No. H064/11
For release - July 29, 2011
OTTAWA — Today, the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and Minister Blair Lekstrom, British Columbia's Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, announced the expansion of the Advanced Traveller Information System (ATIS) to two new British Columbia border crossings. The system measures and reports wait times to allow travellers to make informed route choices. Transport Canada and the Province of British Columbia each funded 50% of the $2.6 million total cost.
The federal funds come from the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) at Border Crossings program, a contribution program that provides funding to transportation operators to deploy transportation technology at Canada-U.S. land border crossings.
"The Government of Canada is proud to participate in expanding the Border Wait Time Measurement system initiative," said Minister Lebel. "Using advanced technologies such as these at crossings along the B.C. and Washington State international border will help travellers decide when and where to cross this border and will reduce delays at these crossings."
"Just in time for the long-weekend, the new signs will give vacationing families and other travellers the information they need to choose which border crossing to use," said Minister Lekstrom. "We will continue to work with the Washington State Department of Transportation, a key player in maintaining the smooth flow of traffic between the state and the B.C. Lower Mainland."
The system measures border wait times at the Aldergrove (Highway 13) and Sumas (Highway 11) crossings and will make crossing Canada's borders more efficient for passengers and freight. The efficient flow of goods is vital for trade between Canadian and American markets and it plays a key role in Canada's economic competitiveness and productivity. In 2009 alone, over $1.8 billion in goods and more than 1.2 million passenger vehicles travelled to the U.S. via the Sumas and Aldergrove crossings.
The system includes the installation of vehicle detectors on the approach to the border similar to those at the Pacific Highway (Highway 15) and Peace Arch (Highway 99) crossings. Wait time information will be provided to drivers via electronic message signs and British Columbia's Traveller Information website (www.th.gov.bc.ca/ATIS/index.htm).
The expansion of the ATIS is a key component of the border traffic management program and the work being done by the British Columbia-Washington State joint Transportation Executive Council to improve cross border traffic flow.
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