In Toronto, one project is testing smart cards that give access to all kinds of transportation modes for use in the Greater Toronto Area, as well as access to intercity modes. Imagine one card that can accommodate all your transportation needs from the VIA ride into town, to the subway and streetcar rides, to parking. This would cut down processing time and make mass transit more accessible, more integrated and more efficient. We cannot address the gridlock issue without seriously considering its impact on the environment. In fact, an estimated two-thirds of transport greenhouse gas emissions in cities are caused primarily by the use of personal vehicles and trucks.
Transportation is also a big contributor to smog.
Gridlock compounds these problems. Transportation is a substantial component of Action Plan 2000 . These programs, while aimed at the environment, will also have an impact on congestion, infrastructure and quality of life. The program, launched in 1999, helps organizations deliver concrete results in support of Transport Canada's commitment to sustainability. Three of the nine projects we are announcing today are in Toronto.