No. H032/04
For release May 14, 2004

WINNING INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEMS PROJECTS ANNOUNCED

OTTAWA - Ten winning projects under Canada's Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Research and Development Plan were announced today by Transport Minister Tony Valeri.

"Innovation is essential to Canada's growth and competitiveness," said Mr. Valeri. "The ITS plan is an investment in Canadians' skills and innovation and challenges them to help make our transportation system safer, more efficient and more sustainable."

Canada's multimodal ITS Research and Development Plan, Innovation Through Partnership, was launched in April 2003. The goal is to challenge all sectors of the economy to become more innovative and to develop a highly skilled work force in order to compete in the global marketplace. Under the Plan, funding is provided to projects that address the categories of urban transportation; safety, security and trade facilitation; environment; and foundations of innovation.

The plan contains three primary research and development funding components: contracts, contribution agreements and federal/provincial/territorial bilateral agreements. In January 2004, Minister Valeri announced awards for 10 research and development contracts. Today's round of winning projects will be funded under contribution agreements. The amount of funding awarded today totals approximately $1.8 million.

"By supporting new, innovative technologies, we are helping to build a better transportation system for Canadians," said the Honourable Jim Karygiannis, P.C., M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport. "Projects such as the ones announced today address transportation challenges such as traffic congestion and make our transportation system more efficient."

"The goals of this plan are to maximize the use and efficiency of existing infrastructure and to meet future mobility needs in a more integrated manner," added Mr. Valeri.

Funding for these projects comes as part of the Government of Canada's $600 million Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program, which was announced on April 3, 2001. Of this, $100 million is designated to fund initiatives that better integrate the transportation system. These include the deployment of intelligent transportation systems across Canada, improvements to border crossings, and better transportation planning.

Since 1999, Transport Canada has provided more than $10 million in support of ITS projects and research in Canada.

Funding for ITS was provided for in the February 2000 budget and is therefore built into the current fiscal framework.

For more information about Transport Canada's role in ITS, please visit the ITS website at www.its-sti.gc.ca. A copy of the plan is available electronically at www.its-sti.gc.ca/en/research_and_development.htm.

A backgrounder outlining the winning projects is attached.

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BACKGROUNDER

INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR CANADA:
WINNING PROJECTS FOR CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENTS

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) comprise a broad range of diverse technologies applied to transportation to make systems safer, more efficient, more reliable and more environmentally friendly. Transport Canada has been actively promoting ITS, providing more than $10 million in support of ITS projects and research in Canada since 1999.

The field of ITS encompasses new products, information and communications technologies for the development, operation and regulation of the transportation system. ITS includes advanced systems for traffic management, traveller information and vehicle control, commercial vehicle and fleet management, and public transit and rural transportation. They all have in common the application of advanced technologies in such areas as information processing, communications, and sensing and control - technologies that offer the potential to revolutionize the transportation system.

The following projects have been selected for contribution agreements:

Advanced Traveller Information System Pilot Project for Alberta

Morrison Hershfield Group Inc. of Ottawa, Ontario will receive $50,000 to customize and test the Condition Acquisition and Reporting System currently being used in several states in the United States. As a pilot project, Morrison Hershfield Group will use the system, which provides users with critical road, weather and traffic information, to cover portions of Calgary, Edmonton and the highway between them. Partners in this project include Alberta Transportation and the cities of Calgary and Edmonton in association with Castle Rock Consultants.

Commercial Vehicle Dispatch System

The Vancouver International Airport Authority in Richmond, British Columbia will receive $250,000 to develop a hand-held computer-based dispatch system for commercial vehicles (including taxis, vans and buses) at the Vancouver International Airport in partnership with IBI Group. This project aims to improve the efficiency of curbside vehicle management and minimize traffic congestion and waiting times for passengers.

Development of a Communication Driver for ITS Equipment

Tecsult Inc. of Montreal, Quebec, in partnership with Matrikon Inc. of Edmonton, Alberta, will receive $100,000 to develop a communication driver for ITS equipment, in particular for dynamic message signs, to be tested as part of an ITS pilot project with the Ministère des Transports du Québec.

Development of Innovative Smart Card Solutions: Standards and Open System Specifications for Canada

Moving the Economy of Toronto, Ontario will receive $250,000 to further develop "smart card" systems to facilitate use of different regional transit and non-transportation services with only one pass. Partners are IBI Group and the IMS (Integrated Mobility Systems) Consortium, in cooperation with Edmonton Transit Systems and Visa Canada Association.

Ediport Vehicle Access Management System

Ediport Atlantic Inc. of Halifax, Nova Scotia will receive $239,700 for the further development of advanced ITS transponder applications to monitor, schedule and authenticate commercial vehicle movements at the Halifax Port, in partnership with the Halifax Port Authority, IBI Group and Dalhousie University.

Fleet Management for Advanced Intermodal Services

The Centre for Research on Transportation at Université de Montréal, HEC Montréal, and École Polytechnique de Montréal, Québec will receive $111,220 in partnership with CN Intermodal to develop models for managing the interactions of land-based container fleets and shipping lines. They will also propose a blueprint for efficient operation of the new CN Intermodal services for import/export traffic within the intermodal chain, linking land transport to port, navigation and customs activities.

Intelligent Traffic Signal Pre-emption System

The City of Richmond, British Columbia will receive $250,000 in partnership with Coastal Range Systems and McCarney Technologies Inc., to develop a cost-effective method for city-wide traffic signal pre-emption by vehicles equipped with advanced vehicle location technologies where centralized traffic control systems are available. Traffic signal pre-emption can facilitate movements of emergency vehicles, optimize road-rail crossing safety and improve transit operations.

Prototype Portable CMS with Remote-Controlled Pivoting Display

Daktronics Canada of Lachenaie, Quebec will receive $77,080 to develop a prototype trailer changeable message sign (CMS) that incorporates remote-controlled pivoting display, closed-circuit TV cameras and advanced communications software standards for ITS equipment.

Remote Access Personal Digital Assistant System in Support of an Urban Traffic Control System

York Region, Ontario will receive $250,000 in partnership with Delcan Corporation, for the design and development of a remote access personal digital assistant system to allow inventory information related to intersections to be relayed through secure wireless communication technology. The information will be sent immediately to a centralized traffic control server to improve coordination of traffic signal timing. The personal digital assistant will provide a standardized interface to the different brands of traffic control equipment used in the area.

Video Weigh-in Motion Technology in an Urban Environment

The City of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan will receive $226,000 in partnership with International Road Dynamics Inc. and the University of Saskatchewan to develop video weigh-in motion technology for trucks to include licence-plate reading capability and enhance reporting features.

For further information, please visit the ITS Office's Web site at www.its-sti.gc.ca.

May 2004