Game-changing tech promises to help curb Winnipeg traffic headaches

Driving on city streets during rush hour could soon become less of a headache thanks to state-of-the-art traffic monitoring technology.

"This is very exciting because this a game changer for us," said Michael Cantor, a traffic signals engineer with the city.

The City of Winnipeg unveiled its splashy new Transportation Management Centre and launched itsWaze traffic app on Tuesday.

City staff at the hub will look to a wall of big screens hooked up to a network of data feeds and 70 camerasalready installed at busyintersections.

The cameras can zoom in as far as three kilometres from wherethey're mounted, said Jonathan Foord, a signal assets engineer with the city.

A network of 650 "signalized intersections," equipped with LTE modems, are up and running. Itwill allow staff to control traffic signals remotelyin a matter of minutes. In theory, the centre will help address bumper-to-bumper backups after crashes or other incidents on the road.

The system also has built-in sensors that will tell city officials when traffic signals are malfunctioning or need replacing.

"This is a fully-integrated cellular network and something we are in fact leading on. It's something that is going to help us make smarter use of the data," Mayor Brian Bowman said.

• Google wants access to Winnipeg traffic data to power its Waze app

"The city of Winnipeg is a large city that does not have a robust freeway system like other cities. Light synchronization is something Ihave heard about my entire adult life. I have heard politicians talk about it for years, and this not only fulfills a campaign commitment but it delivers results on something that has been discussed in Winnipeg for many, many years," Bowman said.

Previously the city relied on reports from Winnipeggersor sightings from staff in the city to help remedy these issues in a timely manner. Thatincludesdrivers calling the city to report theroughly 450 traffic poles that motorists strike downin Winnipeg every year.

New sensors could make quick work of that; signal malfunctions will be sent to the hub in real-time, according to the city.

Traffic information reported to 311 or uploaded by users through thenew Waze app will be pulledinto one feed to give the city a more comprehensive view of traffic in the city.

The app will also letdrivers see reports uploaded by other app users and helpthem avoid backed-up areas.

Privacy protocol still in works

Mayor Brian Bowman said the data-sharing project will help modernize the city and how it manages traffic flows.

Council approved a $3.6-million initial capital investment and $500,000 annual budget for the hub. But questions about privacy remain as the city has yet to push through an associated privacy protocol to prevent the unintended use of the network of data and cameras.

There are currently privacy protocols in place for all the data being collected, which complies with privacy legislation, a city spokesperson said in an email to CBC.

"Any new purposes beyond Transportation Management would require new protocols and that is what is now being considered," the spokesperson wrote.

Bowman said privacy concerns over the potential misuse of the system by police for surveillance purposes are valid, but he's been assured the sole purpose of the system is to gather information for traffic management.

"It's a fair question because obviously there are benefits for law environment, but we also have to make sure for first responders [and]law enforcement, other uses other than traffic management need to be done in accordance with [the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act]," he said.

A FIPPAco-ordinatorhas overseen the project from the beginning, Bowman says, and continues to scrutinizethe traffic centre's use of data.

The centre is up and running, but arobust privacy protocol isstill in the works and expected to be completed over the next year, Bowman said.