Blue Water Bridge receives award for dedication to FAST

TORONTO, (June 8, 2004) — The Blue Water Bridge Authority was presented with the Transportation Program of the Year award at the National Transportation Week Ontario Awards for their dedicated Free and Secure Trade infrastructure initiative.

FAST is a bilateral U.S. and Canadian program that offers expedited clearance to pre-approved importers, carriers and drivers registered in the program.

On January 5, 2004, Blue Water Bridge became the first Canada-U.S. border crossing to implement dedicated FAST infrastructure. This includes a designated lane on the bridge and on Highway 402, as well as a toll booth for FAST approved shipments.

FAST-approved drivers no longer have to wait in lineups as they approach the bridge, but can drive directly to the toll booth and across the bridge to the Michigan side. On peak volume days, trucks registered in FAST represent 15-18 per cent of the truck traffic at the Blue Water Bridge.