No. H138/03 For release November 21, 2003GOVERNMENT OF CANADAAND GOVERNMENT OF ONTARIOANNOUNCE $336 MILLION INHIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT FUNDINGTORONTO - Transport Minister David Collenette, and Harinder Takhar, Ontario Minister of Transportation, today signed an agreement to provide joint funding of $336 million for ten highway improvement projects in Ontario. Each government will contribute $168 million.This agreement is part of the $600 million Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program (SHIP) announced by Minister Collenette in April 2001. "This federal contribution of $168 million from the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program goes a long way to improving the overall condition of Ontario's highways, with projects in southern, eastern, central and northern Ontario" said Mr. Collenette. "It demonstrates our commitment to enhancing the safety and efficiency of Canada's National Highway System.""Ontario is pleased to partner with the federal government on these projects to ease gridlock in central and southwestern Ontario and help the north achieve its economic potential," said Mr. Takhar. "Improving and expanding Ontario's highway network is vital for economic growth and prosperity, and we must ensure that goods, services and people can move smoothly and safely on our highways.""Today's announcement demonstrates once again the Government of Canada's commitment to key strategic infrastructure throughout the country, and to working in partnership with the Government of Ontario to deliver much needed transportation improvements," said Minister of Industry Allan Rock. "Building together a modern infrastructure for Ontario will increase economic opportunities for businesses and the many industries that thrive throughout the province.""This highway investment is part of our commitment to restore Ontario's ageing infrastructure," Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal David Caplan said. "It is a demonstration of a new era of cooperation, when governments at all levels work together to bring positive change for the people of Ontario."The ten construction projects announced will be carried out on Highway 401, Highway 69/400 and Highway 17. The projects slated for Highway 401 focus on expanding the existing roadway to increase capacity and enhance safety. Highway 401 between Windsor and Tilbury will be widened to six lanes, improving safety and facilitating trade. Additional Highway 401 projects near Kingston and Belleville will improve one of Canada's busiest highways.Infrastructure in Northern Ontario will also be improved with the four-laning of Highway 17 east of Sault Ste. Marie and a new alignment of Highway 11/17 west of Thunder Bay. Portions of Highway 69 will be upgraded to provide a four-lane divided highway between northern and southern Ontario, including projects south of Sudbury.With this announcement and through various federal and provincial infrastructure programs in the past year, the governments of Canada and Ontario have announced more than $1.8 billion in joint funding for transportation improvements in Ontario, including highway, public transit and border projects. Funding for SHIP projects is conditional on the results of required environmental approvals.Federal funding for the projects is built into the existing federal financial framework.Backgrounders with additional information on SHIP and project details are attached.- 30 - Contacts: Amy Butcher Director of Communications Office of the Minister, Ottawa (613) 991-0700 Bob NicholsOntario Ministry of Transportation(416) 327-1158 Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at apps.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada. Pour plus de renseignements sur le ministère des Transports de l'Ontario, consultez son site Web à www.mto.gov.on.ca This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities. BACKGROUNDERSTRATEGIC HIGHWAYINFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM - CANADA-ONTARIOIn the February 2000 budget, the Government of Canada committed to improve the economy and the quality of life for Canadians by investing up to $600 million over five years in highway infrastructure across Canada. In April 2001, Transport Minister David Collenette announced the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program (SHIP). The program has two components: a $500 million highway construction component and a $100 million national system integration component. Under SHIP, $500 million, including $15 million in administrative costs, is available to address the needs of Canada's highways. The program formally began in fiscal year 2002-2003. The Government of Canada is working with the provinces and territories to identify those parts of the National Highway System that - because of growing traffic and increasing trade - need immediate attention. This will result in a safer and more efficient highway system for all Canadians. An allocation formula has been developed to distribute the $485 million available to the provinces and territories for road construction under SHIP. The formula consists of a minimum of $4 million per jurisdiction plus a share based on population and a 50-50 cost-sharing ratio with the province. Under this formula, the total federal allocation for the Province of Ontario is $168 million. Environmental assessments that meet the requirements of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and Ontario environmental approvals will be undertaken before these projects begin. Funding for the projects is conditional on the results of these assessments and receipt of environmental approvals. SHIP is providing $100 million nationally to fund initiatives that better integrate the transportation system. These include the deployment of Intelligent Transportation Systems across Canada, improvements to border crossings and improving transportation planning. Intelligent Transportation Systems include