No. H168/06For release
November 29, 2006
THE GOVERNMENTS OF CANADA AND ONTARIO
TEAM UP TO FUND RESEARCH TO MAKE ONTARIO
TRANSPORTATION SAFER AND MORE RELIABLE
OTTAWA - The governments of Canada and Ontario today announced they will
invest a total of $930,000 in research and development projects on intelligent
transportation systems. These projects have the potential for making
transportation in Ontario safer, more reliable and efficient. Each government
will contribute $465,000 for projects beginning now through to September 30,
2008.
The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and
Communities, and Ontario Transportation Minister Donna Cansfield made the
announcement.
"Canada's growth and competitiveness in world markets depend on innovation
and creativity," said Minister Cannon. "This funding will help researchers in
their efforts to make Ontario's transportation system safer, more efficient and
more sustainable."
"Intelligent transportation systems can help deliver an integrated
transportation network that supports the economic well-being and quality of life
that Ontarians deserve," said Minister Cansfield. "These research projects will
help us understand how we can integrate transit and highway planning."
The University of Toronto will oversee three projects totalling $264,000,
expected to be complete by fall 2008. Two of the projects will explore ways to
make transit more convenient and attractive for passengers by increasing the
level of service and making transit schedules and routes more flexible.
A third project will explore changes in the movement of goods by commercial
vehicles that will provide up-to-date information on heavily used truck routes,
which will help in planning and investing in future highway improvements.
Intelligent transportation systems are a new and rapidly developing field,
where information processing, communication systems and sensing devices are
creatively combined and integrated 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.
The intelligent transportation systems initiative supports key Transport
Canada objectives designed to promote the adoption of intelligent transportation
systems technologies to advance the safety, security and efficiency of our
transportation system.
These projects support Ontario's intelligent transportation systems plan to
enhance and improve the province's transportation network. Innovative new
technologies will help achieve the goal of building a safe, effective and
integrated transportation system that supports economic prosperity and helps
meet future transportation needs.
This initiative is funded by the governments of Canada and Ontario under the
$600-million Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program, which dedicates $100
million for initiatives that better integrate the country's transportation
system. One of these is the $30-million intelligent transportation systems
initiative, which includes applications such as advanced systems for traveller
information, traffic management, public transport, commercial vehicle
operations, emergency response management and vehicle safety.
A backgrounder with further information on intelligent
transportation systems is attached.
For more information about Transport Canada's role in intelligent
transportation systems, please visit the ITS website at
www.its-sti.gc.ca.
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Contacts:
Natalie Sarafian
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa
613-991-0700
Neal Kelly
Office of the Ontario Minister of Transportation,
Toronto
416-327-9134
Robin Browne
Communications
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
Bob Nichols
Communications Branch
Ontario Ministry of Transportation, Toronto
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.
This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities.
Backgrounder
INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS
Intelligent transportation systems are a broad range of diverse technologies
used to make transportation systems safer, more efficient, more reliable and
more environmentally friendly, without necessarily having to physically alter
existing infrastructure. Since 1999, Transport Canada has been promoting them
aggressively and has provided more than $23 million in support of intelligent
transportation systems projects and research in Canada.
Intelligent transportation systems encompass new products and information and
communications technologies for the development, operation and management of the
transportation system. They include applications such as advanced systems for
traveller information, traffic management, public transport, commercial vehicle
operations, emergency response management and vehicle safety. They all have in
common the integrated application of advanced technologies, including
information processing, communications, and sensing and control.
The goals are to maximize the use and efficiency of existing infrastructure
and meet future mobility needs more responsibly.
Federal funding is provided under the Strategic Highway Infrastructure
Program, a $600-million program to improve highway infrastructure across Canada.
The program has two components, a $500-million highway construction component
and a $100-million national system integration component, of which $30 million
is designated to fund intelligent transportation system initiatives.
For further information, please visit the intelligent transportation systems
website at www.its-sti.gc.ca.
November 2006
