No. H221/05
For release November 8, 2005

GOVERNMENTS OF CANADA
AND THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES TO
FUND INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS

YELLOWKNIFE — The Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Member of Parliament for Western Arctic and Minister of State (Northern Development), on behalf of Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre and Michael McLeod, Minister of Transportation for the Northwest Territories, today announced the signing of two contribution agreements to develop and deploy intelligent transportation systems in the Northwest Territories. Combined funding for the agreements totals $700,000.

“This funding will help address the transportation needs of local residents and travelers to our region,” said Ms. Blondin-Andrew. “The selected projects will provide better access to travel-related information and make travel across the Deh Cho Bridge more accommodating for commercial traffic.”

The first agreement is for intelligent transportation systems research and development projects. The two governments will each contribute up to $250,000. One of the projects is to develop and design an electronic tolling system at the Deh Cho Bridge located over the Mackenzie River, near Fort Providence. The remaining funds will be used to design and develop a new website for the Department of Transportation that incorporates intelligent transportation systems such as interactive traveller information.

Under the second agreement, the governments of Canada and the Northwest Territories will each contribute up to $100,000 to deploy intelligent transportation systems in the territory. One project will see an automated traveller information system and baggage information display signs deployed at Yellowknife Airport at a total cost of $115,428. The governments of Canada and the Northwest Territories will each contribute $57,714. The system will provide automated real-time flight information within the terminal building and over the Internet. The remaining joint funding will be applied towards similar intelligent transportation systems in the territory. Intelligent transportation systems consist of a broad range of technologies designed to make transportation safer, more efficient and environmentally friendly.

“These projects demonstrate the government’s commitment to making sure Canadians benefit equally from new technologies,” said Mr. Lapierre. “By supporting innovation in every province and territory, we are helping to build a better transportation system for all of Canada.”

“Modern technology offers new and exciting ways to expand and improve upon the way we communicate with and serve the public, industry and others that rely upon the transportation system in the Northwest Territories,” said Mr. McLeod. “These projects will provide convenient access to useful information and transactions that relate directly to improved safety and efficiency.”

Federal funding will be provided under the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program, a $600-million program to improve highway infrastructure across Canada. Part of this funding, $100 million, is earmarked for initiatives that better integrate the country’s transportation system. One of these is the intelligent transportation systems initiative, which includes applications such as advanced systems for traveller information, traffic management, public transport, commercial vehicle operations, emergency response management and vehicle safety.

Funding for this program is provided for in the existing financial framework.

A backgrounder with further information on intelligent transportation systems is attached.

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BACKGROUNDER

INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS

Intelligent transportation systems are a broad range of diverse technologies used to make transportation systems safer, more efficient, more reliable and more environmentally friendly, without necessarily having to physically alter existing infrastructure. Since 1999, Transport Canada has been promoting them aggressively and has provided more than $23 million in support of intelligent transportation systems projects and research in Canada.

Intelligent transportation systems encompass new products and information and communications technologies for the development, operation and management of the transportation system. They include applications such as advanced systems for traveller information, traffic management, public transport, commercial vehicle operations, emergency response management and vehicle safety. They all have in common the integrated application of advanced technologies including information processing, communications, and sensing and control.

The Government of Canada’s Intelligent Transportation Systems Plan for Canada: En Route to Intelligent Mobility (1999) sets out the strategy for stimulating the development and deployment of intelligent transportation systems across urban and rural Canada. The goals are to maximize the use and efficiency of existing infrastructure and meet future mobility needs more responsibly. The Intelligent Transportation Systems Plan provides leadership and support to advance the application and compatibility of intelligent transportation systems technologies and to increase the safety, integration, efficiency and sustainability of Canada’s transportation system.

Federal funding is provided under the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program, a $600-million program to improve highway infrastructure across Canada. Announced in April 2001, the program has two components, a $500-million highway construction component and a $100-million national system integration component, of which $30 million is designated to fund intelligent transportation system initiatives.

For further information, please visit the intelligent transportation systems website at www.its-sti.gc.ca.