ebtc workshop on border projects: avoiding the potholes – paving the way tbwg, niagara falls...

EBTC WORKSHOP ON EBTC WORKSHOP ON BORDER PROJECTS: BORDER PROJECTS: AVOIDING THE POTHOLES AVOIDING THE POTHOLES

– PAVING THE WAY– PAVING THE WAY

TBWG, Niagara FallsTBWG, Niagara Falls October 24, 2006October 24, 2006

WALTER W. STEEVESWALTER W. STEEVESEBTCEBTC

WHAT IS EBTC?WHAT IS EBTC?Eastern Border Transportation Eastern Border Transportation

Coalition Coalition EBTC MEMBERSEBTC MEMBERS

TRANSPORTATION AGENCIES OF: TRANSPORTATION AGENCIES OF:

Michigan, New York, Vermont, MaineMichigan, New York, Vermont, MaineOntario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova

Scotia,Scotia, Newfoundland & Labrador Newfoundland & Labrador

Associate Members: Associate Members: BUFFALO AND DETROIT MPO’SBUFFALO AND DETROIT MPO’S

REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF NIAGARA REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF NIAGARA

June 15, 2005 June 15, 2005

June 15, 2005June 15, 2005

WHY DID EBTC HOLD A WHY DID EBTC HOLD A WORKSHOP ON BORDER WORKSHOP ON BORDER

INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS?INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS?

Montreal: October 4, 2006Montreal: October 4, 2006

45 Participants45 Participants

WHAT DID EBTC WANT TO WHAT DID EBTC WANT TO ACCOMPLISH IN A WORKSHOP? ACCOMPLISH IN A WORKSHOP?

OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES To promote cooperation, coordination and To promote cooperation, coordination and

consultation between/among various agencies consultation between/among various agencies involved in projects at or near the border involved in projects at or near the border



consultation between/among various agencies consultation between/among various agencies involved in projects at or near the borderinvolved in projects at or near the border

To share experiences of planning and To share experiences of planning and constructing projects constructing projects




To share experiences of planning and To share experiences of planning and constructing projectsconstructing projects

To get a better understanding of all the To get a better understanding of all the processes and approval requirementsprocesses and approval requirements




To share experiences of planning and To share experiences of planning and constructing projectsconstructing projects

To get a better understanding of all the To get a better understanding of all the processes and approval requirementsprocesses and approval requirements

To identify issues that might need to be To identify issues that might need to be addressed to make the process more efficientaddressed to make the process more efficient

AGENDAAGENDA

SESSION #1: Border ProjectSESSION #1: Border ProjectIdentification and Identification and Scope Scope

SESSION #2: Project PlanningSESSION #2: Project PlanningSESSION #3: Project ConstructionSESSION #3: Project ConstructionSESSION #4: OperationsSESSION #4: Operations

SESSION #1 DISCUSSIONS:SESSION #1 DISCUSSIONS:

Different Agencies : Different mandatesDifferent Agencies : Different mandates Developing relationshipsDeveloping relationships Communication / Coordination- Include allCommunication / Coordination- Include all ““Champion” coordinator requiredChampion” coordinator required Data exchangeData exchange

SESSION #1 OUTCOMES:SESSION #1 OUTCOMES:

All agencies must cooperate to ensure efficient All agencies must cooperate to ensure efficient border operationsborder operations

Initial consultation on proposed projects should Initial consultation on proposed projects should include all agencies which might have some include all agencies which might have some involvementinvolvement

Developing personal relationships is very helpful, Developing personal relationships is very helpful, particularly in addressing problems (crises)particularly in addressing problems (crises)

Have to consider that the border is a “system” Have to consider that the border is a “system” made up of individual parts and consideration is made up of individual parts and consideration is required to determine how new projects tie inrequired to determine how new projects tie in

