June 26, 2015
The City of Toronto is partnering with Evergreen CityWorks to deliver TrafficJam on October 2 to 4 at Evergreen Brick Works. TrafficJam is a 48-hour hackathon that will leverage open data to create new ideas, tools and resources that will be used to ease congestion and get Toronto moving.
About 150 participants from diverse backgrounds will collaborate to co-design new solutions to solve one of the greatest challenges facing Toronto – traffic congestion. The use of open data and technology to address congestion and mobility will establish Toronto as a leader in smart-city and open-data initiatives.
"Technology and data are fuelling intelligent movement in cities around the world. It should be no different in Toronto. I’m looking forward to seeing the results of this hackathon and how we can use data for smart traffic management and fight congestion in our city,” said Mayor John Tory. “Investing in the power of data will make Toronto a leader in the field of smart cities and will get this city moving.”
In April, the City of Toronto announced the creation of a Big Data Innovation team. TrafficJam is an example of how we can better use data to improve commutes for all Torontonians, whether you travel by car, transit or bike.
"This is a terrific opportunity to learn how to use open data to create practical solutions to enhance our efforts to help people travel more easily and reliably," said Councillor Jaye Robinson (Ward 25 Don Valley West), Chair of the City's Public Works and Infrastructure Committee.
The City of Toronto is pleased to partner with Evergreen CityWorks for their proven track record in bringing people together to find innovative solutions to improving Canadian cities. CityWorks is a leader in recognizing the potential of new ideas, like open data, to improve the livability and sustainability of urban areas.
This initiative is supported by the Government of Ontario, Accenture, Google, 407 ETR and CAA. The support from multiple levels of government, and the non-profit and private sectors to enable the public to participate in creating tangible solutions to traffic management is city-building at its best. To learn more and be a part of this exciting 48-hour city-building initiative, visit
http://www.trafficjam.to.
Evergreen CityWorks is Evergreen’s newest initiative that seeks to change the way we plan and design Canadian cities. CityWorks is committed to transforming the way we live and reducing the environmental impact of urban areas. CityWorks brings together the public, innovators and decision makers to accelerate the shift to green infrastructure in cities across Canada.
Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. Toronto is proud to be the Host City for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit
http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us @TorontoComms.
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Media contacts:
Steve Johnston, Strategic Communications, 416-392-4391, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Jesse Darling, Evergreen CityWorks, 647-999-9366, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
