No H002/05
For publication January 12, 2005

INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEMS PROJECT FUNDED IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

OTTAWA — The Honourable David L. Emerson, Minister of Industry and Minister Responsible for British Columbia, on behalf of Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre, today announced funding of $870,000 for four projects aimed at making transportation in British Columbia safer, more reliable and more efficient.

The projects range from a traffic integration system to the implementation of an advanced traveller information system. The projects will receive funding under Transport Canada's Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Plan.

"Innovation is essential to Canada's growth and competitiveness," said Mr. Emerson. "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."

A total of $5 million is being awarded to 25 projects across Canada.

"The funds devoted to these projects reaffirm the Government of Canada's commitment to accelerating the development and adoption of technologies designed specifically to enhance the transportation system, " said Mr. Lapierre. "These innovations promote safety and security, relieve congestion, improve mobility and minimize the negative environmental impacts related to transportation."

ITS is a new and rapidly developing field, where information processing, communication systems and sensing devices are combined and integrated in creative ways to make the transportation system work more effectively. Centralized traffic management, transit smart cards and electronic tolling are examples of ITS in action.

This initiative supports key departmental objectives designed to promote the adoption of ITS technologies to advance the safety, efficiency and security of our transportation system.

The Government of Canada's $600 million Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program (SHIP) dedicates $100 million to funding initiatives that better integrate the transportation system.

Since 1999, Transport Canada has provided more than $18 million in support of ITS projects and research in Canada. The maximum contribution from Transport Canada for each ITS project is $250,000.

For more information about Transport Canada's role in Intelligent Transportation Systems, please visit the ITS website at www.its-sti.gc.ca.

A backgrounder outlining the winning project is attached.

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BACKGROUNDER

INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS PROJECTS

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 them, providing more than $18 million in support of ITS projects and research in Canada since 1999.

The field of Intelligent Transportation Systems encompasses new products, information and communications technologies for the development, operation and regulation of the transportation system. They include applications such as 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:

City of Kelowna
Integrate the city and provincial traffic signal systems under a central traffic control system to minimize traffic delays and incorporate transit signal priority.
Partners: British Columbia Ministry of Transportation, British Columbia Transit, IBI Group
Funding awarded: $250,000
Total cost of proposal: $515,000

Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority
Deploy an integrated regional signal system that facilitates coordinated operation between adjacent jurisdictions and operational agencies.
Partners: Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, Delcan Corporation, Township of Langley, City of Langley, City of Surrey, British Columbia Ministry of Transportation
Funding awarded: $250,000
Total cost of proposal: $830,000

Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority (TransLink)
Implement a regional advanced traveller information system through the deployment of a condition acquisition and reporting system.
Partners: Castle Rock Consultants
Funding awarded: $120,000
Total cost of proposal: $240,000

British Columbia Transit
Implement a real-time bus arrival notification system for custom transit passengers of the Victoria handyDART accessible transportation service, which serves seniors and disabled passengers.
Partners: none
Funding awarded: $250,000
Total cost of proposal: $685,000

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

January 2005