Alberta to implement ITS

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EDMONTON, Alta. – The governments of Canada and Alberta just announced the signing of two contribution agreements between them for Intelligent Transportation Systems in the province of Alberta.

Anne McLellan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Environment Minister Stephane Dion, along with Dr. Lyle Oberg, Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation Minister made the announcement.

Under the agreements, the governments of Canada and Alberta will each contribute $652,400 for the acquisition and installation of 19 Road Weather Information System stations along the National Highway System in Alberta. An additional $500,000 will be provided by both the Government of Canada and the province with its partners, for Intelligent Transportation Systems research and development.

“This partnership allows us to make further use of Intelligent Transportation Systems technologies such as the Road Weather Information System,” said Dr. Oberg. “These technologies will enhance safety and efficiency on Alberta highways.”

Road Weather Information Systems comprise 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 help weather forecasters and highway maintenance personnel to predict icing conditions. The Road Weather Information Systems initiative is a joint provincial, territorial, Transport Canada and Environment Canada program to provide Canadians and highway maintenance personnel with timely road weather information.

Under the second contribution agreement announced, the Province of Alberta and its partners will undertake ITS research and development projects in the area of road safety.

The first project to be funded under the new agreement will be a wireless communications pilot for commercial vehicle inspection. Inspectors will test technology that allows them to access information from central computer systems and databases with laptop computers in the field.

The agreement will partner Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation with interested stakeholders to complete the research. These stakeholders include the Centre for Transportation Engineering and Planning, which includes the Universities of Alberta and Calgary, municipal governments and members of the transportation engineering industry. n

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