Due to increased public demand the B.C. Ministry of
Transportation recently added 40 highway Webcams to ensure
commuters a smooth ride.
The cameras provide approximate real-time viewing of the conditions on
provincial highways viewable on the B.C. Highway Cams Web site.
The new cameras have been added within the past few weeks to the
16 already in existence, according to Jeff Knight, spokesperson,
public affairs bureau, B.C. Ministry of Transportation.
"They've been very popular," said Knight. "The Highway Cams Web
site recorded 1.8 million visits in the first quarter of this
year."
Knight said the cost of the cameras is jointly funded by the
federal and provincial governments, through the Strategic Highway
Infrastructure Program (SHIP).
Jonathan Sabean, policy advisor, Intelligent
Transportation Systems (ITS) office, Transport Canada, said
that SHIP is a $600 million initiative.
"It was a two-part fund, $500 million for highway construction,
and $100 million for national system integration," said Sabean. "We
have $30 million to fund ITS initiatives that comes out of the
integration piece of the funding."
The 40 newly added cameras cost "just under" $500,000 with a
typical camera costing about $20,000 to install -- assuming there's
power and communications available, according to Knight.
"The cameras themselves are built to endure rugged weather
conditions because they are often situated in remote areas where
weather can be extreme," said Knight. "Extreme weather and traffic
congestion are some of the factors taken into consideration when
deciding where to place the cameras."
There are technical considerations as well, he said. There has
to be power for the camera, accessibility for maintenance and
communications carrier availability.
"The Highway Cams site has also added several new features
including the My Highway Cams feature," said Knight. "It allows you
to choose the cameras that you want to view and you can group them
together onto one page to make it easier to access."
There are also clickable maps of the Webcam locations and FAQ's
have been posted on the site as well.
"The site helps people plan their day a little bit better," he
said.
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