BC / WA JOINT TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK

Paula J. Hammond, P.E.Washington State Department of Transportation

Secretary & Executive Council Co-ChairR. D. (Bob) Steele, B.A. (Econ), MBA

British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure

Director, Partnership and Project Development

& Working Group Co-Chair

Canada-United States Transportation Border Working Group Spring Plenary

Red Lion Inn - Seattle, WashingtonApril 18, 2012

JOINT TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK

BC/WA Annual Joint Cabinet Meetings Since 2006

Transportation & border initiatives key agenda items

2009 Memorandum on Transportation Cooperation

Joint Transportation Management structure established:

BC/WA Joint Transportation Executive Council BC/WA Joint Transportation Working Group

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JOINT TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK

BC/WA Joint Transportation Executive Council

Consists of: Secretary; Chief of Staff; Minister; Deputy Minister

Approves Annual Action Plan on Cross-Border Transportation

Provides strategic direction and priority setting

Obtains/advocates for necessary resources

Provides executive commitment and leadership

Reports out at the Annual BC/WA Joint Cabinet Meetings.

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JOINT TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK

BC/WA Joint Transportation Working Group:

Consists of senior staff: WSDOT, BCMoT, Governor’s Office and Premier’s Office

Develops the BC/WA - Annual Action Plan

Implements and monitors Action Plan deliverables

Engages key partners (e.g. federal agencies) & stakeholders

Provides secretariat support to the Executive Council

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JOINT TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT PRIORITIES

October 2010 – September 2011 Action Plan items:• High Speed Passenger Rail• Amtrak 2nd Daily Train (Between Seattle and Vancouver)• Land Border Crossing Initiatives• Commercial Vehicle Data Sharing

Initiatives will move people/goods more quickly across the border

Partnering with federal agencies key to success 5

2010/11 ACCOMPLISHMENTSPASSENGER RAIL

High Speed Passenger Rail & Amtrak 2nd Daily Train

WA has received $791M in US federal rail funding BC removing two at-grade rail crossings from BNSF line

at cost of ~$67M BC, WA, CA, and OR jointly released high speed rail

study in Nov 2010 CBSA commitment to provide publicly funded border

clearance services for 2nd daily Amtrak train to Vancouver

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2010/11 ACCOMPLISHMENTSLAND BORDER CROSSINGS

Free and Secure Trade (FAST) - Pacific Highway Crossing

USCBP FAST pilot project opened southbound FAST booth

to all trucks

FAST pilot project reduced average truck delays from 50 to 15 minutes

Mitigation measures being implemented to restore FAST truck travel times

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2010/11 ACCOMPLISHMENTS LAND BORDER CROSSINGS

Advanced Traveler Information Systems

BC completed $2.6 Million Border ATIS projects on Highways 11/13 (50% funded by Transport Canada)

WA completed design for $8.8 Million I-5 ATIS project

WA obtained $3.7 Million in funding to improve/add ATIS infrastructure on SR 539, SR 546 and SR 9

Benefits to Border Agencies 8

2010/11 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

LAND BORDER CROSSINGS

NEXUS

Marketing plan

• Began implementation in Summer 2011• Expand when additional crossings are announced

Abbotsford-Huntingdon/Sumas Crossing Preparation

• USCBP, CBSA, WA and BC joint preparations underway• WA/BC identified necessary road improvements

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2010/11 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

COMMERCIAL VEHICLE DATA SHARING

COMMERCIAL VEHICLE DATA SHARING

Commercial Vehicle data sharing agreement signed August 2011

Weigh2GoBC program accommodating WA carriers

Analysis & high level design for possible automated data exchange system between BC and WA is complete

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OCTOBER 2011 - SEPTEMBER 2012 JOINT TRANSPORTATION ACTION PLAN

BC/WA Joint Action Plan initiatives

High Speed Passenger Rail / Amtrak Cascades

Land Border Crossings

Commercial Vehicle Inspection Station Bypass

“Beyond the Border” Action Plan

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HIGHLIGHTS OF 2011/12 ACTION PLAN HIGH SPEED RAIL AMTRAK CASCADES

Scheduled Investments• WA $791M in rail projects by 2017

• BC $67M to eliminate two at-grade rail crossings

by 2013

Future Rail Plans• WA, with BC and OR, will identify future rail plans

Customs & Immigration Efficiency • Support federal government implementation of

integrated customs/immigration pre-clearance in

Vancouver, BC 12

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2011/12 ACTION PLAN LAND BORDER CROSSINGS

ATIS Improvements• $4.2 Million Investment in BC

• Expand ATIS on Hwy 1, add to Hwys 17, 91 and 99

• Develop mobile phone app and improve website

• $12.5 Million Investment in WA

• Initiate design for SR 539, SR546 and SR 9 ATIS improvements

• Begin construction on Interstate 5 ATIS improvements

Border Circulation Initiatives• BC to formalize east-west border circulation routes with local

governments

• WA to develop east-west highway network and complete ATIS plan 13

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2011/12 ACTION PLANLAND BORDER CROSSINGS

Free and Secure Trade Program

• BC and US CBP to improve FAST at Pac Hwy port of entry

NEXUS Program

• Further marketing of Cascade Gateway crossings with NEXUS

• Expansion of NEXUS consistent with Beyond the Border Action Plan

• WA will work on operational improvements to NEXUS lanes 14

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2011/12 ACTION PLANCOMMERCIAL VEHICLES

Commercial Vehicle Data Sharing / Mutual Bypass Program (Weigh2GoBC, WA CVISN)

Complete Weigh2GoBC system development

Complete analysis of benefits realized

Finalize recommendations and plans for next phase

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US/CANADA “BEYOND THE BORDER” A SHARED VISION FOR

PERIMETER SECURITY AND ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS

BC/WA strongly supports “Beyond the Border” initiative

Builds on our existing approach to improved border management

BC/WA cooperation on identification of mutual priorities

Joint and bi-lateral input to federal agencies for BC/WA priorities

Joint letters from Governor and Premier16

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2011/12 ACTION PLANBEYOND THE BORDER

BC/WA will assist in implementation of “Beyond the Border” Action Plan

Integrated pre-clearance for Amtrak trains departing Vancouver

Improved and expanded NEXUS trusted traveler program

Improvements to FAST

Bi-lateral five year Border Infrastructure Investment Plan

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QUESTIONS?

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