Canada – United StatesTransportation Border Work Group

Tuesday, April 17, 2012Hal Morse, GBNRTC Executive Director

Planning Organizations at the Border The Buffalo – Niagara Experience

Planning in U.S. Metro RegionsMetropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)

• The MPO is the “forum for cooperative transportation decisionmaking for the metropolitan area”

• Primary engine driving regional collaboration and coordination

• Leads the transportation planning process for the metropolitan area, develops and approves Metropolitan Plan for transportation

• Also the region’s policymaking organization responsible for prioritizing and programming funds for transportation initiatives

• Carries out the metro transportation planning process in cooperation with the State DOT(s) and transit operators

Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Council

Erie and Niagara County’s Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)

A Cooperative Association of Area Governments and Agencies

City of Buffalo

City of Niagara Falls

Erie County

Niagara County

NYS Department of Transportation

Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority

NYS Thruway Authority

Our Mission• Focus on projects - Staging the right projects at

the right time• Plan for the future - What do we need, how will

we get there• Address region’s issues – examine regional and

local challenges and develop solutions • BiNational planning and economic integration

seen as a key issue

Early BiNational Planning Efforts

Historically Good Neighbors

Regional Approaches are Inclusive; GBNRTC, Regional Niagara,

NITTEC

Cross Border Transportation Planning

Coordination Subcommittee

Numerous Studies and Data Collection

BiNational Regional Travel Model at GBNRTC

Bridge Operators Working Relationship

Active Trade and Tourism Groups

Why the Border is Important

Transportation InfrastructureFour (4) International Motor Vehicle Bridges

QEW and Interstate I-90 (Major Connectors)

Two (2) Railway Bridges

Four (4) Major Railways

Rail Passenger Service VIA and AMTRAK

Commuter Rail – GO Train

Inter-City Bus Services

Four (4) Major Airports

Welland Canal (St. Lawrence Seaway), Several Ports

US Border Entry from Canada Volume Rankings – Buffalo Niagara

US/Canada and NYS/Ontario Trade

• The trade relationship between the US and Canada is the largest in the world

• Volumes crossing the U.S. and Canada border encompasses more the US $1.4B a day and over 200M people a year

US/Canada and NYS/Ontario Trade

• The portion of that trade which flows between NYS and Ontario is a major part of that total trade relationship

• NYS-Ontario annual trade typically at least $20B

Truck Flows: Queenston-Lewiston Bridge

Truck Flows: Peace Bridge

The New York-Ontario Summit

• Recognizing the close economic ties, the Province of Ontario and the State of New York organized a summit conference involving the Premier of Ontario and the Governor of New York.

Formalized and Deepened Border Planning

• Led to the creation of a BiNational Working Group to oversee and set direction for the development of a BiNational Transportation Strategy for the Niagara Frontier

• Representatives from NYS Department of Transportation, Ontario Ministry of Transportation, both federal transportation agencies, local planning bodies and bridge authorities

The New York-Ontario Summit

Vision for the Niagara Frontier

People and goods move safely, securely and efficiently within the BiNational Niagara region via a transportation system

that is unified, provides multimodal alternatives, is environmentally sensitive and supports economic growth.

Commuters and other travelers

enjoy safe, predictable, and

efficient trips across the Niagara

region

National and regional economies

expand and prosper with rapid,

predication and safe movement of goods and people through the region

Goods and people move securely and

infrastructure is secure

Decision-making recognizes the importance of

environmental and the well-being of

border communities

The Vision is Supported by Specific Goals

Three Primary Considerations In Cross Border Travel

Getting to the Border

Border Crossing

Infrastructure

Border Management

Six Strategy ElementsStrategy Element 1

Foster improved coordination between appropriate agencies and

stakeholders

Strategy Element 2 Ensure adequacy of highway approach corridor capacity,

connectivity to economic centres and network flexibility, with priority on investment to facilitate efficient goods movement and tourist travel

