1. Partnering at our Borders
Good afternoon and welcome to our great state of Michigan!
Thank you for inviting me to speak at today’s meeting. Michigan supports the Transportation Working Group and sees it as the vehicle for coordination, cooperation, and communication among all stakeholders.
I would like to extend a special welcome to the state and provincial members of the Eastern Border Transportation Coalition, with whom Michigan has a long, successful history of coordination, cooperation, and communication, as we have partnered with them for the past 10 years.
Michigan has a strong commitment to improving the flow of goods across the border and is fully committed to working with border agencies to achieve our goals. Improving the flow of goods leads to jobs in Michigan, as well as jobs in the U.S. and Canada. Our economies are currently in desperate need of jobs, particular to Michigan are jobs in the manufacturing sector.
Gloria J. Jeff, Director
Michigan Department of Transportation Hyatt Regency Hotel-Dearborn, Michigan
Wednesday, June 1, 2005

2. Michigan’s Vision for Borders
Michigan fully supports the mission of the Transportation Border Working Group and is committed to working with these agencies. Governor Granholm has identified border crossings as one of her highest priorities – it is also one of mine. Recognizing the importance of the borders, Michigan adopted a State Transportation Commission Policy in October 2004, which you can see is in line with the TBWG mission statement.
Current TBWG Mission:
The mandate of the TBWG is to enhance bi-national and interagency communication and coordination, transportation planning, and policy development affecting infrastructure, transportation initiatives and border processes in order to facilitate the efficient, safe, secure and environmentally responsible cross-border movement of people and goods between Canada and the U.S.
Provide for the seamless, safe and secure transport of goods, people and services in a cost-efficient & timely manner.
Transportation Commission Policy: October 2004

3. Michigan’s Current Goals for Borders
Assure adequate transportation capacity.
Protect and upgrade border facilities.
Study needs to improve and expand facilities.
Enhance collaboration, coordination and communication with stakeholder groups.
Collaborate with partners.
Increase federal funding for borders.
Cooperate with agencies to improve flow of trade while maintaining national security.
As part of our border policy, we identified several goals to help us succeed in making our vision a reality.
In order to achieve our goals, Michigan has committed $1 billion in state resources over the next 6-8 years to address border crossing issues and the infrastructure leading up to them. Our investments will be of minimal worth if not done in conjunction with other key border stakeholders.
Transportation Commission Policy: October 2004

4. Cooperation, Coordination, and Communication
Maximize benefits
Across all levels
Throughout all programs
Short-term and long-term
We need the cooperation, coordination, and communication at all levels – planning, design, operations – in order to maximize the benefits of this investment in transportation and security. In doing so, we can also maximize the benefits of programs introduced to facilitate the movement of border traffic, such as the FAST program, Nexus, US Visit, and so on. Programs such as these reduce delays at the border and reduce the uncertainties to our citizens crossing the border. This, in turn, will attract travel and tourism. The reduction in delays also reduces the long-term need for larger plazas.
Michigan has expressed strong support of these programs and is committed to helping agencies, but the agencies need to recognize and take advantage of our offers.
Currently at the Blue Water Bridge, we have been working closely with the Dept of Homeland Security, GSA, and the BWB Authority to implement a 25% initiative (short-term strategy to improve throughput). We have worked diligently in proposing these short-term strategies in which all of us are investors and are willing to buy-in. We look forward to final approvals and are ready to implement our part of the initiative this year.

5. Examples of Successful Cooperation, Coordination, and Communication
Built 2nd span at Blue Water Bridge
Upgraded inspection facilities at Blue Water Bridge
Bi-national partnership
New border processing facility at International Bridge
Cooperating agencies on MDOT projects
Michigan-Ontario cooperation to build 2nd span at Blue Water Bridge
Michigan-Dept of Homeland Security cooperation to upgrade inspection facilities at Blue Water Bridge
Bi-national partnership of 4 transportation agencies (Transport Canada, FHWA, Ontario Ministry of Transport, MDOT)
MDOT has worked with GSA on the design of the border processing facility at International Bridge that will hopefully open this year.
Recently, Dept of Homeland Security and GSA have come on board as cooperating agencies for the Blue Water Bridge project and the Detroit River International Crossing study. We believe this is the beginning of a collaboration between Michigan and DHS.

6. Challenges Balance security with efficiency.
Ridge-Manley Smart Border Action Plan
Facilitate low-risk movements
25% challenge to improve transit times
(SE Michigan/SW Ontario)
Long-term solutions for delay
Security
Efficiency
Improving the secure flow of goods and people at the border is a key priority for the U.S. and Canada. With more than $1.9 billion in goods and more than 300,000 people moving across the U.S.-Canada border each day, both countries have a critical stake in each other's economic security.
U.S.-Canada ports of entry are being faced with a variety of issues, many involving the need to balance security with the efficient movement of people and goods across our borders. The challenge is to facilitate the low-risk movements and focus resources on identifying and investigating the high-risk movements.
The U.S. and Canada are working together on many fronts to address these issues. In December 2001, then-Deputy Prime Minister John Manley and then-Governor Tom Ridge signed the Smart Border Declaration and companion 32-point Action Plan to enhance the security of our shared border while facilitating the legitimate flow of people and goods. The Action Plan has four pillars: the secure flow of people, the secure flow of goods, secure infrastructure, and information sharing and coordination in the enforcement of these objectives.
As part of the 25% challenge, issued by former Secretary Tom Ridge and Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan on Dec. 17, 2004, the Department of Homeland Security is working with MDOT, MTO, FHWA, Transport Canada, bridge/tunnel operators, and private sector stakeholders to identify better methods of measuring transit times. This will provide more reliable information to private sector stakeholders (shippers, truckers, etc).
There are a number of groups organized to address these challenges including the Transportation Border Working Group (TBWG); the Eastern Border Transportation Coalition (EBTC); the Bridge and Tunnel Operators Association (BTOA); among others.

