Mr. Speaker, this afternoon I am pleased to tell the House about several initiatives the Department of Transportation has taken to make critical highway information available to the travelling public. I would like to thank Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development members for suggesting some of these positive initiatives.
The department has erected some 41 emergency information signs. These signs give motorists the name and telephone number of the RCMP detachment responsible for the section of highway they are travelling. The signs are located near where an access road joins a primary highway and where the responsibility for highway patrols passes from one RCMP detachment to another.
If the public wants to know what is happening at the Fort Providence ferry crossing, they can take a look for themselves on the Department of Transportation's web site. The department has installed a video camera on the south side of the ferry crossing that sends a picture every few minutes to their web site. People can actually watch the ferry taking vehicles across the river.
The public can obtain current highway and ferry information from either the department's web site or its toll free telephone service. The service advises of road conditions on the all-weather highway system, seasonal ferry schedules and the status of the winter road system. The service keeps the public informed of highway maintenance and construction activities, interruptions in ferry operations and, for commercial traffic, the load limits in effect on the all-weather and seasonal highways.
To assist those not familiar with the NWT highway system, the department has produced a brochure that provides highway services and safety information, along with other helpful topics about the highway system.
As we know, Mr. Speaker, information is a two-way street. As well as receiving information, the public may sometimes want to comment on highway conditions. Most recently, the Department of Transportation's North Slave regional office has opened a toll free line to listen to what motorists have to say about our highways. The new line should give the department an indication of what the public thinks are the most important factors relating to good road conditions and safe highway travel.
Mr. Speaker, timely and reliable information about our highway system can make all the difference for planning a more convenient, pleasant and safer trip. The highway information services I have mentioned today should help to make travelling our territorial highways a more comfortable and enjoyable experience.
Credit where credit is due. I want to thank all Members who have offered the Department of Transportation their constructive suggestions for safer and better highway transportation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.