1. Qu é bec-New York Regional Workshop Report Ministère des Transports du Québec / New York State Dept. of Transportation TBWG Montréal, Québec October 25, 2007 Dave Henry, MTQBrian Kirch, NYSDOT

2. Content Context: Context: –The Quebec / New York partnership Economic Economic Political Political –The workshop: Attendees Attendees Format Format Preparation and material used Preparation and material used –Outputs and lessons learned

3. Economic context Quebec / New York: a strong and growing partnership: Quebec / New York: a strong and growing partnership: –Value of trade in 2006: 10.2 G $CAN –Between 1996 and 2006: 26% trade increase –From a Quebec standpoint: New York is our main foreign trade partner with 17% of our total export. The Lacolle/Champlain border crossing: a strategic gateway located in the Quebec / New York trade corricor The Lacolle/Champlain border crossing: a strategic gateway located in the Quebec / New York trade corricor Trucking is a strategic activity in the northeast: 75% of the value of trade in the region is carried by trucks Trucking is a strategic activity in the northeast: 75% of the value of trade in the region is carried by trucks

4. The Quebec – New York border 10 border crossings 2006: 2006: –up to 3 M vehicles (both directions) including 27% commercial traffic Lacolle / Champlain: Lacolle / Champlain: –60% of total traffic (1.8 M vehicles) and 88% of commercial traffic between Quebec and New York –An average of 750 000 trucks cross the border each year –Ranked 5th in Canada based on the value of commodities Smaller border crossings: Smaller border crossings: –Important for local economies and communities –Even though volume is small, there might be some road safety & fluidity issues

5. Political context In 2002, Quebec’s Premier Landry and New York Governor Pataki signed an agreement to develop collaboration in different fields, including transportation In 2002, Quebec’s Premier Landry and New York Governor Pataki signed an agreement to develop collaboration in different fields, including transportation There is a permanent bilateral committee between NYSDOT and MTQ that meets at least once a year There is a permanent bilateral committee between NYSDOT and MTQ that meets at least once a year At all level, relationship between NYSDOT and MTQ are beneficial to solve common issues related to transportation and to coordinate specific border projects At all level, relationship between NYSDOT and MTQ are beneficial to solve common issues related to transportation and to coordinate specific border projects

6. Notice! Bilateral cooperation between NYSDOT and MTQ at the border focus on specific border projects Bilateral cooperation between NYSDOT and MTQ at the border focus on specific border projects General discussions related to the circulation of vehicles at the border (policies, data sharing, relationships with federal border agencies, etc) are done with other jurisdictions in the region having the same issues through the Eastern Border Transportation Coalition (EBTC) and TBWG. General discussions related to the circulation of vehicles at the border (policies, data sharing, relationships with federal border agencies, etc) are done with other jurisdictions in the region having the same issues through the Eastern Border Transportation Coalition (EBTC) and TBWG.

7. Quebec / New York border workshop August 29th 2007 Montreal Attendees : Attendees : –NYSDOT / MTQ Headquarters and regional offices, road maintenance managers –CBSA / CBP regional authorities and port directors –GSA regional office –FHWA and T-Can regional offices

8. Why a workshop? Various agencies expressed the need to have this kind of meeting Various agencies expressed the need to have this kind of meeting –CBSA wanted to assess how traffic and road safety would be impacted by a new security initiative at the Quebec - New York border –Funding was available at NYSDOT to improve access to smaller border crossings –Timing was appropriate to have an update on the Lacolle / Champlain project (fall 2008 anticipated completion) –Information needed to complete TBWG’s border compendium NYSDOT, MTQ and local CBSA and CBP’ s offices have been working together for several years and recognize the benefits of cooperation NYSDOT, MTQ and local CBSA and CBP’ s offices have been working together for several years and recognize the benefits of cooperation

9. Format  Review of each agency’s program and initiatives going on at the border  Each of the 10 border crossings were reviewed and analyzed using still photos and videos  Lunch was provided!

10. Québec-New York Regional Workshop  Informal discussions  Project-level focus  Champlain/Lacolle update  Smaller border crossings  Needs identification  Highway approaches  Signage

11. Purpose  Strengthen lines of communication  Greater appreciation of Roles/Responsibilities  Understanding of processes  Border funding programs  Improved coordination of planned activities  Identification of Needs  Highway approaches  Signage  Asset Inventory  Videolog of crossings  Infrastructure compendium

14. Champlain Final Design

15. Construction Status: Sept. 2005

16. Construction Status: January 2007

17. CBSA New Commercial Booths: Oct 07

19. Overton Corners/Lacolle Rte 221

24. Overton Corners/Lacolle 221

25. Outputs  Reinforced lines of communication  Improved coordination of planned activities  Preliminary Identification of Needs  Highway approaches  Signage

26. Ft Covington/Dundee

27. Churubusco/Franklin Centre

28. CBSA Port running initiative

29. Signage Needs

30. Champlain/Lacolle Export Control

31. Products  Border Infrastructure Asset Inventory  Videolog of crossings  Infrastructure compendium

34. Quebec-NY annual traffic counts

35. Lessons learned All agencies should be represented All agencies should be represented The right persons and the proper level of hierarchy should be present at the table The right persons and the proper level of hierarchy should be present at the table There should be a necessity or a need expressed for this kind of activity There should be a necessity or a need expressed for this kind of activity It should not be powerpoint oriented but discussion and project oriented It should not be powerpoint oriented but discussion and project oriented Good material and preparation: videos / pictures Good material and preparation: videos / pictures

36. Lessons learned Border agencies (CBP and CBSA should be represented and involved from the beginning) Border agencies (CBP and CBSA should be represented and involved from the beginning) This type of workshop is beneficial to focus on project, specific issues (signing, snow plowing, gates, communication, etc) This type of workshop is beneficial to focus on project, specific issues (signing, snow plowing, gates, communication, etc) Forums like TBWG & EBTC are appropriate and efficient to discuss any issues related to the circulation of trucks at the border. Forums like TBWG & EBTC are appropriate and efficient to discuss any issues related to the circulation of trucks at the border.

37. EBTC Workshop October 3, 2007

38.  Session 1:  Changing Economic, Trade And Security conditions and their effects on borders  Session 2:  EBTC Guide to Border Projects  Session 3:  Review Current Border Projects  Session 4:  Review Current Border Programs EBTC Workshop October 3, 2007

39. Guide to Border Projects

40. Questions/Comments?  Contacts:  Brian Kirch, NYSDOT  bkirch@dot.state.ny.us  Dave Henry, MTQ  Dave.henry.mtq.gouv.qc.ca  EBTC  www.ebtc.info