The International Mobility and Trade Corridor Project Gordon Rogers Deputy Director Whatcom Council of Governments TBWG Vancouver, BC December 4, 2002 IMTC

The Basics IMTC is a binational, public- private planning coalition focused on identifying and promoting improvements to cross-border mobility in the Cascade Gateway.

Overview The Whatcom Council of Governments.The Whatcom Council of Governments. The Cascade Gateway region.The Cascade Gateway region. IMTC structure, process, and objectives.IMTC structure, process, and objectives. IMTC accomplishments.IMTC accomplishments. Evolving issues.Evolving issues. What has made IMTC work for this region?What has made IMTC work for this region? Where is IMTC going?Where is IMTC going?

Whatcom Council of Governments Voting Members Whatcom CountyWhatcom County Whatcom citiesWhatcom cities Whatcom Transportation AuthorityWhatcom Transportation Authority Port of BellinghamPort of Bellingham WSDOTWSDOT Voting Members Whatcom CountyWhatcom County Whatcom citiesWhatcom cities Whatcom Transportation AuthorityWhatcom Transportation Authority Port of BellinghamPort of Bellingham WSDOTWSDOTFunctions Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Regional Transportation Planning (RTPO)Regional Transportation Planning (RTPO) Coast Millennium TrailCoast Millennium Trail National Scenic BywaysNational Scenic Byways Commute Trip ReductionCommute Trip Reduction International Mobility and Trade Corridor Project (IMTC)International Mobility and Trade Corridor Project (IMTC)Functions Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Regional Transportation Planning (RTPO)Regional Transportation Planning (RTPO) Coast Millennium TrailCoast Millennium Trail National Scenic BywaysNational Scenic Byways Commute Trip ReductionCommute Trip Reduction International Mobility and Trade Corridor Project (IMTC)International Mobility and Trade Corridor Project (IMTC) A Cooperative Multi-jurisdictional Conference

Peace Arch Pacific Highway Lynden- Aldergrove Sumas- Huntingdon

IMTC Organizational Structure Steering Committee 25 Core Group 45 Makes decisions General Assembly 300 Information and feedback Lead Agency: Whatcom Council Of Governments Issue-specific subgroups

IMTC Core Group Participants Transportation  U.S. Federal Highway Administration  Transport Canada  U.S. Federal Transit Administration  WA State Department of Transportation  B.C. Ministry of Transportation  Port of Bellingham  B.C. Transportation Finance Authority  Whatcom Council of Governments  WSDOT – Advanced Technology Branch  B.C. TransLink Transportation  U.S. Federal Highway Administration  Transport Canada  U.S. Federal Transit Administration  WA State Department of Transportation  B.C. Ministry of Transportation  Port of Bellingham  B.C. Transportation Finance Authority  Whatcom Council of Governments  WSDOT – Advanced Technology Branch  B.C. TransLink Inspection & Enforcement  Canada Customs & Revenue Agency  U.S. Customs Service  Citizenship and Immigration Canada  U.S. Immigration & Naturalization Service Inspection & Enforcement  Canada Customs & Revenue Agency  U.S. Customs Service  Citizenship and Immigration Canada  U.S. Immigration & Naturalization Service Other Governmental  U.S. General Services Administration  B.C-WA Corridor Taskforce  U.S. Consulate, Vancouver  Canadian Consulate General - Seattle  Local, State, Provincial, & Federal legislators Other Governmental  U.S. General Services Administration  B.C-WA Corridor Taskforce  U.S. Consulate, Vancouver  Canadian Consulate General - Seattle  Local, State, Provincial, & Federal legislators At-border Municipalities  Whatcom County, WA  City of Surrey, BC  City of Bellingham, WA  Langley Township, BC  City of Blaine, WA  City of Lynden, WA  City of Sumas, WA  City of Abbotsford, BC At-border Municipalities  Whatcom County, WA  City of Surrey, BC  City of Bellingham, WA  Langley Township, BC  City of Blaine, WA  City of Lynden, WA  City of Sumas, WA  City of Abbotsford, BC Private Sector  Washington Trucking Association  British Columbia Trucking Association  Duty free stores  NW Motor Coach Association  Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad  Amtrak  Border brokerages Private Sector  Washington Trucking Association  British Columbia Trucking Association  Duty free stores  NW Motor Coach Association  Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad  Amtrak  Border brokerages Non-governmental  Discovery Institute -- Cascadia Project  Pacific NorthWest Economic Region  Pacific Corridor Enterprise Council  B.C. Chamber of Commerce  Regional Chambers of Commerce (Bellingham,WA; Cloverdale, BC; Delta, BC)  Tourism Victoria  Vancouver Board of Trade Non-governmental  Discovery Institute -- Cascadia Project  Pacific NorthWest Economic Region  Pacific Corridor Enterprise Council  B.C. Chamber of Commerce  Regional Chambers of Commerce (Bellingham,WA; Cloverdale, BC; Delta, BC)  Tourism Victoria  Vancouver Board of Trade

