OTTAWA, Ont. — Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre today announced a $1 million second call for proposals for projects that advance transportation planning and enhance integration and connections between modes of transportation.

The types of proposals eligible for funding include:

– planning and feasibility studies or projects (except for urban transit);
– infrastructure and technology projects that improve connections between modes or modal integration;
– initiatives that facilitate modal partnerships or cross-modal/shipper partnerships;
– research studies that provide greater understanding of multimodal transportation;
– development and dissemination of information management tools;
– innovative approaches to transportation at cross-modal hubs or transfer points along trade corridors for the dispersal of persons or goods at ports, airports, rail stations and other facilities;
– development, diffusion and implementation of asset, freight and travel demand management systems;
– innovative approaches to the movement of freight and goods in rural and northern areas that make more effective use of available transportation options; and
– paperless transactions or electronic commerce technology and systems in the transportation environment.

Provinces, territories, municipalities, First Nations, registered not-for-profit organizations, private enterprises, public or private transportation authorities or agencies and academic institutions may apply.

Partnerships between two or more of these entities are encouraged. To date, more than $3.5 million in funding has been granted to a total of 30 projects in all regions of the country. Four projects have been gateway and corridor studies, fifteen have been multimodal studies and eleven projects have been urban transportation studies.

Funding for this initiative is part of the Government of Canada’s $600-million Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program, which was announced on April 3, 2001. The program has two components: a $500-million highway construction component and a $100-million national system integration component. Of the $100 million, $5 million is available for studies or applied transportation initiatives that advance transportation planning and modal
integration along transportation corridors. Approximately $1 million of these funds will be distributed to qualified applicants under this call for proposals.

The call for proposals will be open for approximately 12 weeks, until February 1, 2006. An applicants’ guide is available on the Internet at www.tc.gc.ca/pol/en/acg/acgd/tpmi2005/schedule.htm(pound key)APPLICATION .