News Release

August 12, 2003

THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA INVESTS TO IMPROVE NIAGARA FALLS PEOPLE MOVER SYSTEM

NIAGARA FALLS, Ontario - Allan Rock, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Infrastructure, David Collenette, Minister of Transport, and Gary Pillitteri, Member of Parliament for Niagara Falls, today announced a contribution of up to $25 million from the Government of Canada towards the construction of an Advanced People Mover System to better transport large numbers of tourists in the Niagara Falls area.

"Niagara Falls is one of Canada's premier tourism destinations," said Minister Rock. "Effective transportation will not only add to the attractiveness of this city for visitors but will also ease and improve navigation downtown for residents. Niagara has found an innovative, urban transit solution to the challenge of congestion."

"By relieving traffic congestion around major tourist attractions, the upgraded People Mover System will help improve vehicle flow and make Niagara Falls' popular tourist areas safer and more pedestrian friendly," said Transport Minister David Collenette.

Niagara Falls' current People Mover System was inaugurated in 1985. It is currently operating beyond its practical capacity and has become less effective in serving the 16 million tourists who visit the area each year. A people mover is a technology that operates within a relatively small and well-defined area such as a downtown, resorts, airport or amusement park. The family of people mover technology ranges from rubber-tired, conventional bus transit technology to light rail transit.

"Today's announcement will also have a significant impact on the environment," said Mr. Pillitteri. "The People Mover will help remove a number of cars from the tourist area roads, thereby relieving traffic congestion in the area, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions of cars stuck in traffic."

"I am pleased that the Government of Canada acknowledges the importance of the upgraded People Mover System for the residents of Niagara Falls and the many tourists visiting the region each year," said Niagara Falls Mayor Wayne Thomson.

The Region of Niagara forecasts that visits to the area will approach 40 million people per year by 2031. Details on the technology that will be used for the Advanced People Mover System and the final route will be announced following the submission of requests for proposals.

The Government of Canada's contribution will come from the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund. Through the Fund, the Government of Canada works with provincial, territorial and municipal governments, as well as with the private sector, to meet strategic infrastructure needs throughout the country. These investments are directed to large-scale projects of major national and regional significance, in areas that are vital to sustaining economic growth and supporting an enhanced quality of life for Canadians.

In the Speech from the Throne of September 30, 2002, the Government of Canada committed to an additional 10-year involvement in public infrastructure. Its Budget 2003 re-affirmed this long-term commitment and provided an additional $3 billion in infrastructure support, thus bringing the Government of Canada's contribution to infrastructure to $12 billion since 1993. These investments have leveraged a total of $30 billion in infrastructure improvements from various partners.

Today's announcement brings the Government of Canada's investment in Ontario through the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund to over $450 million. The announcement builds on improvements to the Niagara region's border crossings announced on May 21, 2003.

Contacts:

Mylène Dupéré
Office of Allan Rock
Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Infrastructure
(613) 995-9001

Infrastructure Canada
Communications and Promotions
(613) 948-1148

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