Feds provide funding for autonomous shuttle bus testing in Kanata

A federal office tower in Ottawa. Aug. 2, 2021. (Jackie Perez / CTV News Ottawa)

The federal government is spending $1.4 million to test an autonomous shuttle bus in Kanata.

Transport Minister Anita Anand announced $14.68 million in funding for 35 projects to enhance road safety across Canada, including three projects in Ottawa.

"One of these projects being carried out by the Canada North Business Association will include testing a zero-emission autonomous shuttle within a Canadian technical park," Anand told reporters at the Kanata North Business Association.

"Testing of this shuttle will inform future policies and regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles in Canada."

• Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
• The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App

According to the Transport Canada website, the Kanata North Business Association will receive $1.4 million for a "Smart Mobility Solution: Testing and Deployment of a Medium-Speed Autonomous Shuttle in Canada's Largest Tech Park."

"This program's project empowers the Kanata North Business Association (KNBA) to advance from our previous work on low-speed autonomous shuttle trials to launching a higher-speed automated commercial vehicle," Kelly Daize, executive director of the Kanata North Business Association, said in a statement. "Safety is our top priority. Initial tests will take place at Area X.O's private, secure site before transitioning to public roads in the Kanata North Tech Park. The year-round trial will cover all four seasons and explore sustainable and accessible transportation solutions."

The funding includes $1.7 million to Invest Ottawa for "enhancing road safety using advanced driver assistance systems, in-cabin sensing technologies, and vehicle-to-vehicle communications to deliver real-time actional safety messages."

Carleton University will also receive $748,400 for a project, "connecting drivers with advanced driver assistance system to optimize safety in SAE Level 3 Autonomous Vehicles."

The federal government says the $14.6 million in funding for road safety projects will focus on driver assistance systems, alcohol and drug-impaired driving, distracted driving, winter road conditions and vulnerable road users.  The government says key projects include researching how drivers interact with driver assistance in autonomous vehicles."

Mothers Against Drunk Driving will receive $134,000 for a marketing campaign targeting men ages 18 to 34, and the government is providing $415,000 to the Canada Automobile Association to combat cannabis impaired driving.