No. H058/06For release June 26, 2006
VANCOUVER — The Government of Canada will award over $108,250 to two projects
that advance transportation planning and enhance integration and connections
between modes. The projects are being funded under the Transportation Planning
and Modal Integration initiatives, as announced today by the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.
"These projects will help to investigate how we can better combine
transportation modes for greater efficiency and integration of the
transportation system," said Minister Cannon. "They also demonstrate the
Government of Canada's commitment and willingness to encourage innovation and
creativity to solve current transportation challenges."
"The national transportation system involves the connection and integration of
road, rail, air and marine modes, as well as counties, cities, and countries,"
said the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and
Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board. "A sustainable and efficient
transportation system plays an important role in ensuring Canada's competitive
success in global trade where markets are increasingly in competition with one
another."
Under the Transportation Planning and Modal Integration initiatives, applicants can submit
project ideas to Transport Canada, which then selects and contributes funding to
the successful projects.
As part of the selection process, successful projects have to meet one or more
of the following objectives:
support trade, tourism and traffic flows through integrated surface
transportation corridors;
enhance integration and improve connections between modes, through
infrastructure and technology initiatives;
increase transportation mobility, safety, security and efficiency for private,
public and commercial system users;
promote the integration of sustainable transportation principles into
transportation decisions; or
improve data collection for more effective policy planning and operational
management.
To date, approximately $5 million in funding has been granted to a total of 45 projects across the country, including the projects announced today.
Federal funding for these projects was built into the existing financial
framework.
A backgrounder describing the Transportation Planning and Modal Integration
initiatives and the winning projects is attached.
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Contacts:
Natalie Sarafian
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa
(613) 991-0700
Linda Licari
Communications
Transport Canada, Ottawa
(613) 993-0055
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
TRANSPORTATION PLANNING
AND MODAL INTEGRATION INITIATIVES
The Government of Canada encourages the development of innovative approaches
to transportation issues to boost the efficiency and integration of the
transportation system as a whole and ensure its sustainability. By supporting
the development of transportation-related expertise and research in the public,
private and academic sectors, Transport Canada can foster the innovation that
will be required to help our transportation system adapt to the challenges of
the future. Funding for the Transportation Planning and Modal Integration
initiative is part of the Government of Canada's $600-million Strategic Highway
Infrastructure Program.
The following projects have been selected for the second round of funding under
the Transportation Planning and Modal Integration initiative:
Project descriptions
Simulation Model of Container Transport Security for the Vancouver Gateway
The University of British Columbia will receive up to $23,250 to develop a
simulation model of the movement of seaborne international containers through
the Vancouver gateway in order to model the benefits and costs of alternative
security options. The model will represent the operational characteristics of
all participants in the container transport chain.
False Creek Flats Rail Corridor Strategy
The City of Vancouver will receive up to $85,000 to complete a long-term
multimodal transportation planning study of the rail corridor connecting the
False Creek Flats to the Burrard Inlet from the Grandview Cut to the Port of
Vancouver. This study will explore passenger and freight rail infrastructure
issues including where grade separations with pedestrians, cyclists, transit,
trucks and private vehicles are needed over the next 50 years.
June 2006
