Trends in Border Crossing Volumes Steven Beningo – USDOT/RITA/BTS Presentation to the Transportation Border Working Group Niagara Falls, Ontario October 23, 2006

Overview RITA/BTS Border Crossing and Transborder Freight Data programs RITA/BTS Border Crossing and Transborder Freight Data programs Changes in border traffic from 1994 to 2005 at: Changes in border traffic from 1994 to 2005 at: –The Niagara River Crossings –New York State Border Crossings –The entire U.S. – Canada Border

Border Crossing Data Counts of inbound crossings to the United States from Canada and Mexico Counts of inbound crossings to the United States from Canada and Mexico Available monthly from October 1993 onward Available monthly from October 1993 onward On-line data from January 1995 onward On-line data from January 1995 onward Data on: Data on: –Vehicles –Passengers –Containers –Pedestrians

Border Crossing Data Improvements Now available in an online searchable database: Now available in an online searchable database: –Users can search and download all historical data by: State State Port Port Mode Mode Year Year Month Month

Transborder Freight Data Transportation data for U.S. freight trade with Canada and Mexico by ALL modes of transportation Transportation data for U.S. freight trade with Canada and Mexico by ALL modes of transportation Detailed subset of official U.S. Trade Statistics Detailed subset of official U.S. Trade Statistics Available monthly from April 1994 onwards: Available monthly from April 1994 onwards: Data on NAFTA trade by: Data on NAFTA trade by: –Value –Weight –Mode –Commodity (two-digit HS) –Port of entry/exit –State/Province of origin and destination

Transborder Freight Data Improvements Air and Vessel mode data added in 2004 Air and Vessel mode data added in 2004 Critical gaps filled beginning with 2007 statistics Critical gaps filled beginning with 2007 statistics –New data structure linking port and commodity detail –Weight data on exports to Mexico for all modes Searchable database modernization underway (Target completion – Spring 2007) Searchable database modernization underway (Target completion – Spring 2007) –Multi-dimensional search tool will offer improved functionality over current searchable database

Niagara River Crossings Peace Bridge Peace Bridge Rainbow Bridge Rainbow Bridge Whirlpool Bridge (NEXUS only) Whirlpool Bridge (NEXUS only) Lewiston-Queenston Bridge Lewiston-Queenston Bridge

Niagara River Crossings – Personal Vehicles 2005 personal vehicle crossings were down 19% over 1994

Niagara River Crossings – Trucks 2005 truck crossings were up 29% over 1994

Port of Buffalo-Niagara Falls – Value of Imports by Truck 2005 value of imports by truck were up 37% over 1995

Port of Buffalo-Niagara Falls – Tonnage of Imports by Truck 2005 tonnage of imports by truck were up 18% over 1995

Destination States for U.S. Imports by Truck Through Buffalo-Niagara Falls: 2005 Top 5 by Value (Billions of U.S. dollars) New York5.4 Pennsylvania3.6 Michigan3.1 Ohio2.2 New Jersey1.6 Top 5 by Weight (Thousands of U.S. Short Tons) New York 3,475 Pennsylvania 2,194 Ohio 1,266 New Jersey 713 Michigan 520

Niagara River Crossings - Pedestrians 2005 pedestrian crossings were up 4% over 1994, but down 55% over 2002

Niagara River Crossings - Pedestrians In 2005, pedestrian traffic on the Niagara River crossings (primarily the Rainbow Bridge) accounted for: In 2005, pedestrian traffic on the Niagara River crossings (primarily the Rainbow Bridge) accounted for: –99.3% of all New York State Pedestrian Crossings –61.2% of all Pedestrian Crossings on the U.S. – Canada Border –0.8% of all Pedestrian Crossings into the United States

Niagara River Crossings - Buses 2005 bus crossings were down 12% over 1994

Niagara River Crossings – Bus Passengers 2005 bus passenger crossings were up 14% over 1994, but down 31% over 2000

Whirlpool Bridge : 80% Decrease in June Traffic Source: Niagara Falls Bridge Commission NEXUS Implemented

Niagara River Crossings – Other Crossing Trends Trains and Train Passengers: Trains and Train Passengers: –2005 train crossings were down 17% over 1994 –2005 train passenger crossings were down 22% over 1994 Personal Vehicle Passengers: Personal Vehicle Passengers: –2005 personal vehicle passenger crossings were down 9% over 1995