Strategy Element 3Improve enforcement, processing

and plaza infrastructure to enhance efficiency, security and safety

Strategy Element 4Provide sufficient river crossing

capacity and network flexibility to meet demand

Strategy Element 5 Optimize use of all transportation modes to improve the efficiency of

the entire transportation system

Strategy Element 6Realize unique opportunities for

overall border network management emphasizing innovative ITS

strategies

The Summit Products

• Border management– Heightened security – Need for predictable travel times– Multiplicity of agencies and priorities– Some decisions outside regional control– Expectations for technology and ITS

Continuing Activities

• BiNational transportation working group • Niagara BiNational economic roundtable• Ontario-New York Memorandum of

Understanding and Cooperation • Federal border working groups• Operational Coordination

Some Examples Include:

Emerging Passenger Rail Connectivity

• Existing Amtrak-VIA Service• Empire Corridor (NY-

Toronto) High Speed Rail• GO Train Commuter

Expansion• Niagara Falls – Buffalo

Commuter Rail

Western New YorkBi-National Logistics

Hub Initiative

• Extensive set of studies examined issues and opportunities• Discussions with stakeholders generating actions to

implement• Infrastructure upgrades for consideration in programming

cycles• Integrated Logistics Complex appears to have potential,

BiNational approach important• Included detailed review of container traffic:

Canadian & U.S. Ports

© World Trade Center Buffalo Niagara

NY/NJ5.3 M TEUS

Savannah2.6 M TEUS

Charleston1.8 M TEUS

Norfolk2.1 M TEUS

LA / LB15.7 M TEUS

Oakland2.4 M TEUS

Vancouver2.3 M TEUS

Seattle/Tac3.9M TEUS

Montreal1.4 M TEUS

Halifax0.5M TEUS

Houston1.8 M TEUS

• Prince Rupert

“Buffalo” Volume

© World Trade Center Buffalo Niagara

NY/NJ

Savannah

Charleston

Norfolk

Montreal

Halifax

TEUS for NY/NJ

WNY: 15,000 Ontario: 50,000+ • Ontario volume goes through Buffalo by truck• Buffalo is best location for transfer to rail

© World Trade Center Buffalo Niagara

Buffalo TEUS by Port

Buffalo

Seattle

LA/Long Beach

Savannah

Charleston

Norfolk

Philadelphia

20,000

30,000

50,000

10,000

65,000

12,000

8,000

8,000NYC

• Buffalo is on the route from Ontario to NYC and South • Class 1 railroads connect to East & West Coast ports

Economic Impact

Opportunity per 1000 TEU• 1000 containers (20 foot equivalent = TEU) would

require 21,500,000 cubic feet of distribution space• Create 1,900 warehouse jobs• Create 900 office, administrative, and marketing

headquarters positions• Create additional railyard, trucking, packaging,

insurance, banking, legal, government, maintenance, and construction jobs

© World Trade Center Buffalo Niagara

Conclusions • Region has the volume:

250,000 TEUS/year • Region has most of the

infrastructure• Ontario is 75% of the

opportunity• Truck/rail terminals and

ancillary services should be marketed as a – Bi-national Logistics Center– rail service to East & West coast

ports– truck delivery in WNY, Ontario,

PA & OH

• Industry will benefit from – reduced transportation costs

(fuel, driver time)– Better frequency & transit

times– Added opportunity for

logistics services• Port Authority potential

– Erie & Niagara Counties+ links to nearby Ontario

– Funded for its primary functions of coordinating and marketing

© World Trade Center Buffalo Niagara

Logistics Center Concept• Emphasize the “new” logistics model• Inland Port Distribution Networks

(IPDN)• Back-office services• Value-added light manufacturing• Distribution centers• Service Facilities• Multiple modes and providers• “Freight Village” concept adds

