No. H071/12
For release - June 26, 2012
ABBOTSFORD, B.C. – A new border delay message sign on Highway 1 will make it easier for motorists and commercial vehicle operators travelling to the U.S. to plan their route and save time. The sign was announced today by Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway Ed Fast and British Columbia Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Blair Lekstrom.
The Advanced Traveller Information System (ATIS) measures and displays border wait times to allow motorists to make informed travel decisions. The new sign is located on Highway 1 westbound, between the Whatcom Road Interchange and Highway 11.
The new sign is part of the previous $2.6 million Highway 11/13 ATIS expansion, with the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia each contributing $1.3 million.
"The Government of Canada is proud to participate in the expansion of the Advanced Traveller Information System" said the Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway. "Using advanced technologies such as this new sign 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."
"We are committed to working with all partners to move people and goods more safely and efficiently across our borders," said Minister Lekstrom. "This new sign will give border travellers and families the information they need to plan their route and save time."
The project supports the Province's goal to improve the movement of goods and people, which is outlined in ‘Canada Starts Here: The BC Jobs Plan'. It also supports the Government of Canada's commitment to accelerate the legitimate flows of people and goods between Canada and the U.S., while strengthening security and economic competitiveness.
The entire ATIS includes overhead message signs approaching key Lower Mainland Canada-U.S. border crossings and changeable message signs on Highway 1, 91 and 99. In addition, travellers can check border wait times and conditions online, at: www.th.gov.bc.ca/ATIS or by calling: 604-542-4380.
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.
This new sign is part of several measures undertaken by the federal and provincial governments to improve cross-border trade and travel in B.C. These measures include expanding the ATIS, adding NEXUS lanes at three border crossings, FAST improvements at Highway 15, improving commercial vehicle access and adding an anti-idling signal system at the Peace Arch crossing.
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Contacts:
Geneviève Sicard
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
Ottawa
613-991-0700
Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
Jeff Knight
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
250-356-7707
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to e-news at www.tc.gc.ca/e-news or stay connected through RSS, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Flickr to keep up to date on the latest from Transport Canada.
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