No. H080/06For release July 18, 2006
SURREY — Work has begun to extend the Highway 15 FAST (Free
and Secure Trade Program) truck lane to improve the flow of goods at the Pacific
Highway Border Crossing in Surrey, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and
Communities, the Honourable Lawrence Cannon and British Columbia Transportation
Minister Kevin Falcon announced today.
"The trucking industry and the surrounding community will both benefit from this
extension," said Minister Cannon. "There will be reduced delays and queues for
trucks, and air pollution and noise levels will be reduced; everyone wins."
"The Pacific Border Crossing is vital to the economy of our province and our
nation," said Minister Falcon. "That's why we are moving ahead with this project
to ease congestion, reduce border line-ups and save time and operating costs for
FAST commercial vehicles that are moving products to market."
The Pacific Highway crossing is the primary commercial vehicle crossing for the
Lower Mainland and the fourth busiest commercial vehicle crossing along the
entire Canada/US border. It handles 75 per cent of commercial vehicle traffic in
the Lower Mainland with more than 1.1 million southbound commercial vehicles
crossing in 2002.
The FAST was implemented at border crossings to ease congestion and enhance
security by pre-clearing certain classes of freight prior to arrival at the
border.
FAST lane users currently share the curb lane with other heavy vehicles like
buses and non-FAST commercial vehicles. When long truck queues form in the curb
lane, vehicles are unable to access the existing FAST lane. The project will
also benefit the surrounding community by reducing noise and pollution from
idling vehicles.
Imperial Paving Ltd. of Burnaby has been awarded a $3.1 million contract to
construct the extension, which involves building a third southbound lane on
Highway 15 from 4th Avenue to 8th Avenue. The project will augment the existing
southbound FAST truck lane, constructed in 2004, from the border to south of 4th
Avenue.
The FAST lane extension is scheduled for completion in November. Transport
Canada and the Province of British Columbia are cost-sharing the project under
the Canada/British Columbia Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program.
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Contacts:
Linda Licari
Communications
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
Mike Long
Ministry of Transportation
Communications
250-387-7787 / 213-3402
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.
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BACKGROUNDER
STRATEGIC HIGHWAY INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM
The Government of Canada is committed to improving the economy
and the quality of life for Canadians by investing in highway infrastructure
across Canada. As part of this commitment, Transport Canada announced the
Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program (SHIP) in April 2001. The program has
two components: a $500 million highway construction component and a $100 million
national system integration component.
Under the highway component, the Government of Canada works 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 determines how much federal funding each province and
territory receives with a minimum of $4 million per jurisdiction plus a share
based on population. Provinces and territories cost-share these projects on a
50-50 basis. Under this formula, the total federal allocation for the Province
of British Columbia is $61.2 million, with an additional $14.1 million under the
border component of SHIP. Under the previous joint highway funding agreements
since 1993, Transport Canada contributed $45 million to the province of British
Columbia. This brings the total funding from Transport Canada to $121 million.
Before any project begins, an environmental assessment is undertaken that meets
the requirements of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. Funding for
projects is conditional on the results of the assessment and receipt of
environmental approvals.
Under the second component of SHIP, the government provides $100 million
nationally to fund initiatives that better integrate the transportation system.
These include the deployment of Intelligent Transportation Systems across Canada
and improvements to border crossings and 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 has invested more than
$1.7 billion between 1993 and 2003 to improve highways across Canada. The
Government of Canada also invests in transportation-related infrastructure
through other programs such as the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund and the
Border Infrastructure Fund.
For more information on the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program, please
visit www.tc.gc.ca/SHIP/menu.htm.
July 2006
