Released on December 18, 1997
Highways and Transportation Minister Judy Bradley today announced thecreation of the Area Transportation Planning Committee (ATPC) Support
Program.
"Our transportation strategy, Investing in Transportation, A
Transportation Strategy for Saskatchewan People, emphasizes shared
decision-making and responsibility in managing our transportation
system," Bradley said. "Area Transportation Planning Committees are a
key element in achieving local input for transportation planning and
in having the opportunity to influence spending of the $2.5 billion
provincial government commitment to transportation over the next 10
years. By creating the ATPC Support Program we can help committees
with their start-up and initial operating costs."
The ATPC Support Program will fill a funding gap that exists for the
committees facing funding difficulties during start-up and the initial
year or two of operations. The Support Program will reimburse ATPCs
for 100 per cent of eligible start-up costs up to $10,000 and
50 per cent of eligible initial operational cost up to a total of
$20,000. The estimated maximum start-up and operational assistance
provided by the Support Program would be $300,000 in the 1997/98 and
1998/99 fiscal years.
There are area transportation planning committees formed in the
south west, south central, west central and north east parts of
the province. Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation is
currently working with an additional two start-up committees who
are facilitating formation of area transportation planning
committees in the south east and north central parts of the
province.
Area transportation planning committees include representatives
from rural and urban municipalities, Regional Economic
Development Authorities, SUMA, SARM, Saskatchewan Highways and
Transportation and other major stakeholders. The ATPCs generally
serve a large geographic area of about 40 rural municipalities.
They are advisory bodies formed to develop transportation plans
to assist municipalities and the province in making important
decisions on transportation priorities and economic investments.
Area transportation planning is used to view the entire
transportation system including rail branch lines and local road
networks in developing a regional transportation plan.
"The Support Program will provide much needed assistance to those
urban and rural municipalities who want to work co-operatively
through ATPCs to plan the future of transportation in rural
Saskatchewan," Bradley said.
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For more information, contact:
Daryl Nixon
Strategic & Area Transportation Planning
Highways and Transportation
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-4918
Cell: (306) 537-2838