No. H019/02
For release March 13, 2002

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND GETS FUNDING FOR
INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS PROJECT

OTTAWA - Solicitor General of Canada Lawrence MacAulay, on behalf of Transport Minister David Collenette, today announced that the Government of Canada has committed $93,500 for a cost-shared project in Prince Edward Island under Transport Canada’s Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Deployment and Integration Plan.

“This funding will help to accelerate deployment and integration of ITS in the province,” said Mr. MacAulay. “This system will also help facilitate the flow of traffic across the Confederation Bridge.”

Strait Crossing Development Inc. will receive $93,500 for deployment of an electronic payment system on the Confederation Bridge which will help improve traffic flow. This will also allow for electronic toll collection for commercial vehicles, bringing the Confederation Bridge in line with other tolling facilities throughout the Atlantic region.

There is a need to modernize and optimize Canada’s transportation system to achieve the high level of mobility demanded today. Intelligent Transportation Systems can transform the way we build, manage and operate the transportation system. ITS include advanced systems for: public transit, traffic management, traveller information and vehicle control, commercial vehicle and fleet management, and rural transportation. They also include the application of advanced technologies, including information processing, communications, and sensing and control.

“Stimulating development and deployment of ITS through partnerships is an important step in demonstrating the Government of Canada’s commitment to innovative advances in transportation technology,” said Mr. Collenette.

Funding for this project comes as part of the Government of Canada’s Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program (SHIP), which was announced on April 3, 2001. The funds identified under SHIP will be used to continue to advance the deployment of ITS across Canada. Final approval is subject to the successful conclusion of a contribution agreement between the Government of Canada and Strait Crossing Development Inc.

For more information, refer to Transport Canada’s ITS web site at www.its-sti.gc.ca.

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Contact:

Brian McGregor
Communications, Ottawa
(613) 991-3409

Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca.
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