NLIS 6 August 4, 2005 (Transportation and Works) Governments
of
Natural
Resources Minister R. John Efford, on behalf of
Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre, along
with Intelligent
transportation systems refer to a broad range of technologies designed to
make transportation safer, more efficient, more reliable and more
environmentally friendly. Under
the agreement, $1.1 million will be invested on a 50-50 cost-shared basis
between federal and provincial levels of government for the acquisition and
installation of up to 18 road weather information systems stations along the
National Highway System in the province.
The project work is expected to be completed by �The
agreement for the acquisition and installation of road weather information
systems stations is a good example of cooperation between provincial and
federal governments to enhance safety,� said Mr. Efford.
�The application of these new technologies will help to make Road
weather information systems are automated weather reporting stations with
special sensors embedded in and below the road and on nearby towers.
These systems collect detailed data on weather conditions at and near
the road surface, which helps weather forecasters predict icing conditions
and helps road crews make winter highway maintenance decisions, among other
things. Cameras on selected
stations will also provide visual data on highway conditions, which the
public can access through the Internet.
The national Road Weather Information Systems initiative is a joint
federal-provincial-territorial program to provide Canadians with improved
road weather information. Transport
�The
agreement for the acquisition and installation of road weather information
systems stations is one of several that will establish a cross-Canada
integrated network of information systems providing critical weather
information for road maintenance crews,� said Mr. Lapierre.
�These new technologies will increase economic productivity while
enhancing road safety and travel efficiency.� Transport
As a
condition of funding, provinces and territories are also required to enter
into a data-sharing agreement with Environment Canada. �The
road weather information system project is valued at $1.1 million and will
be cost-shared on a 50-50 basis by the federal and provincial levels of
government,� said Mr. Rideout. �This
system will enable the public to better plan trips and routes, resulting in
reduced travel times and accident rates.
Our government is committed to the people of our province and we are
particularly committed to ensuring their everyday lives are healthy and
safe.� �Environment
�I am
extremely pleased that the Road Weather Information System will be installed
in our province, which will positively impact the environment through the
more efficient use of salt on our roads,� said Tom Osborne, Federal
funding will be provided under the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program,
a $600-million program to improve highway infrastructure across Funding
for this program is built into the existing financial framework. Backgrounders
with further information on road weather information systems and intelligent
transportation systems follow. Media
contact: Ir�ne
Marcheterre, Director of Communications, Office of the Minister of
Transport, Lori
Lee Oates, Director of Communications, Transportation and Works, Robin
Browne, Communications, Transport Canada, Paul
Dellanoy, Director of Natural Resource Sector Services, Environment Canada, Sonia
Glover, Director of Communications, Environment and Conservation, This
news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with
visual disabilities. BACKGROUNDER Road
Weather Information Systems Road
weather information systems are automated weather reporting stations with
special sensors embedded in and below the road, and on nearby towers.
These systems collect detailed data on weather conditions at and near
the road surface, which can assist weather forecasters in predicting road
surface conditions. Road
maintenance crews can use �real-time� road weather information to decide
if road treatment is necessary, when to treat, what chemicals or mixtures to
use, and how much is required. Road
weather information systems have two major benefits.
First, by enabling maintenance crews to treat roads in advance of
icing conditions, winter driving safety can be enhanced.
Second, by reducing the overall amount of road salt used, they can
help mitigate the negative impact of road salt on the environment.
Data collected can also be incorporated into advance traveller
information systems for use by the public. Traveller
information systems provide users with up-to-date information on road and
weather conditions, including weather alerts, congestion, incidents and
planned events. This information
can help the travelling public to make effective decisions on how and when
to travel. Since
1999, Transport The
federal government is negotiating with the provinces and territories to
finalize contribution and data sharing agreements for these systems.
Once an agreement is in place, construction of the environmental
sensor sites along the National Highway System can begin.
The negotiations, construction and activation are expected to be
completed by 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 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 application of advanced technologies
including information processing, communications, and sensing and control. The
Government of Canada�s Intelligent Transportation Systems Plan for
Canada: En Route to Intelligent Mobility (1999) sets out the strategy
for stimulating the development and deployment of intelligent transportation
systems across urban and rural Canada. The
goals are to maximize the use and efficiency of existing infrastructure and
meet future mobility needs more responsibly.
The Intelligent Transportation Systems Plan provides leadership and
support to advance the application and compatibility of intelligent
transportation systems technologies and to increase the safety, integration,
efficiency and sustainability of Canada�s transportation network. Federal
funding is provided under the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program, a
$600-million program to improve highway infrastructure across Canada.
Announced in April 2001, 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 systems initiatives. For
further information, please visit the intelligent transportation systems Web
site at 2005
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