B.C.'s provincial government is hoping to put the brakes on greenhouse gas emissions at the Canada-U.S. border crossing by introducing a stop light for travellers.
The light will be installed at the Peace Arch crossing south of White Rock, B.C. in a pilot project to reduce engine idling and improve air quality. Travellers waiting in the long line-ups will be asked to cut the engine while they wait.
The light will be used to hold some traffic back during peak periods times so drivers can shut off their engines.
When traffic ahead of the signal begins to clear U.S. Customs, the light will turn green and release another group of motorists.
The provincial government says this will not increase the wait time to get across the border.
The government claims the program will cut the average vehicle idling time at the border by 20 minutes and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by almost 640,000 kilograms a year. B.C.'s current annual greenhouse gas output is about 66 million tones, or 66 billion kilograms. About 44 per cent of this number is caused by transportation emissions.
