No H010/05 For publication January 12, 2005 INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS PROJECT FUNDED IN NOVA SCOTIA OTTAWA – The Honourable Geoff Regan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Minister Responsible for Nova Scotia, on behalf of Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre, today announced funding of $250,000 for a project aimed at making transportation in Nova Scotia safer, more reliable and more efficient. The project, a vehicle tracking system for rapid transit, will receive funding under Transport Canada's Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Plan. "Innovation is essential to Canada's growth and competitiveness," said Mr. Regan. "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 will be awarded to 25 projects across Canada. "The funds devoted to this project 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 Intelligent Transportation Systems 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 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. - 30 - Contacts: Irène Marcheterre Director of Communications Office of the Minister of Transport, Ottawa (613) 991-0700 Brian Underhill Director of Communications Office of the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Ottawa (613) 992-3474 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. This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities. BACKGROUNDER INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS PROJECTS Intelligent Transportation Systems 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 Intelligent Transportation Systems 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 project has been selected: Halifax Regional Municipality Implement a pilot deployment project for bus rapid transit as an initial step to an integrated corporate vehicle tracking and communication system. Partners: none Funding awarded: $250,000 Total cost of proposal: $500,000 For further information, please visit the Intelligent Transportation Systems website at www.its-sti.gc.ca. January 2005
