Toronto introduces new traffic monitoring system to track congestion

Toronto traffic. (File Photo)

Toronto is trying to overhaul its traffic monitoring system for the 21st century.

The city announced on Tuesday that it is setting up the Big Data Innovation Team, which will be used to develop a strategy and implement a system that will digitally track congestion on city streets, highways and public transit.

The city says that developing a digital system will be integral to uncovering patterns about how, where and when people travel.

Other cities in the GTA, including Brampton and Markham, have already invested in this type of system.

Mayor John Tory said in a statement on Tuesday that the technology is a "game changer."

"The city can – and should – be using it to better understand travel patterns, evaluate the city's investments and monitor performance," Tory said. "With this information, we can get Toronto moving smarter.”

Tory says that current monitoring systems mostly rely on staff to take notes on traffic information.

"Toronto has clipboards and clickers … people taking notes with pencils and we have the odd sensor pick up information – when they're working," Tory said. "We're going to get out of the clickers and clipboard business and into the 21st century.”

The hope is that the patterns revealed by the new technology can then be used to make adjustments to help break down gridlock across the city.

"What we need to sort through is, who has the best data and how can we use that data to improve our decision making," said Steve Buckley, Toronto's transportation services general manager.

The Big Data Innovation Team will spend the first few months of its mandate developing a strategy for the city.

With a report from CTV Toronto's Natalie Johnson