The TBWG/Bi-National Planning: A TC Perspective

Jacques Rochon, Director, Highway Policy

Transport Canada, December 4, 2002

1. Look at Border Policy Environment

2. Update: Federal Infrastructure Efforts

3. Bi-national Planning

4. The TBWG: Role and Setting Priorities

Presentation Objectives

• Smart Border Declaration:– Defined objective: ensuring secure/efficient flows– Action Plan: TC lead: Infrastructure Improvements

(#19), ITS (#20) & Aviation Security (#22)– Sept 2002: President/PM met: Positive Status Update– Dec 5/6, 2002: Manley/Ridge to meet

• Smart Border Declaration useful vehicle for making progress on border initiatives e.g. FAST

1. The Policy Environment

• Border Security:– Inspection Agencies/Security officials face understandable

pressure to Act/develop timely security measures

– Challenge: Infrastructure planning process inherently requires long lead times/coordination

• U.S. Entry/Exit Controls– Ambitious implementation deadline (all ports ‘05)

– Jan 1, 2003: Advisory Taskforce to submit report to U.S. Congress

– Potential effect on border infrastructure and processes uncertain

1. The Policy Environment: Challenges for Transportation Planners

• Institutional: Department of Homeland Security– Largest U.S. Government reorganization since 1947 – DHS will have 170,000 employees and a $38 billion budget– DHS will have four components, including one responsible for

transportation and border security – Certain functions to be transferred e.g. HAZMAT screening– DHS will require (re)establishing contacts/relationships

• Transportation Security: Aviation initial focus; efforts will increasingly turn to land modes/border

• TEA-21 Reauthorization: What will final U.S. policy focus and border and corridor funding levels be?

1. The Policy Environment: Challenges for Transportation Planners cont’d

• Budget 2000: $600M for Highways/TC set aside $65M million for border infrastructure

• Budget 2001: $600M for Border Infrastructure Fund (BIF) – Managed by Minister Rock/Office of Infrastructure of Canada– Focus on top six crossings (account for 70% of cross-border

truck traffic)

– Funds available to address needs at regional crossings

• August 02: BIF Parameters announced: Focus on three areas: Physical Infrastructure, ITS and Improved Analytical Capacity– T. Sarantakis, Acting DG, Policy and Priorities/OIC is in

attendance and could address any further questions

2. Infrastructure Funding: The Canadian Federal Commitment

Recent Canadian Infrastructure Initiatives: Making Progress

• July 02: Governments of Canada and Quebec allocated $75.2M for improvements to the Lacolle border crossing/Auto-route 15.

• Aug 02: PM/NB Premier Lord announced over $400M in funding to twin Trans-Canada Highway, Atlantic Canada’s main trade corridor.

• Sept 02: PM/Premier Eves signed MOU setting aside up to $300M for short/medium-term improvements at Windsor gateway.

• Nov 02: Governments of Canada and BC, in partnership with municipalities, announced $32M for infrastructure improvements in BC Lower Mainland.

3. Bi-national Planning & Coordination: Towards a more secure and efficient border

1. Bi-National Planning– Improving analytical capacity e.g. through border data analysis and border

infrastructure modeling – Promote effective interagency & bi-national coordination

2. Supporting enhanced border inspection processes– Infrastructure improvements support enhanced programs e.g. FAST & NEXUS

3. Infrastructure Improvements – Take collaborative & complementary approach to needs identification (e.g. through

compendium)– Add capacity where required

Bi-national Planning: The West Coast Experience

• The International Mobility & Trade Corridor

– A model of effective bi-national planning

– Effective subcommittee structure facilitates task management

– Intermodal approach

– Encourages stakeholder/agency “buy-in” and builds consensus on infrastructure initiatives

• IMTC recognizes coordination a precondition for success & has helped to facilitate:

– ITS: Advance Traveler Information System

– Freight Technology Border Crossing Evaluation

– WS DOT Electronic Seals Project

• Information sharing will remain a key TBWG role – Emerging developments (e.g. DHS and U.S. E/E controls) highlight need for bi-national

coordination/info-sharing

• Relationship with stakeholders? – Interest growing e.g. Can/Am Border Trade Alliance – Trucking and railway interests on the agenda– Outreach? What should the relationship be?

• TBWG facilitates “border-wide” info sharing but broad focus makes collective pursuit of Action Plan initiatives a challenge.

TBWG Role

The TBWG Action Plan

• Can we identify “public goods” potentially of benefit to all?

• Action Plan: Identify top three priorities for next 12 months:– Border Infrastructure Compendium – Border Data Workshop/Initiatives – Enhancing transportation/inspection agency

coordination? – Border Technology Applications?

• Thank you