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“Turning
off your engines while you wait is one of those common sense things that we can
all do to reduce emissions and save on gas,” said Falcon. “This new pilot
program will let motorists help improve the border’s air quality without
increasing their wait times.”
The
pilot program involves installing a traffic signal 63 metres north of the U.S.
Customs booth. During periods of heavy
traffic, the signal will turn red, allowing motorists behind the signal to turn
off idling engines. Once motorists ahead of the signal start to clear U.S.
Customs, the signal will turn green and release another group of motorists. The
total time to reach the customs booth will not change.
Under
this program, an estimated 639,000 kilograms of greenhouse gas emissions per
year will be eliminated. Removing the emissions will be achieved by reducing
average vehicle idling time at the border by 20 minutes.
“Vehicle emissions
are a significant source of both harmful air pollutants and greenhouse gases,”
said Penner. “By minimizing idling, we’re doing our part to improve air quality
and curb the damaging effects of climate change, while helping individuals to
save money by reducing their fuel consumption.”
This
pilot is part of a larger Greening the Border program agreed upon by Falcon and
Washington’s Secretary of Transportation, Paula Hammond on June 20. In addition
to the traffic signal, Greening the Border will improve information for
travelers on border wait times and line-up conditions through promotion of the
Advanced Traveler Information System (ATIS) and NEXUS lane. Both allow
motorists to make informed decisions about when to travel and which border to
use.
For
more information on border conditions, motorists can visit: www.th.gov.bc.ca/ATIS/index.htm
More
information on the Nexus program is available at: www.getnexus.com
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contact: |
Public Affairs Bureau Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure 250 356-7707 |
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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