Markham Demonstrations

The purpose of the OVIN Demonstration Zone is to demonstrate and evaluate innovative transportation technologies in a real-world urban environment.  

This program aims to improve city transportation systems by testing new solutions that can enhance safety, efficiency, resiliency, and sustainability. The demonstrations will provide insights into how these technologies can be potentially integrated into the city's infrastructure to benefit residents and reduce environmental impact. 

Led by the City of Markham and the City of Vaughan, the OVIN Demonstration Zone is part of the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network’s (OVIN) ecosystem of innovative clusters operating around the province. 

No, please direct any inquiries to our team.

Aidan Rockarts, Program Coordinator 
Arockarts@markham.ca 

Fatema Sadriwala, Program Coordinator
Fsadriwala@markham.ca 

The demonstrations will take place over a designated period and will be conducted in various locations across the city.  

Key areas for the demonstrations will include major roads, intersections, and public transit hubs where the impact of the technologies can be effectively monitored and assessed. In Vaughan, demonstrations will be throughout the entire city. 

Demonstrations are currently scheduled to conclude in March 2025. 

Some temporary disruptions may occur – such as rerouted traffic and pedestrian sidewalk access or adjusted public transportation schedules. In some cases, a lane closure may be required to ensure safety during installation and remediation of the demonstration project test site. 

However, these disruptions will be planned to minimize inconvenience, and detailed information will be provided to the public ahead of time. Public transportation services will continue to operate. 

Yes, similar technologies are being piloted and implemented in several other cities worldwide.  

For example, cities like Singapore, San Francisco, and Helsinki are exploring autonomous vehicles and smart traffic management systems. These cities have reported improvements in traffic flow, reduced accident rates, and more efficient public transportation. The success of these technologies in other urban environments provides valuable insights for their potential implementation in this city. 

The OVIN Demonstration Zone will feature a group of companies, primarily small to medium-sized companies and startups that are at the forefront of developing innovative and emerging transportation technologies. The demonstration projects cover a wide range of automotive and mobility technologies with a focus on electric vehicle technologies, shared and integrated mobility solutions, robotics and automated micro-mobility utility devices, smart traffic, smart intersection and smart city solutions, connected and autonomous (CAV) solutions, and first mile, last mile, and transit solutions.

The OVIN Demonstration Zone is led by the cities of Markham and Vaughan.  

In Vaughan, it is across the city. In Markham, it is concentrated to the Downtown Centre. 

Specific demonstration locations can be found for each project. 

The OVIN Demonstration Zone positions the city as a testbed and offers digital and physical city infrastructure and spaces for companies to demonstrate and showcase their mobility solutions. Technology demonstrations are conducted in a real-world environment to address transportation and mobility challenges, while offering the public a unique opportunity to learn and engage with emerging solutions. 

Demonstration projects will be delivered at testing sites for a short-term, limited and temporary time. 

The demonstrations will last for a set period, typically ranging from a few weeks to months, depending on the scope and complexity of the technologies being tested. The duration is intended to allow for thorough validation of the technologies under different traffic and environmental conditions. 

These technologies are expected to offer several key benefits for the city's transportation system, including safety and behavioural studies to improve congestion; or data to enhance safety for all road users, and lower emissions due to more efficient vehicle operation. Additionally, the data collected from these technologies can help the city make more informed decisions about future transportation planning, infrastructure investments and policy creation. 

Funding is not provided for companies to demonstrate their solution. Companies are encouraged to access other provincial or federal funding programs. The City of Vaughan provides access to assets infrastructure and logistical support to enable the demonstration project.