| Abstract |
In response to increasing urban traffic congestion and the need for timely emergency response, the City
of Winnipeg launched a pilot program implementing Emergency Vehicle Preemption (EVP) technology in
April 2023. The City procured a hybrid system that uses both cellular and radio communications to
detect emergency vehicles and preempt traffic signals, providing them with green lights as they
approach intersections. The system allows for remote monitoring and adjustments and provides
valuable data insights for performance evaluation. The purpose of this technology is to reduce
emergency response times and collisions while improving public health and safety.
The pilot program was designed to test the efficacy and impact of EVP technology in a live urban
environment and included 17 intersections within the Osborne Village neighbourhood and 14 Winnipeg
Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) vehicles from nearby stations. The launch of the pilot was supported by a
prior feasibility study that showed a high benefit–cost ratio, and following a successful evaluation, the
pilot program supported the City’s decision to proceed with city-wide expansion in 2026.
This presentation will discuss the lead-up to the pilot and its scope, but will focus on the implementation
of the technology, coordinating with the various users, the decision-making process, and the pilot
evaluation. It will examine implementation challenges, including integration with existing infrastructure,
signal timing design, and system calibration, and provide examples of how the system has been
functioning for emergency vehicles. Finally, the presentation will provide an update on the city-wide
expansion of EVP in Winnipeg. It will explore early implementation experiences and considerations
related to scalability as the system is deployed more broadly. This case study provides insights for other
jurisdictions that may be considering implementing emergency vehicle preemption or upgrading to
more advanced EVP technology
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