Item - 2020.GL13.10

The General Government and Licensing Committee:

1.  Requested the Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services and the Chief Purchasing Officer to report to the September 14, 2020 General Government and Licensing Committee on the merits of the City's Agencies, Boards and Commissions participating in the Ontario Good Roads Association, Road Authority web portal online catalogue for pre-vetted products needed for all infrastructure constructions projects for the purposes of managing the City of Toronto product list.

The Mandate of The Ontario Good Road Authority (OGRA) advocates that it "advances the infrastructure and transportation interests of our members through training, advocacy and services," with four main business objectives including "the development of plans, programs and partnerships for the delivery of services that meet the needs of municipal transportation and public works departments, while recognizing the contribution of the corporate sector”.

Maintaining their objectives the OGRA developed the Road Authority web portal (www.roadauthority.com), a partnership portal created as an online repository of products needed for all infrastructure constructions projects. Registered agencies can use the built in web-based Product Management app to manage and publish their approved products list with better records keeping and utilizing the database of 2,000+ pre-vetted products. 

The Purpose of exploring the feasibility would be to review how registering would benefit the city in having the ability to manage the city’s products list, as well as access to TRA’s large database which includes new and innovative products as well as collaborating with the OGRA's Products Management Committee of engineers and professionals who review the new products and technology.  Note: Agencies using this service will always be able to have complete control on the type of products they include in their approved products lists

The Ontario Ministry of Transportation along with the City of Hamilton and the Regional Municipalities of Durham and Halton are registered with the Road Authority Web Portal.

The portal is free of charge to the City of Toronto as a good standing member of the OGRA.