The Purolator Urban Quick Stop received the ITE Toronto Project of the Year Award 2023
The Purolator Urban Quick Stop pilot project received the 2023 ITE Toronto Project of the Year Award. On August 22, 2022, Purolator replaced delivery trucks on the University of Toronto (UofT) St. George campus and in neighbouring communities with e-cargo tricycles operating from a microhub. This pilot demonstrates the potential for e-cargo tricycle deliveries with potential expansion to other locations across Canada.
The pilot has demonstrated several benefits to society during its operation. First, researchers at UofT estimated a yearly reduction of about 2.7 to 3.4 tons of GHG and 7.8 to 9.8 kgs of NOx by replacing only one gasoline-powered truck. Second, it was found that truck drivers were exposed to poorer air quality than the ambient air quality, which negatively affects driver’s health and is improved by using e-cargo tricycles. Third, using e-cargo tricycles eliminated truck conflicts and reduced the parking demand. Fourth, e-cargo tricycles have the potential to replace trucks without compromising operational efficiency. Fifth, the microhub, which also acts as a retail facility, is convenient for residents to drop off packages.
This award is given as a recognition for a significant achievement or contribution in the field of transportation engineering from the Toronto Section Area in the past year. The winning project adds to the state of the practice by demonstrating excellence and innovation in the field of Transportation. The ITE Toronto Section 2023 Project of the Year jury comprised six selected (volunteers) judges considered specialists in the field of Transportation that reviewed the nominated projects (submissions) and provided scores based on the evaluation criteria established by the ITE Toronto Section.
The image from left to right shows Eric Nevland (the president of the ITE Toronto Chapter), Dr. Usman Ahmed (the post-doctoral fellow who is the U of T project manager of the Purolator project), Dr. Matt Roorda (Professor of Civil Engineering at UofT), and Mehemed Delibasic (McIntosh Perry’s assistant vice president.)