US/CANADA TRANSPORTATION BORDER WORKING GROUP:

Border Wait TimeBuffalo-Niagara Region

Stephanie DafoeNiagara Falls Bridge Commission

Agency Relations & Security Manager

Roger RipaBuffalo & Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority

Senior Systems Analyst

Project concept and benefits…

What is currently in place and how it got there…

Peace Bridge

Queenston/Lewiston

= Bluetooth reader

What type of data does it produce and who uses the data…

https://apps.cbp.gov/bwt/

www.peacebridge.comwww.niagarafallsbridges.com

Issues that arose and solutions that were developed…

Problem Solution

Improper placement of readers

• Hands-on investigation by all parties to track down issues and to tune and relocate readers. Testing to insure proper separation of vehicle types (auto, truck, NEXUS)

Improper configuration of readers and links

• Live system monitoring by agencies working together with software developer receiving the data

Separating distinct vehicle types

• Directional antennas to detect certain areas of traffic separately from others (ex. NEXUS lanes)

• “Tagging” of vehicles – record an ID and classify it as car or truck for future visits. Currently a 34.7% repeat use rate.

• Queue mode versus cumulative mode wait times

Wait time lag (slow to show changes in delay)

• Shorter distances between links• Queue mode helps

Cellular internet communication issues near the border

• Hardwiring into existing networks where possible• Switching to a private cellular network versus the public

network

What is queue mode…

Auto inspection

Truc

k in

spec

tion

614

2514

1520

120

Wait in minutesLink threshold

CumulativeAuto Wait

CumulativeTruck Wait

Queue ModeAuto Wait

Queue ModeTruck Wait

25+15+1 = 41 min. 6+15+1 = 22 min. 25+15 = 40 min. 6 min.

What we have learned from the process…

Next steps…