Burnaby’s Emergency Vehicle Traffic Signal Preemption System Wins Award from Intelligent Transportation Systems Canada
On Tuesday, June 14, at the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Canada annual conference, the City of Burnaby was presented with the (ITS) Project Award in the Smaller Metropolitan category, for the City’s Emergency Vehicle Traffic Signal Preemption System. The award is in recognition of the significance of the project within the Canadian ITS marketplace.
Every one of Burnaby’s 230 traffic signals and more than 100 police and fire vehicles are now equipped with the GPS-based system. When responding to an emergency, transponder equipment mounted on police and fire vehicles allows the vehicles to request a priority green light at an upcoming signal at the appropriate time. This capability enhances safety and can reduce unnecessary delays in response times. A key component of the system is the Central Management Software (CMS), which allows technicians to remotely access system settings, monitor activity and produce reports.
“We are honoured to be the recipients of this ITS Project Award,” says Burnaby Councillor and chair of Burnaby’s Traffic Safety Committee, Sav Dhaliwal, “because it recognizes an important Burnaby safety initiative. Our Traffic Signal Preemption System enhances safety and improves response times for fire and police personnel who are responding to emergency calls, benefitting all Burnaby citizens and police and fire emergency responders.”
Says Councillor Nick Volkow, chair of Burnaby’s transportation committee, “We are always looking for ways in which we can further increase the efficiency of our City’s transportation network. Because our Preemption System operates at every one of Burnaby’s traffic signals, the functionality of our entire road network is enhanced for emergency vehicle personnel. This is a system that will save lives and we are thrilled to be the recipients of an award that recognizes the system’s value.”
ITS Canada is a professional non-profit society, generally acknowledged as the most knowledgeable source for information and advice on intelligent transportation systems in Canada. At City of Burnaby, BC awarded for their emergency vehicle traffic signal preemption system.
Here is a PDF of the Burnaby, BC press release.