1 / 11

The TBWG/Bi-National Planning: A TC Perspective

The TBWG/Bi-National Planning: A TC Perspective. Jacques Rochon, Director, Highway Policy Transport Canada, December 4, 2002. Presentation Objectives. Look at Border Policy Environment Update: Federal Infrastructure Efforts Bi-national Planning

ray-ramsey
Download Presentation

The TBWG/Bi-National Planning: A TC Perspective

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The TBWG/Bi-National Planning: A TC Perspective Jacques Rochon, Director, Highway Policy Transport Canada, December 4, 2002

  2. Presentation Objectives • Look at Border Policy Environment • Update: Federal Infrastructure Efforts • Bi-national Planning • The TBWG: Role and Setting Priorities

  3. 1. The Policy Environment • 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

  4. The Policy Environment: • Challenges for Transportation Planners • 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

  5. The Policy Environment: • Challenges for Transportation Planners cont’d • 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?

  6. 2. Infrastructure Funding: The Canadian Federal Commitment • 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

  7. 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.

  8. 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 • Supporting enhanced border inspection processes • Infrastructure improvements support enhanced programs e.g. FAST & NEXUS • Infrastructure Improvements • Take collaborative & complementary approach to needs identification (e.g. through compendium) • Add capacity where required

  9. 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

  10. TBWG Role • 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.

  11. 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

More Related