces and municipalities.
Traffic congestion is a major source of stress for Canadians. CAA’s study concludes that traffic bottlenecks affect Canadians in every major urban market, increasing commute times by as much as 50%.
The study calculates the fuel used and time wasted while drivers are stuck in traffic, as well as the overall environmental impact of these bottlenecks. For instance, Canadians drain an extra 287 million liters of fuel per year stuck in these bottlenecks – an additional 58 million kg of CO2 spilling into our air. We would need to plant an additional 2 million trees to eliminate the extra CO2 in our air.
Although the 20 most severe bottlenecks are concentrated in just four cities, the study also examined other significant bottlenecks in smaller and mid-sized cities across the country.
The study provides objective evidence for decision-makers at the federal, provincial and municipal level to use when making decisions on infrastructure investment and environment policy.

Download Study