– Hotel and conference space– Training facilities– Internal mail, restaurants and

transportation services

Critical Regional Success Factors• Requires three main attributes

• Location• 2.3 m in Western New York, 10.6 m in “Golden

Horseshoe”• Educated Workforce• Low Real Estate costs

• Accessibility• Efficient access to multiple modes of transportation• Four Class 1 and numerous short-line railroads• Extensive interstate highway system• Two airports• Numerous marine ports

• Terminal Infrastructure• Located near existing and future sources of consumption

or production• Foreign trade zones• Numerous brownfield sites available

Benefits of One Location Serving Two Nations

• Cost reduction• Proximity to major U.S. and Canadian metro areas

enables companies to quickly grasp and adjust to changing market conditions

• Opportunity to promote light manufacturing and assembly since companies tend to locate near transportation and distribution hubs

Benefits of One Location Serving Two Nations

• Reduction of tariffs by utilizing more favorable HS codes and foreign trade zones

• This encourages foreign companies to ship components, instead of finished products, here for assembly... then locally source components

• Adding value to goods heading to and from Canada, as well as goods to and from third countries. (Truck traffic via Buffalo to rise 90% from 2010-2035)

Enhancing North American Competitiveness

• U.S. and Canadian companies increasingly partner to produce quality goods and services for global markets

• Improved transportation and logistics infrastructure — resulting from the Bi-National Logistics Hub — will further boost supply chain efficiencies, and

• Encourage U.S. and Canadian companies to further integrate manufacturing and service sectors

Action Steps• Continue to present study findings and opportunity• Engage ESDC and emerging Regional Council• Build U.S. side stakeholder/industry group through

Buffalo-Niagara Partnership Logistics Council• Plan ramp up of activities, including cooperative

marketing, issues identification, capital projects, operational improvements, regulatory/border, etc

• Identify and engage Canadian stakeholders and industry group representatives

• Deepen and develop BiNational Logistics Hub concept

Regional Perspective on the Border and Integrated Traffic Management

Niagara International Transportation Technology Coalition

NITTEC • Multi-Agency Transportation

Operations Coalition• 14 Member Agencies with 15

Affiliate Members in Canada & U.S.

• Established in 1995 through Memorandum of Understanding

• Council and Committee governance with agency leadership

• Centralized 24/7 operations and traffic management services for bi-national region

Regional Cross Border Perspective

• Bi-national Gateway– Key economic port for Canada-US

trade – World renowned destination for

tourists– Key Component of Regional

Transportation Network

• Single Border Crossing Concept– View border crossing as regional

corridor – Balancing traffic and capacity

Coalition’s Border Management Role

• Regional Collaboration and Leadership– Border Crossing Collaboration– Border Crossing Operations– Traffic and Incident Management– Technology Deployment– Public Information and Education – Traveler Information

Border Crossing Collaboration

• Border Crossing Committee • Participation by Transportation

agencies, bridge operators and enforcement agencies

• Standardized border wait times• Standardized DMS Messaging• Joint Press Releases and public

information campaigns

Border Crossing Operations

• Coalition TMC acts as information clearinghouse for all border related traveler and traffic information

• Border enforcement resource management

• Event planning and review• Construction planning

Border Related Traffic and Incident Management

• Ontario and WNY Incident Management Committees

• Coordination with border enforcement, local police and public safety agencies

• Border Crossing Traffic Management Plans

• Staging areas and truck management

• Queue end management

Technology Deployment

• TRANSMIT E-ZPass transponder based system deployed in US and Canada

• CCTV Coverage• Detector based queue end

warning systems• Bluetooth reader technology

Pilot Project for travel time

Public Information and EducationPromote Single Border Crossing Concept• Border Crossing Maps – Combat the Google

