Ministère des Transports du Québec
(MTQ) involvement at the Canada / United
States border
Transportation Border Working Group
October 23rd 2013
MTQ involvement at the Canada – United States Border
Transportation Border Working Group
Plan
•Portrait of Québec’s economy
•Ministère des Transports du Québec and the Canada/United
States border
•Facts and observations
•MTQ’s involvement with Beyond the Border action plan
•Priorities and next steps
•Canada-U.S. rail passengers services (Serge Routhier)
MTQ involvement at the Canada – United States Border
Transportation Border Working Group
Québec’s economy
Value of trade between Québec and the United States (2012):
CA$ 69.2 G (63% of exports)
 Major state partners:
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New York State: CA$ 7.7 G
Vermont: CA$ 4.1 G
Texas: CA$ 5.3 G
Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania: CA$ 3.5 G
 62% of the value of trade carried by trucks;
 75% of trucks entering Québec are registered in Canada
MTQ involvement at the Canada – United States Border
Transportation Border Working Group
Québec and the Canada – U.S. Border
32 international road crossings;
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New York State (10)
Vermont (15)
Maine (6)
New Hampshire (1)
6 rail crossings.
In 2012:
 6.9 millions vehicles (both directions) including 1.2 million trucks (17.4%)
 80% of commercial traffic uses 4 main ports of entry
 Smaller crossings play key role for local economies and communities
MTQ involvement at the Canada – United States Border
Transportation Border Working Group
Québec – U.S. Truck flows
MTQ involvement at the Canada – United States Border
Transportation Border Working Group
Interests and role at the border
Interests:
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Road safety;
Fluidity of people and goods (all modes);
Helping maintain security;
Supporting economic growth;
Informing and supporting the trucking industry and the trade community.
Role:
 Road infrastructure;
 Policies;
 Partnerships.
MTQ involvement at the Canada – United States Border
Transportation Border Working Group
Infrastructure
Recent projects at the border:
•Additions of dedicated truck lanes at three major commercial ports of entry (2007-2010):
 Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle/Champlain, NYS (A-15);
 Stanstead/Derby Line, Vt (A-55);
 Armstrong/Jackman, ME (Rte173).
•Completion of A-30 South of Montréal (Fall 2012):
 more than 2 500 heavy vehicles each day;
 provides a new alternative to avoid the island of Montréal for East-West trips.
Upcoming projects:
•Extension of A-35 between Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu and Saint-Armand/Highgates Springs, Vt.
•MTQ – VTrans restoration of Sutton / East Richford Bridge.
MTQ involvement at the Canada – United States Border
Transportation Border Working Group
Partnerships
Québec has signed cooperative agreements with three States:
•New York (2002);
•Vermont (2003 and updated in 2013);
•Maine (2013).
These agreement call for cooperation in the area of transportation, for example:
•Working togheter on transport issues of common interest at the border;
•Collaborating with federal Canadian and American agencies active in cross-border affairs ;
•Cooperating to improve passenger rail links between Québec and the U.S.;
•Developping and deploying Intelligent transportation systems such as 511.
MTQ is actively involved in various groups and coalitions:
•Eastern Border Transportation Coalition (EBTC);
•Transportation Border Working Group (TBWG).
Continuous dialogue with local CBSA and CBP port of entry authorities for operations.
MTQ involvement at the Canada – United States Border
Transportation Border Working Group
Facts and observations
•Post 9-11 context at the border seems to be assimilated by the industry.
•Reduction of border delays: 35% reduction of truck traffic at Québec
crossings between 2003-2012
In 2011, a consultation with Quebec trucking industry showed that border
delays and lack of harmonization between Canadian and U.S. programs
remain major preoccupations.
•Most of border related initiatives in 2013 are linked with Beyond the Border
Action Plan and implemented by federal agencies.
•All stakeholders understand the need for greater coordination in border
issues
MTQ involvement at the Canada – United States Border
Transportation Border Working Group
Beyond the Border: Perimeter Security and
Economic Competitiveness action plan
32 measures under the responsibility of Canadian and U.S. agencies but
implementation may require provincial involvement in some cases.
MTQ strongly supports most of the measures related to transportation at the
border:
 Implementation of pre-clerance initiative for rail, land and marine modes of
transport;
 Increased benefits in trusted travelers and traders programs (NEXUS & FAST);
 Greater harmonisation between Canadian and U.S. inspection and customs
procedures;
 Increased coordination for infrastructure development and maintenance at the
border, including investments at key crossings and small and remote ports.
