OTTAWA, Ont. – Twenty-five new projects aimed at making transportation in Canada safer, more reliable and efficient will receive funding under Transport Canada’s Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Plan.

The projects range from an advanced traveler information system in British Columbia, to an integrated data and communication management system in Quebec, to a vehicle tracking system for rapid transit in Nova Scotia.

Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre announced that the selected projects will receive a total of $5 million in funding. The 25 winning projects will take place in various locations across Canada.

“The funds devoted to these projects reaffirm the Government of Canada’s commitment to accelerating the development and adoption of technologies designed specifically to enhance the transportation system, ” said Lapierre. “These innovations promote safety and security, relieve congestion, improve mobility and minimize the negative environmental impacts related to transportation.”

ITS is a new and rapidly developing field, where information processing, communication systems and sensing devices are combined and integrated in creative ways to make the transportation system work more effectively. Centralized traffic management, transit smart cards and electronic tolling are examples of ITS in action.
This initiative supports key departmental objectives designed to promote the adoption of ITS technologies to advance the safety, efficiency and security of our transportation system.

The Government of Canada’s $600 million Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program dedicates $100 million to funding initiatives that better integrate the transportation system.

For more information about Transport Canada’s role in Intelligent Transportation Systems, please visit the ITS website at www.its-sti.gc.ca