Evaluation summary ‒ Evaluation of the Trade and Transportation Corridors Initiative (TTCI)

Evaluation summary ‒ Evaluation of the Trade and Transportation Corridors Initiative
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Summary outlining the results of the Evaluation of the Trade and Transportation Corridors Initiative.

Evaluation summary ‒ October 2024

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TTCI at a glance

The TTCI has three components:

National Trade Corridors Fund (NTCF)

The NTCF funds projects in support of Canada’s trade corridors and supply chains.

  • $4.3B from 2017-18 to 2027-28
  • 7 calls for proposals since 2017

Trade and Transportation Information System (TTIS)

The TTIS aims to ensure high quality, timely, and accessible data on the transportation system.

  • $50M from 2017-18 to 2024-25
  • Partnership with Statistics Canada

Innovation measures

Includes the Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems program (RPAS) and the program to Advance Connectivity and Automation in the Transportation System (ACATS).

  • $33.5M (RPAS), $16.5M (ACATS) from 2017-18 to 2021-22
  • 15 projects funded through ACATS

The Evaluation at a glance

The Evaluation of the TTCI assessed relevance, delivery, and effectiveness through:

  • Internal and external interviews
  • Document review
  • Literature review
  • Project file review
  • Administrative data analysis

Findings

NTCF

  1. There is a clear need for the NTCF and the program aligns strongly with Transport Canada’s (TC) mandate and federal government priorities.
  2. The NTCF has taken meaningful steps to improve its performance measurement practices by requiring all projects to report on common indicators. However, the utility of these indicators will depend on the quality of data provided by funding recipients.
  3. The expected contribution of NTCF project-level results to desired system-level changes is not clearly defined.
  4. The involvement of TC's Transportation and Economic Analysis (TEA) group in NTCF decision-making processes is a key strength of the program.
  5. Uncertainty in timelines for NTCF project approval and funding has been identified as a concern for stakeholders.
  6. More time is needed for the impacts of NTCF-funded projects to materialize.

TTIS

  1. TTIS is well-aligned with TC's mandate and priorities.
  2. The implementation of the TTIS evolved as challenges were encountered.
  3. TTIS has succeeded in increasing the availability of transportation data and there is a clear understanding of information gaps and next steps.

ACATS

  1. While ACATS is relatively well-aligned with TC's strategic objectives, part of the funding it provides is not strongly linked with any legislated TC mandate.
  2. Through its first call for proposals, ACATS contributed to awareness and knowledge-building for stakeholders and reached the targets for its immediate and intermediate expected outcomes.

RPAS

  1. There is a clear need for TC involvement in RPAS and the program is well-aligned with TC's mandate.
  2. The RPAS Task Force has by and large advanced its objectives related to regulatory development, authorizations, and research and development.
  3. While the RPAS Task Force has strong engagement with industry stakeholders and other governments, more awareness among recreational users is needed.

Recommendations

NTCF:

  • Map out the relationship between project outcomes and the overall system-level objectives.
  • Work with TEA to assess the feasibility of accounting for impacts of funded projects in trade corridors and supply chains metrics.
  • Improve communications with stakeholders to enhance predictability about the application and approval process.

RPAS Task Force:

  • Identify impediments to effective engagement and information dissemination and develop a strategy to meet its public engagement objectives.

Actions

The NTCF:

  • Has designed and implemented a results tracking tool to improve NTCF project data collection and outcomes reporting at the NTCF project level.
  • Will compile and analyze the data and share the results with TEA to assess the feasibility of accounting for the impacts of NTCF funded projects in trade corridors and supply chain metrics, at the transportation system level, through outcome mapping and determine which tools can be used or developed for the mapping. (Fall 2025)

The NTCF will:

  • Improve communications with stakeholders through early engagement sessions. Call specific timelines will be communicated during technical webinars and included in the application guides posted to the website. NTCF is also available to respond to stakeholder inquiries as well as questions on specific timelines through the Program’s generic email address. Will also look at how best to communicate to all stakeholders and applicants any unforeseen delays in the application assessment and approval process, including timing of notification for unfunded proposals. (In advance of the next call for proposals)

The RPAS Task Force will:

  • Complete a review that assesses the effectiveness of previous efforts, identifies impediments to success, and evaluates what other jurisdictions are doing. Will include input from all relevant stakeholders. (October 2024)
  • In collaboration with TC Communications Group, create a strategy for identifying and meeting public engagement objectives. (March 2025)
  • Implement the strategy and measure effectiveness against performance indicators. Identify future outreach needs. (December 2025)
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