MTQ involvement at the Canada – United States Border
Transportation Border Working Group
1- Canada-U.S Border Investment Plan
(BIIP)
 First released in May 2013 and covers major ports of entry (7).
MTQ’s interests:
 Increased coordination between customs projects and road
infrastructure projects;
 Status of investments for major Ports at the Québec Border:
 U.S. CBP facility at Derby Line, Vt (I-91);
 CBSA facility at Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle (A-15).
 Status of small and remote ports of entry.
MTQ involvement at the Canada – United States Border
Transportation Border Working Group
2- Implementation of Border wait time measurement systems at high
priority crossings
Impacts for MTQ:
 Three crossings located in Québec;
 MTQ’s operate ITS (variable messages signs) to send messages
at the border;
 Border delays identified as a top priority by the Quebec trucking
industry;
 Reliable and consistent wait time data is usefull information in
order to support the industry and for road network management.
MTQ involvement at the Canada – United States Border
Transportation Border Working Group
3- Integrated Cargo security Strategy – Port of Montréal
Pilot
Inspection of marine containers arriving at the Port of Montréal
destined for the U.S. by trucks.
MTQ’s interest:
 Reduction of number and probability of inspection at the border:
« cleared once, accepted twice » concept;
 Impact for the trucking industry and targeted carriers;
 End of pilot: November 1st 2013, looking foward to
recommendations and the next steps.
MTQ involvement at the Canada – United States Border
Transportation Border Working Group
Priorities and next steps
•MTQ activities:
 Infrastructures:
 International Sutton/East Richford bridge with Vermont;
 A-35 project.
 Partnerships:
 Maintain involvement with EBTC, TBWG and other relevant groups;
 Continuous consultation with industry to provide appropriate support
and help compliance: CBSA e-manifest
 Remain available for collaboration with federal agencies for
measures related to transportation at the border: preclearance, wait
time measurements, etc
MTQ involvement at the Canada – United States Border
Transportation Border Working Group
Québec-US Passenger Rail Links
•Passenger Rail Services:
 Montréal-New York City = Adirondack;
 Montréal-St. Albans, VT-New York City-Washington = Vermonter
in up to 3 years.
•2010: CBSA – Customs House used to clear the Adirondack doesn’t
meet new standards = $$ needed for new building to be paid by
Amtrak;
•Montréal Central Station U.S. and Canadian Preclearance Project
identified by stakeholders as the most likely way in the short term to
improve QC-U.S. passenger rail links.
MTQ involvement at the Canada – United States Border
Transportation Border Working Group
Québec-US Passenger Rail Links
• Preclearance for passenger rail concept included in
Canada-U.S. negotiations on Perimeter Security and
Economic Competitiveness.
• Dec. 2011 - Announcement by Canadian PM and US
President of an Action Plan, including preclearance for
passenger rail (and a project in Vancouver BC’s Pacific
Central Station) to be negotiated (a treaty) in a space of a
year.
• Extension of negotiations – Should end positively at the end
of 2013/beginning of 2014.
MTQ involvement at the Canada – United States Border
Transportation Border Working Group
Québec-US Passenger Rail Links
Meanwhile…
• Amtrak, (+stakeholders), is preparing a Business Case for Montréal
Central Station Preclearance Project to be presented to authorities. Will
includes estimates of touristic impacts of increase ridership.
• AMT, as a representative of Amtrak, is managing a study done by a
Quebec architectural firm, to validate Amtrak’s plans of Customs
Preclearance facilities in Montréal (and their $$) – End: Fall 2013.
• MTQ is managing a study done by HMM to update data on CN and CP
lines between Montréal and the US border (towards NYC and Boston)
and evaluate $$ to raise speeds on those lines up to 160 km/h (100
mi/h) – End: Fall 2013.
• VT and MA are managing a 2nd study on the Boston to Montréal Corridor
(Inland et Knowledge Corridors). Participation of QC should be on
sharing some data from HMM study.
MTQ involvement at the Canada – United States Border
Transportation Border Working Group
Thank you!
Ministère des Transports du Québec
Serge Routhier
Direction du transport maritime, aérien et ferroviaire
Serge.routhier@mtq.gouv.qc.ca
Dave Henry
Direction du transport routier des marchandises
Dave.henry@mtq.gouv.qc.ca