The governments of Canada and Prince Edward Island team up to make P.E.I. transportation safer and more reliable

    CHARLOTTETOWN, PE, July 26 /CNW Telbec/ - Canada's New Government and the
government of Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) today announced they will invest
up to $47,350 for the deployment and integration of intelligent transportation
systems in the province. The projects being funded will help make
transportation in P.E.I. safer, more reliable and more efficient. Each
government will contribute up to $23,675 for projects beginning now through to
September 30, 2008.
    The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of
the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence
Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and the
Honourable Ron MacKinley, P.E.I. Transportation and Public Works Minister,
made the announcement.
    "The integration of intelligent transportation systems will support
tourism, trade and economic well-being in P.E.I.," said Minister MacKay. "This
funding will improve the efficiency, productivity and safety of the Canadian
transportation system while reducing environmental impacts."
    "This type of technology will be invaluable to this department and to
road users across Prince Edward Island," said Minister MacKinley. "This new
deal strengthens our government's commitment to safety on the Island's roads."
    With this funding, P.E.I. Transportation and Public Works will acquire
and install up to 10 electronic salt-spreader control systems and add up to
35 infrared road temperature-monitoring systems to the department's winter
road maintenance equipment. This equipment will help collect data to track
fleet performance throughout the winter season, and will optimize winter road
maintenance by providing a controlled and consistent application of road salt.
The department will operate the system for three months and evaluate it based
on reduction in road salt, improved safety, and improved efficiency of highway
maintenance operations.
    Intelligent transportation systems are a new and rapidly developing
field, where information processing, communication systems and sensing devices
are combined and integrated to make the transportation system work more
effectively. Centralized traffic management, transit smart cards and traveller
information systems are examples of intelligent transportation systems in
action.
    Canada's New Government's contribution to these projects comes from the
$600-million Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program, which dedicates
$100 million for initiatives that better integrate the country's
transportation system, including $30 million to fund intelligent
transportation systems.

    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 www.its-sti.gc.ca.Backgrounder
    ------------

                     INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS
                     ----------------------------------

    Intelligent transportation systems include 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
provided more than $23 million in support of intelligent transportation
systems projects and research in Canada.
    Intelligent transportation systems encompass new products, 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.
    Intelligent transportation systems have the potential to maximize the use
and efficiency of the roadway infrastructure through improvements to the
management of traffic flow, provision of traffic, weather and schedule
information to drivers to support alternative trip choices, and quick
responses to incidents. These measures will enable Canada to meet its future
mobility needs more responsibly and at a fraction of the cost of constructing
new facilities.
    Federal funding for intelligent transportation systems 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.

                                                                 July 2007

For further information: Natalie Sarafian, Press Secretary, Office of
the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa, (613)
991-0700; Andrew Sprague, Communications Officer, Office of the P.E.I.
Minister of Transportation and Public Works, Charlottetown, [phone];
Amanda Stringer, Communications, Transport Canada, Ottawa, [phone];
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and
speeches at www.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.