New York State Border Crossings Niagara River Niagara River St. Lawrence River St. Lawrence River Land Border with Quebec Land Border with Quebec Buffalo – Niagara Falls

New York State Border Crossing Personal Vehicle Traffic 2005 Compared to Percentage Change in Personal Vehicle Volume: 2005 Compared to Percentage Change in Personal Vehicle Volume: Trout River/Fort Covington/Chateaugay: - 32% Trout River/Fort Covington/Chateaugay: - 32% Champlain/Rouses Point: - 29% Champlain/Rouses Point: - 29% Buffalo-Niagara Falls: - 19% Buffalo-Niagara Falls: - 19% Ogdensburg: - 15% Ogdensburg: - 15% Alexandria Bay/Cape Vincent: - 8% Alexandria Bay/Cape Vincent: - 8% Massena: - 4% Massena: - 4%

Truck Traffic Entering New York State at the Border with Canada 2005 Compared to Percentage Change in Truck Volume: 2005 Compared to Percentage Change in Truck Volume: Ogdensburg: 122% Ogdensburg: 122% Champlain/Rouses Point: 42% Champlain/Rouses Point: 42% Trout River/Fort Covington/Chateaugay: 42% Trout River/Fort Covington/Chateaugay: 42% Buffalo-Niagara Falls: 29% Buffalo-Niagara Falls: 29% Alexandria Bay/Cape Vincent: 22% Alexandria Bay/Cape Vincent: 22% Massena: 5% Massena: 5%

U.S. – Canada Border Crossings Border Crossings in 11 States, 7 Provinces and the Yukon Territory Border Crossings in 11 States, 7 Provinces and the Yukon Territory Top States – 2005 Personal Vehicles: Top States – 2005 Personal Vehicles: –New York 9.1 million –Michigan8.9 million –Washington 5.0 million –Maine3.6 million –Vermont1.4 million

U.S. – Canada Border Personal Vehicle Traffic: 2005 Compared to 1994 Vehicle crossings into the U.S. fell from 40.3 million to 30.4 million (a 25% decline) Vehicle crossings into the U.S. fell from 40.3 million to 30.4 million (a 25% decline) Personal vehicle traffic was down in all states Personal vehicle traffic was down in all states Only Grand Portage, Minnesota and Walhalla, North Dakota had more personal vehicle traffic in 2005 than Only Grand Portage, Minnesota and Walhalla, North Dakota had more personal vehicle traffic in 2005 than 1994.

U.S. – Canada Border Truck Traffic: 2005 Compared to 1994 Truck crossings into the United States increased from 5 million to 6.8 million (a 37% increase) Truck crossings into the United States increased from 5 million to 6.8 million (a 37% increase) Top States – 2005 Trucks: Top States – 2005 Trucks: –Michigan2.7 million –New York 1.9 million –Washington 0.7 million –Maine0.5 million –North Dakota0.3 million

U.S. – Canada Border Truck Traffic: 2005 Compared to 1994 Incoming truck crossings up over 100% at: Incoming truck crossings up over 100% at: Scobey, Montana (404%) Scobey, Montana (404%) Boundary, Washington (192%) Boundary, Washington (192%) Point Roberts, Washington (160%) Point Roberts, Washington (160%) Lynden, Washington (154%) Lynden, Washington (154%) Laurier, Washington (138%) Laurier, Washington (138%) Ogdensburg, New York (122%) Ogdensburg, New York (122%) Alcan, Alaska (121%) Alcan, Alaska (121%) Pinecreek, Minnesota (116%) Pinecreek, Minnesota (116%)

Key Points Niagara River Crossings Niagara River Crossings –More trucks –Fewer personal vehicles –More than half of all U.S. – Canada pedestrian crossings –Whirlpool Bridge volume decline New York Border New York Border –More trucks –Fewer personal vehicles –Ogdensburg trucks more than doubled

Key Points U.S. – Canada Border U.S. – Canada Border –More trucks –Fewer personal vehicles

Questions? Steven Beningo International Transportation Specialist Bureau of Transportation Statistics Research and Innovative Technology Administration U.S. Department of Transportation (202)