Moving Smarter, Growing Stronger: How Waterloo’s eleven-x is Reducing Congestion and Driving Economic Growth in Canada

Traffic congestion isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s an economic liability. A recent study from the Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis (CANCEA) found that gridlock costs Ontario $56.4 billion annually, with the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) accounting for $44.7 billion in lost productivity, wasted fuel, and economic inefficiencies. Municipalities are under increasing pressure to make taxpayer dollars go further, while also addressing mounting concerns around urban mobility, emissions, and economic growth.

This is where eleven-x, a Waterloo-based technology company, is providing a data-driven smart parking and curbside management solution that both improves the driver experience while optimizing parking spaces and revenues. By enabling cities to optimize parking and reduce congestion through real-time monitoring, eleven-x helps municipalities and campuses make smarter infrastructure investments while maximizing the use of existing resources.

The Town of Oakville is already seeing the impact of this technology firsthand. With a growing population of over 225,000 residents and 1.4 million annual visitors, Oakville’s downtown core was facing increasing congestion, leading to complaints from residents and local businesses. The town needed a data-driven approach to better manage its parking resources without unnecessary capital expenditures on new infrastructure.

Rather than defaulting to costly parking expansions, Oakville partnered with eleven-x to deploy 1,200 wireless SPS-X sensors across 32 parking lots and key on-street locations. These sensors provide real-time occupancy data that is used to guide drivers to available spaces, reduce traffic caused by vehicles circling for parking, and inform municipal decision-making.

Since deployment, Oakville has seen utilization of underused parking spaces increase from 15% to 65%, while congestion on heavily trafficked streets like Lakeshore Road has been reduced. This has led to measurable improvements in economic activity, parking revenue, and traffic flow, all without the need for expensive new parking developments.

For many municipalities, parking enforcement and compliance are key aspects of the fiscal component to parking. eleven-x’s technology allows cities to track payment rates and optimize enforcement strategies, ensuring compliance without excessive staffing or reliance on punitive measures. By leveraging this data, municipalities can refine pricing models, adjust policies to encourage turnover, and improve the overall efficiency of their parking assets.

Dan Mathers, CEO of eleven-x, sees this as a critical shift in how cities think about mobility. “Cities are under immense fiscal pressure, and building new parking lots or expanding infrastructure isn’t always the answer. Parking is a finite resource and by using real-time monitoring, we help municipalities improve utilization of existing spaces, reduce unnecessary congestion, and maximize the value of their investments.”

Beyond the technological benefits, eleven-x’s deep understanding of Canadian urban landscapes offers a unique advantage. As a homegrown company, it possesses local knowledge that enables tailored solutions for communities across the country. This local expertise fosters trust and collaboration, ensuring that the implemented technologies align with the specific needs and challenges of Canadian municipalities. Unlike imported solutions that take a one-size-fits-all approach, eleven-x works closely with cities to develop strategies that make the most of their unique infrastructure and policy environment.

By helping municipalities reduce congestion, improve accessibility, and create more livable urban spaces, eleven-x is ensuring that every dollar invested in transportation contributes to a more connected, sustainable future for residents and businesses alike.

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This article is part of CCI’s new “By Canadian Innovators” series, which showcases how members of the Council of Canadian Innovators work with homegrown companies to fuel their growth and make Canada more prosperous. Each story in this series highlights the unique contributions of these companies to building a more prosperous, innovation-driven economy. To learn more about the companies CCI works with to build a more prosperous Canada, visit our member directory.