applications such as advanced systems for traveller information, traffic management, public transport, commercial vehicle operations, emergency response management and vehicle safety. SHIP continues the Government of Canada's long tradition of highway funding that started more than 80 years ago. In fact, Transport Canada will have invested more than $1.7 billion between 1993 and 2003 to improve highways across Canada. The federal government also invests in transportation-related infrastructure through other programs such as the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund and the Border Infrastructure Fund. The Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario are each investing $168 million to develop a safe, efficient and integrated transportation system to build strong communities and a clean and healthy environment. Each government also recognizes that highways are a critical part of the northern infrastructure. For more information on the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program, please visit www.tc.gc.ca/SHIP/menu.htm. For more information on the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, visit its Web site at www.mto.gov.on.ca. November 2003 BACKGROUNDERSHIP PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS - ONTARIO Under the latest round of SHIP funding for Ontario, 10 projects are proposed. The projects address safety and congestion concerns. The total costs for each project will be equally funded by the governments of Canada and Ontario. Southwestern Ontario Project 1 - Highway 401 Six-laning - Windsor to Tilbury This proposed project would expand 46 kilometres on Highway 401 from four lanes to six lanes between Windsor and Tilbury. This section of Highway 401 is a crucial route for trade within Ontario and for international trade crossing the Canada-U.S. border at Windsor-Detroit. The expansion will include a major safety initiative to construct a concrete barrier wall dividing the eastbound and westbound lanes in areas where there is now a grass median. SHIP will fund the first three phases of this five-phase project. Eastern Ontario Project 2 - Highway 401 - Salmon River Bridge (near Belleville) The Salmon River bridge is a four-lane bridge located on Highway 401 between Kingston and Belleville. The project will include a major rehabilitation including deck replacement and widening to six lanes. The widening of the bridge is required to ease traffic congestion and will allow for the future widening of Highway 401. Northeastern Ontario Project 3 - Highway 401 - Six-laning through Kingston The proposed project will expand Highway 401 from four lanes to six lanes beginning three kilometres west of Regional Road 38 to Sydenham Road. This project is part of a plan to allow for the future expansion of Highway 401, in the Kingston area, from four to six lanes. The project area is often congested and has been identified as an immediate priority. Project 4 - Highway 400/69 - New Interchange in Muskoka This project involves the construction of an interchange and associated ramps on Highway 400 (previously Highway 69) at Muskoka Roads 32 and 38. The project will enhance safety and improve access to the local road network. Project 5 - Highway 69 - Four-laning through Muskoka This proposed project is for the widening of Highway 69 between Musquash River and Tower Road - the last two-lane section of Highway 69 between Toronto and Parry Sound. The project is part of the Ontario Ministry of Transportation's long-term transportation plan to provide a four-lane divided highway link between Sudbury and southern Ontario along Highway 69. The project addresses safety and congestion issues. Project 6 - Highway 69 - Four-laning north of Parry Sound This project aims to improve safety on Highway 69 north of Parry Sound by creating a four-lane controlled access freeway 3.5 kilometres south of Highway 124 that runs north for 6.3 kilometres. This project also includes constructing two interchanges to maintain access to adjacent roads. The project is part of the long-term transportation plan to provide a four-lane divided highway between Sudbury and southern Ontario along Highway 69. It addresses safety and congestion issues. Project 7 - Highway 69 - New four-lane bridge south of Sudbury The proposed project will construct 0.6 kilometres of new four-lane highway, 11.2 kilometres south of Highway 17, near Sudbury. This highway will be on a new alignment, and will bypass the existing Highway 69 to the east. It is part of a larger project to re-align an eight kilometre section of Highway 69. The project will provide an over-pass over a local road and allow for the next phase of the project to be completed. Project 8 - Four-laning south of Sudbury The proposed project will construct a two kilometre section of new four-lane highway south of the existing four-lane highway south of Sudbury. It is a part of a larger eight kilometre project to re-align a section of Highway 69. Northwestern Ontario Project 9 - Highway 17 - Four-laning east of Sault Ste. Marie The proposed project will construct a new 7.3-kilometre section of four-lane divided highway between the Echo River and Bar River Road as part of a broader plan to construct a by-pass road between Sault Ste. Marie and Bar River. The work includes twin overpass structures at the Huron Central Railway and two intersections. Project 10 - Highway 11/17 - New Shabaqua This project involves construction of a new two-lane section of Trans-Canada Highway 11/17 extending from the intersection of the Thunder Bay Expressway and the Harbour Expressway 13 kilometres west to Vibert Road. The project will serve to ease congestion-related problems on Highway 11/17 along the western edge of the City of Thunder Bay. It will enhance safety and the efficiency of the highway that is also a part of the Trans-Canada Highway system by separating traffic related to local business and services from longer distance through-traffic. November 2003