Data exchange is beneficialData exchange is beneficial


Commitments from agencies Commitments from agencies Advance planningAdvance planning Current experiences of Blue Water & Gateway Current experiences of Blue Water & Gateway

projectsprojects Project fundingProject funding Public consultationPublic consultation Environmental approvalsEnvironmental approvals


Cooperation on environmental process on both sides Cooperation on environmental process on both sides of the border is beneficial (understand roles of others)of the border is beneficial (understand roles of others)

Need commitments from all key agencies at earliest Need commitments from all key agencies at earliest possible timepossible time

Keep public well informedKeep public well informed Flexibility required to accommodate changesFlexibility required to accommodate changes Long lead times are required for projectsLong lead times are required for projects


Labor laws for constructionLabor laws for construction Taxes & Duties on project materialsTaxes & Duties on project materials Security on jobsiteSecurity on jobsite Queenston-Lewiston and Calais/St.Stephen Queenston-Lewiston and Calais/St.Stephen

experiencesexperiences Water vs. Land CrossingWater vs. Land Crossing


There is a need for a “how to” guide on There is a need for a “how to” guide on border projectsborder projects

Understand all of the processes and the Understand all of the processes and the time it will take to get approvalstime it will take to get approvals

Being an International Bridge Commission Being an International Bridge Commission makes the process easiermakes the process easier

There is a need to identify “old” There is a need to identify “old” regulations which should be considered for regulations which should be considered for change or removalchange or removal

Need for flexibility on worker security on Need for flexibility on worker security on the construction sitethe construction site


ITS installation and maintenanceITS installation and maintenance Funding Funding CVO InspectionsCVO Inspections Seaway International Bridge experienceSeaway International Bridge experience


Local agreements on snow and ice removal seem to Local agreements on snow and ice removal seem to work bestwork best

Need for ongoing consultationsNeed for ongoing consultations Safety is a primary focusSafety is a primary focus ITS investments need to be prioritized ITS investments need to be prioritized Message signs need to be timely and accurateMessage signs need to be timely and accurate Need for better understanding of CBP outbound Need for better understanding of CBP outbound

inspection policy and its application at various inspection policy and its application at various crossingscrossings

Should look for opportunities to cooperate on data Should look for opportunities to cooperate on data collection and sharingcollection and sharing

WORKSHOP SUCCESS ?WORKSHOP SUCCESS ?LOOK BACK AT OBJECTIVESLOOK BACK AT OBJECTIVES

To promote cooperation, coordination and To promote cooperation, coordination and consultation between/among various agencies consultation between/among various agencies involved in projects at or near the border involved in projects at or near the border YESYES

To share experiences of planning and To share experiences of planning and constructing projects constructing projects YESYES

To get a better understanding of all the To get a better understanding of all the processes and approval requirements processes and approval requirements YESYES

To identify issues that might need to be To identify issues that might need to be addressed to make the process more efficient addressed to make the process more efficient YESYES

Some comments from Participants:Some comments from Participants: ““I want to commend the EBTC group for arranging such a I want to commend the EBTC group for arranging such a

fine session this year.fine session this year. This discussion even surpassed last This discussion even surpassed last years effort which I thought was great. I see this years effort which I thought was great. I see this gathering emerging as a vehicle which has the potential gathering emerging as a vehicle which has the potential for launching significant efforts to improve for launching significant efforts to improve communication and coordination of all stake holders at communication and coordination of all stake holders at the border. ”the border. ”

““Thanks again for organizing the EBTC October 2006 Thanks again for organizing the EBTC October 2006 meeting in Montreal. The attendance was a reflection of meeting in Montreal. The attendance was a reflection of past successes and the presentation at the workshop a past successes and the presentation at the workshop a guarantor of future participation. Congrats to you and guarantor of future participation. Congrats to you and the members!”the members!”

Thanks for such a well-organized workshop. I appreciated Thanks for such a well-organized workshop. I appreciated the opportunity to attend.”the opportunity to attend.”

www.ebtc.infowww.ebtc.info

ebtc workshop on border projects: avoiding the potholes – paving the way tbwg, niagara falls...

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