Canada – United States
Transportation Border Work Group
Planning Organizations at the Border
The Buffalo – Niagara Experience
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Hal Morse, GBNRTC Executive Director
Planning in U.S. Metro Regions
Metropolitan 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
NYS Department of
Transportation
City of Niagara Falls
Erie County
Niagara Frontier
Transportation Authority
Niagara County
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
Historically
Good
Neighbors
Active Trade and
Tourism Groups
Bridge Operators
Working
Relationship
Regional
Approaches are
Inclusive;
GBNRTC,
Regional Niagara,
NITTEC
Early BiNational
Planning Efforts
BiNational
Regional Travel
Model at
GBNRTC
Numerous
Studies and Data
Collection
Cross Border
Transportation
Planning
Coordination
Subcommittee
Why the Border is Important
Four (4) International
Motor Vehicle Bridges
Commuter Rail – GO Train
QEW and Interstate I-90
(Major Connectors)
Inter-City Bus Services
Two (2) Railway Bridges
Four (4) Major Airports
Four (4) Major Railways
Welland Canal (St. Lawrence
Seaway), Several Ports
Rail Passenger Service
VIA and AMTRAK
US Border Entry from Canada Volume Rankings – Buffalo Niagara
• 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
• 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
Formalized and Deepened Border Planning
• 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.
• 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
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.
The Vision is Supported
by Specific Goals
National and
Commuters and
Decision-making
regional economies
other travelers
recognizes the
expand and
Goods and people
enjoy safe,
importance of
prosper with rapid, move securely and
predictable, and
environmental and
predication and
infrastructure is
efficient trips
the well-being of
safe movement of
secure
across the Niagara
border
goods and people
region
communities
through the region
Getting to the
Border
Border
Crossing
Infrastructure
Border
Management
Strategy Element 2
Strategy Element 1
Foster improved coordination
between appropriate agencies and
stakeholders
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 3
Strategy Element 4
Improve enforcement, processing
and plaza infrastructure to enhance
efficiency, security and safety
Provide sufficient river crossing
Strategy Element 5
Optimize use of all transportation
modes to improve the efficiency of
the entire transportation system
capacity and network flexibility to
meet demand
Strategy Element 6
Realize 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
• 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:
• Existing Amtrak-VIA Service
• Empire Corridor (NYToronto) High Speed Rail
• GO Train Commuter
Expansion
• Niagara Falls – Buffalo
Commuter Rail
Western New York
Bi-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
• Prince Rupert
Vancouver
2.3 M TEUS
Montreal
1.4 M TEUS
Seattle/Tac
3.9M TEUS
Halifax
0.5M TEUS
NY/NJ
5.3 M TEUS
Norfolk
2.1 M TEUS
Charleston
1.8 M TEUS
Oakland
2.4 M TEUS
LA / LB
15.7 M TEUS
Savannah
2.6 M TEUS
Houston
1.8 M TEUS
© World Trade Center Buffalo Niagara
Montreal
Halifax
“Buffalo” Volume
TEUS for NY/NJ
WNY: 15,000
Ontario: 50,000+
NY/NJ
• Ontario
volume
goes through
Buffalo by truck
Norfolk
• Buffalo is best
location for
transfer to rail
Charleston
Savannah
© World Trade Center Buffalo Niagara
Buffalo TEUS by Port
Seattle
• Buffalo is on the
route from Ontario
to NYC and South
• Class 1 railroads
connect to East &
West Coast ports
65,000
Buffalo
NYC
8,000
50,000
Philadelphia
8,000
Norfolk
10,000
12,000
Charleston
LA/Long Beach
Savannah
© World Trade Center Buffalo Niagara
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
• 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
– Bi-national Logistics Center
– rail service to East & West coast
ports
– truck delivery in WNY, Ontario,
PA & OH
© 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
Niagara International Transportation Technology Coalition
Regional Perspective
on the Border and Integrated Traffic
Management
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 Education
Promote 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
May 20, 2011 and September 5, 2011
Total Hours of Reported Delay
By Hour
Total Hours
• 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
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
82 83
71
64
57
48
54
47
42
35
38
30
23
17
9
2
0
0
0
0
0
5
12
7
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
Hour
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
Ontario-New York
Declaration of
Partnership and MOU
on Cooperation
Niagara 10
Buffalo 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
MTO Assistant Deputy Minister – Policy, Planning
and Standards Branch
NYSDOT - Director, Office of Southern Tier and
Western Transportation Strategy
Direct, Endorse and
Advocate
Transport Canada - Director Surface Operations
FHWA - Division Administrator
Region of Niagara Public Works Commissioner
Steering Committee
GBNRTC Senior Policy Representative
Coordination &
Recommendations
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
Industry
Stakeholders
Bridge
Operators
Ont Ministry of Economic Trade
& Development, NY Empire
State Development
PBA / NFBC
Emergency
Services
Enforcement agencies
OPP/State Police
Associations, Airports,
Shippers, Truckers, Rail, Marine,
Local Chamber of Commerce
Tourism, CAA, AAA
Local
Municipalities
Border Agencies
Cities of Buffalo, Niagara
Falls, NY & Ont
Customs & Border Protection
- Buffalo
Towns of Fort Erie and
NOTL,
Canadian Border Services
Agency - Fort Erie
Advisory Groups
Counties
Other BiNational
Groups
EBTC / Can-US TBWG / Cam-Am Border Trade Alliance
Economic Roundtable
Niagara River BiNational Border Mayors Coalition
NFTA
Liaison
• 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
• 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