The Region of Peel, in partnership with participating private sector delivery businesses, will launch its first Off-Peak Delivery (OPD) pilot project this fall.
The objective of the OPD pilot project is to help reduce congestion and improve general traffic flow by shifting truck traffic from regular hours to off-peak hours throughout the Region.
Traffic congestion affects communities and businesses across Ontario and especially within the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. It increasingly challenges the delivery of goods and services, increases travel time, fuel usage and also noise levels impacting residential areas.
The goals of the OPD project are to reduce travel times, achieve emissions reductions, and cost and fuel savings for businesses. The pilot will run for six months starting in September. Dtrafficuring that time, Region staff will be available to help participants develop and implement customized delivery plans. This is one example of Peel’s commitment to working more closely with the private sector to pilot innovative strategies to improve congestion conditions.
“The Region of Peel’s pilot is a great way for us to learn more about the potential of OPD in the Region,” said OTA’s Jonathan Blackham, Director of Policy and Public Affairs. “This is an opportunity to improve the way we do business and create efficiencies. We are looking forward to following the Region’s pilot initiative and support their efforts in bringing innovative strategies to alleviate congestion.”
When OPD was introduced in Vancouver during the 2010 Olympic Games, total truck volumes overall decreased by 37 per cent during the Games. During the Toronto Pan Am/Parapan Am Games in 2015, 100 businesses and more than 500 receiving locations participated in the off-peak program. The OPD pilot in New York City in 2009 saw a 30 per cent cost saving among participants, reduced average delivery travel times, and reduced parking fines.
“OTA is hopeful that shippers and receivers also embrace this initiative, as we know in the past there has been some hesitation to shift workers to off-peak shipping/receiving,” added Blackham.
If your company is interested in becoming an OPD pilot champion for Peel Region, please contact Elizabeth Bang, Principal Planner in Transportation Systems Planning for Peel, at 905-791-7800, extension 4694 or [email protected].
