About the Challenge
Can you create a digital product to help keep clearways clear? Calling all innovators, developers, entrepreneurs and designers!
Transport for NSW (TfNSW) want you to pitch us an idea to help keep clearways clear by informing drivers, raising awareness of clearway restrictions and helping the Transport Management Centre (TMC) respond to incidents more efficiently.
We’re looking for an innovative solution to help us keep clearways clear. Your product should use the clearways data that we have made available as part of this innovation challenge. The solution should also attempt to address the three problem statements that we have identified as the major issues currently hindering the management and effective use of clearways. These problem statements are outlined below.
Transport for NSW will assist with the incubation process in developing your product that can be endorsed by government agencies and meets customers’ expectations. Transport for NSW will also provide marketing for the solutions that are selected for endorsement via existing communications and marketing channels.
What is a Clearway?
A clearway is a section of road where stopping or parking is prohibited. Buses and taxis are permitted to stop when dropping off or picking up passengers. Clearway hours are variable depending on the day of week, time of day and location as indicated by signage.
Problem Statements
Transport for NSW expects that your solution will address the following problem statements.
1. How can we improve driver’s awareness of clearway restrictions?
Any cars parked in clearways during operating times, transit lanes and bus lanes, can contribute to and cause congestion. Standard clearways times are becoming more complex in addition to clearways required for special events. How can we prevent drivers from parking (and leaving their vehicles) in clearways? This includes the start and end of clearway operating times.
2. How can we improve how the TMC is notified of stationary vehicles in clearways, transit lanes or bus lanes?
The Transport Management Centre (TMC) works closely with other government agencies and service providers to constantly monitor and maximise the safety and efficiency of the NSW transport network. The TMC is notified and takes action when a vehicle is parked in a clearway, transit lane or bus lane.
How can the TMC be notified faster and more efficiently when vehicles are parked illegally in clearways?
The TMC checks the vehicle registration in the RMS DRIVES system to ensure the car is not involved in a crime at which point a tow truck contractor is notified and authorised to tow the vehicle to the closest legal on-street parking spot. (See Statement 3).
3. How can we advise a driver the location of their towed vehicle?
Drivers don’t know who to contact when they can’t find their vehicle. If the vehicle has been towed due to being in a clearway, transit lane or bus lane, the TMC is aware of where the vehicle is parked.
Vehicles are towed to the nearest legal on-street parking spot. This location is logged with the TMC who can advise the driver when they phone in. Parking fines and towing fees are incurred by the driver.
Congratulations to Clearway Tech by Jayen Ashar!
Clearway Tech automatically detects stationary vehicles in clearways, and notifies the Transport Management Centre (TMC), using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning algorithms. This reduces detection time to enable the TMC to dispatch and clear the obstruction without waiting for a human-based report. An interim report was produced by Clearway Tech in Februrary 2020, with recommendations about data requirements for the possible trial and implementation of this solution in the future.
How The Challenge Works
Applications opened on Monday 24th of September 2018. Any interested applicants will have the opportunity to take part in a Q&A with subject matter experts at the information session to help their submissions. The information session was held on Wednesday 3rd of October 2018.
The information session provided an opportunity for developers and interested parties to ask questions and get information before applications were submitted by Sunday 14th of October 2018. Once applications closed, submissions were assessed and ranked by a judging panel. Up to 10 teams were invited to progress to the pitch day stage of the challenge by Wednesday 24th of October 2018.
Finalists pitched their ideas on Wednesday 7th of November 2018 to a judging panel with the finalists notified in early December 2018.The teams then had to create and finalise their solution through an incubation phase for release into the market by April 2019. The chosen concept must fit Government legislative and policy requirements and deliver a seamless customer-centric experience. Transport for NSW will promote the endorsed product via our regular channels.
Challenge Dates
Applications Open - Monday 24th September 2018
Information Session - Wednesday 3rd October 2018
Applications Close - Sunday 14th October 2018 @ 11:59pm
Finalists for Pitch Day are Notified - by Wednesday 24th October 2018
Pitch Day Event - Wednesday 7th November 2018 (subject to change)
Finalists Notified - early December
Information Session
Information session slide pack: Information-session_Clearways-Innovation-Challenge_slide-pack.pdf