IMTC Objectives for the Cascade Gateway Jointly… Plan the Cascade Gateway as a system.Plan the Cascade Gateway as a system. Improve traffic data and information.Improve traffic data and information. Identify and fund needed improvements.Identify and fund needed improvements. –Infrastructure –Operations –Technology –Security

Population Forecasts

Regional Relevance of Exchange Rate

2000: 1,416 southbound trucks per day. 4 th busiest U.S.- Canada crossing Forecast: 2,655/day 87% increase from ’ : 1,416 southbound trucks per day. 4 th busiest U.S.- Canada crossing Forecast: 2,655/day 87% increase from ’00. 4th 1 st Detroit 5th 2 nd Buffalo- Niagara 3 rd Pt. Huron Trucks Southbound Trucks Pacific Hwy,

Cars 3rd 2000: 9,129 southbound cars per day. 3rd busiest U.S.- Canada crossing Forecast 15,020/day 65% from : 9,129 southbound cars per day. 3rd busiest U.S.- Canada crossing Forecast 15,020/day 65% from nd 4th 1st 5th Southbound Cars, Peace Arch Southbound Cars, Pac. Hwy

Pacific Highway Port-of-Entry Photo: US INS, Blaine, WA N Canada Customs US INS US Customs Brokerages Duty Free Stores Brokerages Brokerages Brokerages

IMTC Projects –Coordination of Binational Planning –PACE/CANPASS promotion –Cross-border Travel Study –ITS-CVO Phase II –Southbound ATIS –Rail Study –Abbotsford-Sumas Improvement Design –Cross-border Regional Traffic Model –Cross-Border Transit Study

IMTC Projects 2002 –BC Hwy 15 NEXUS Lane –Abbotsford-Sumas Construction –Foothills Corridor Study –Blaine Interchange Studies –Pacific Hwy Truck Lane Design –BC Hwy 99 NEXUS Lane Extension –Weigh-in-motion software integration –ITS-CVO III Concept of Operations –NEXUS Marketing and Application improvements –Cascade Gateway Operations Plan

All IMTC Project Funding By Source Total Funding $9,336,143

All IMTC Project Funding By Source With SHIP* Total Funding $12,100,643 *Estimated

Accomplishments A trust-based forum.A trust-based forum. 5+ years of sustained dialogue and consensus building.5+ years of sustained dialogue and consensus building. Identification and initiation of improvements aimed at shared objectives.Identification and initiation of improvements aimed at shared objectives. Funding partnerships.Funding partnerships.

Evolving Issues Changing border dynamics.Changing border dynamics. –Increased inspection activity. –Emphasis of pre-approval programs. –Growing importance of dedicated infrastructure. –Increasing harmonization of U.S. & Canadian entry processing? Upcoming facilities upgrades (Peace Arch, Aldergrove)Upcoming facilities upgrades (Peace Arch, Aldergrove) FAST – Free And Secure TradeFAST – Free And Secure Trade

Reasons for Success Mid-term fundingMid-term funding Lead agency with permanent staffingLead agency with permanent staffing Voluntary participationVoluntary participation An issue-based forum with a bi-national and regional focusAn issue-based forum with a bi-national and regional focus

Where is IMTC going? A Re-authorization Border Program or Policy?A Re-authorization Border Program or Policy? More in-depth work with inspection agenciesMore in-depth work with inspection agencies More emphasis on coordination in a more quickly evolving environmentMore emphasis on coordination in a more quickly evolving environment A finer balance of needsA finer balance of needs

IMTC International Mobility and Trade Corridor Project Thank you