7. Homeland Security in MDOT
Transportation Risk Assessment and Protection Committee (TransRAP)
Michigan’s Statewide Homeland Security Strategy
Approved by DHS January 2004
Specifies transportation protection and enhancing abilities
Security Assessment visits
Buffer Zone Protection plans
MDOT has been involved in the State’s traditional emergency management for many years. Since the events of Sept 11, 2001, MDOT started to develop our own Threat Assessment Team. Over the last couple of years, this team expanded to include all state agencies and covers all modes and sectors of transportation and became the Transportation Risk Assessment and Protection (TransRAP) Committee with a dual role as the Transportation Team for Critical Infrastructure Protection.
The Homeland Protection Board is responsible for the development, implementation, and revisions as needed, for an effective and coordinated homeland security strategy. The Board is also responsible for refining and updating the state's domestic preparedness and homeland security strategies, as well as continuing to strengthen the state's capabilities to detect, prepare for, prevent, secure and protect against, respond to and recover from, any terrorist threats or attacks
Buffer Zone Protection Plans – Local law enforcement develops plan to coordinate all activity surrounding the facilities or infrastructure.

8. International Bridge
Goal: Provide for the safe & efficient movement of traffic
Action Plan:
Security enhancement; $1.185 Million
New $15 M GSA border processing facility
Future Canadian customs facility
Canadian truck route
Schedule: 2005
We have been cooperating with GSA and DHS to provide space for a new border processing facility. We have resolved all issues jointly – this needs to continue with our other projects in order for them to be just as successful.

9. Blue Water Bridge Plaza Study
Plaza too small to handle growth or border inspection procedures.
MDOT has begun a major study and environmental clearance process for the expansion of the Blue Water Bridge Plaza.
Identify & evaluate alternative improvements
Draft EIS in early 2006
Goal: Meet 30-yr traffic & security needs
Action Plan: Expand Blue Water Bridge Plaza; $ Million
Schedule: Environmental Clearance: 2006; Construction:
We are happy that Customs and Border Protection has agreed to be a cooperating agency. This will ensure that we will meet all needs for the next 30 years. We continue to have a number of critical issues to face and resolve and look forward to working together to resolve them.
There is an urgency to move forward with construction in 2008 – to do so we need full cooperation and commitment from all key agencies, especially GSA and DHS in planning and design phases.

10. Ambassador Bridge Project
Goal: Address long-term congestion mitigation issues on Michigan interstates & roadways
Cost: $185 million
Provides direct connection from I-75/I-96 to Ambassador Bridge
Schedule: Completion in 2007
We need cooperation, coordination, and communication on the Gateway project – with the Ambassador Bridge plaza expansion plans. We urge the key agencies to remain involved and keep us informed in order for our project to be completed on time.
It is absolutely critical we complete construction on the Gateway project prior to beginning construction on the Blue Water Bridge plaza. It is essential to avoid impeding traffic flows at two of the nation’s principal gateways.

11. Detroit River International Crossing
Provide safe, efficient & secure movement of people & goods
Provide new capacity
Improve system connectivity
Improve operations & processing capability
Provide reasonable & secure options

12. Detroit River International Crossing Study Corridors
The preliminary study area ranges, generally, from the area near Belle Isle at the eastern limits down the Detroit River to the area of Fighting Island, the southern limits.
Nevertheless, consistent with NEPA, all other reasonable and prudent options will be studied inside and outside this general area.

13. Detroit River International Crossing Current Timeline
We are glad that GSA and DHS are among the cooperating agencies on the DRIC. As you can see, we have a very aggressive schedule for completing the project. Ongoing involvement from the cooperating agencies is necessary to completing the project on time.
Recently, we had the opportunity for all DRIC cooperating agencies (Corps of Engineers, Dept of State, Fisheries & Wildlife, Dept of Homeland Security, Environmental Protection, Coast Guard, General Services Admin) – which was the first time that all these agencies have come together. Attendance was superb, we received commitment from all agencies to sign the cooperating agreement, and received a positive response from all agencies on the beneficial meeting and info, along with their commitment to remaining close to the project.

14. Michigan’s Commitment to Borders
$1 Billion in new infrastructure investments
Greater cooperation and coordination between U.S. and Canadian stakeholders.
Support federal policies and initiatives improving flow of people and goods, while enhancing security.

15. What We Need From You Strong commitment to partnership
Strong commitment to funding border infrastructure.
There is an urgency to solve the long-term problems of the unpredictability of the borders – which is costly from a logistics perspective. The only way to solve the problems is by cooperating and partnering amongst ourselves.
The Transportation Border Working Group is the first step in the right direction. In past years, we have begun building trust amongst our agencies – we must continue to strengthen this bond. All key agencies are represented in this room today – we must continue “building bridges.”

16. Questions ? ? ? ?