Phenomena• Live Traffic Display for real-time traffic data

Traveler Information

• NITTEC, NFBC, CPB and CBSA websites• Mobile device access to CCTV images of crossings and approach

facilities

Traveler Information

• Dynamic Message Signs in US and Canada

• Highway Advisory Radio• 1-800 Bridge Conditions

Phone Service• 511NY• MYNITTEC Subscriber System

Border Conditions• Over 96% of the time at least one

crossing is available without delay for passenger and commercial vehicles to the U.S and Canada

• 84% of the time there are no delays at any of the crossings

• Holidays and weekends account for 52% of the delays

• Traffic redistribution is effective for reducing delays

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 230

102030405060708090

92 0 0 0 0 0

5 7

17

48

71

82 83

6457 54

4742

35 3830

23

12

Total Hours of Reported Delay By Hour

Hour

Tota

l Hou

rs

May 20, 2011 and September 5, 2011

Next Steps in Planning and Some Collaborative Entity Issues

Viable Attributes of an Effective BiNational Entity

• Lean, focused, core group for issues management and assignment

• Larger cadre of committed stakeholders available for cooperative consultation and action

• Cross cutting approach needed to achieve consensus decisions

Some Existing BiNational Networks Ontario-New York

Declaration of Partnership and MOU

on Cooperation

Niagara 10Buffalo Fort Erie

Public Bridge Authority

Niagara Falls Bridge Commission NITTEC University at Buffalo

Regional Institute

Niagara Regional Observatory

World Trade Center Buffalo Niagara

BiNational Tourism Alliance

Brock University/University at Buffalo Exchange

Agreement

Canada-U.S. trade Center, University at

Buffalo

Original Concept Niagara BiNational Transportation Coordinating Group

Executive Committee

Steering Committee

Industry Stakeholders

Coordinating

Committee

Direct, Endorse and Advocate

Coordination & Recommendations

Advisory Groups

Liaison

MTO Assistant Deputy Minister – Policy, Planning and Standards Branch

NYSDOT - Director, Office of Southern Tier and Western Transportation Strategy

Transport Canada - Director Surface Operations

FHWA - Division Administrator

Region of Niagara Public Works Commissioner

GBNRTC Senior Policy Representative

PBA / NFBCCities of Buffalo, Niagara Falls, NY & Ont

Towns of Fort Erie and NOTL,

Counties

NFTA

Ont Ministry of Economic Trade & Development, NY Empire State Development

Associations, Airports, Shippers, Truckers, Rail, Marine, Local Chamber of Commerce

Tourism, CAA, AAA

Enforcement agencies OPP/State Police

EBTC / Can-US TBWG / Cam-Am Border Trade Alliance

Economic Roundtable

Niagara River BiNational Border Mayors Coalition

Local Municipalities

Border Agencies

Customs & Border Protection - Buffalo

Canadian Border Services Agency - Fort Erie

Other BiNational Groups

Emergency Services

Bridge Operators

MTO – Director Transportation Planning Branch

MTO – Director Central Region

NYSDOT – Director Policy and Strategic Planning Bur

NYSDOT – Regional Director, Region 5

Transport Canada - Senior Advisor/Surface Programs

FHWA – Planning Chief

NYSTA – Deputy Division Director

Region of Niagara – Director of Transportation

GBNRTC – Senior Staff Representative

NITTEC – Executive Director

Challenges in the Concept

• Diversity of the Mission– Infrastructure/Land use/Economy/Environmental

• Coordination of Numerous Ongoing Activities and Relationships

• Governance and Management of an Effective BiNational Entity

Future Needs

• Technical aid in linking global economic perspective and transportation

• Specific, focused, infrastructure improvement plan and implementation program

• Federal investment in corridors and borders• Innovative, coordinated border management • Ongoing commitment to cooperation and

progress at all levels

Next Steps

• Revisit and update Regional BiNational Strategy based on changing environment– Shared Border Management (SBM)– Western Hemisphere Travel Intuitive (WHTI)– Economic and Demographic Forecasts– Projects completed or deferred

• Establish objectives and performance measures

• Contemporary governance approach