Ministère des Transports du Québec (MTQ) involvement at the Canada / United States border

1. Ministère des Transports du Québec (MTQ) involvement at the Canada / United States border Transportation Border Working Group

2. Plan • Portrait of Québec’s economy • Ministère des Transports du Québec and the Canada/United States border • Facts and observations • MTQ’s involvement with Beyond the Border action plan • Priorities and next steps • Canada-U.S. rail passengers services (Serge Routhier)

3. Québec’s economy • Value of trade between Québec and the United States (2012): CA$ 69.2 G (63% of exports) • Major state partners: • New York State: CA$ 7.7 G • Vermont: CA$ 4.1 G • Texas: CA$ 5.3 G • Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania: CA$ 3.5 G • 62% of the value of trade carried by trucks; • 75% of trucks entering Québec are registered in Canada

4. Québec and the Canada – U.S. Border • 32 international road crossings; • New York State (10) • Vermont (15) • Maine (6) • New Hampshire (1) • 6 rail crossings. • In 2012: • 6.9 millions vehicles (both directions) including 1.2 million trucks (17.4%) • 80% of commercial traffic uses 4 main ports of entry • Smaller crossings play key role for local economies and communities

5. Québec – U.S. Truck flows

6. Interests and role at the border • Interests: • Road safety; • Fluidity of people and goods (all modes); • Helping maintain security; • Supporting economic growth; • Informing and supporting the trucking industry and the trade community. • Role: • Road infrastructure; • Policies; • Partnerships.

7. Infrastructure • Recent projects at the border: • Additions of dedicated truck lanes at three major commercial ports of entry (2007-2010): • Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle/Champlain, NYS (A-15); • Stanstead/Derby Line, Vt (A-55); • Armstrong/Jackman, ME (Rte173). • Completion of A-30 South of Montréal (Fall 2012): • more than 2 500 heavy vehicles each day; • provides a new alternative to avoid the island of Montréal for East-West trips. • Upcoming projects: • Extension of A-35 between Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu and Saint-Armand/Highgates Springs, Vt. • MTQ – VTrans restoration of Sutton / East Richford Bridge.

8. Partnerships • Québec has signed cooperative agreements with three States: • New York (2002); • Vermont (2003 and updated in 2013); • Maine (2013). • These agreement call for cooperation in the area of transportation, for example: • Working togheter on transport issues of common interest at the border; • Collaborating with federal Canadian and American agencies active in cross-border affairs ; • Cooperating to improve passenger rail links between Québec and the U.S.; • Developping and deploying Intelligent transportation systems such as 511. • MTQ is actively involved in various groups and coalitions: • Eastern Border Transportation Coalition (EBTC); • Transportation Border Working Group (TBWG). • Continuous dialogue with local CBSA and CBP port of entry authorities for operations.

9. Facts and observations • Post 9-11 context at the border seems to be assimilated by the industry. • Reduction of border delays: 35% reduction of truck traffic at Québec crossings between 2003-2012 • In 2011, a consultation with Quebec trucking industry showed that border delays and lack of harmonization between Canadian and U.S. programs remain major preoccupations. • Most of border related initiatives in 2013 are linked with Beyond the Border Action Plan and implemented by federal agencies. • All stakeholders understand the need for greater coordination in border issues

10. Beyond the Border: Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness action plan • 32 measures under the responsibility of Canadian and U.S. agencies but implementation may require provincial involvement in some cases. • MTQ strongly supports most of the measures related to transportation at the border: • Implementation of pre-clerance initiative for rail, land and marine modes of transport; • Increased benefits in trusted travelers and traders programs (NEXUS & FAST); • Greater harmonisation between Canadian and U.S. inspection and customs procedures; • Increased coordination for infrastructure development and maintenance at the border, including investments at key crossings and small and remote ports.

11. 1- Canada-U.S  Border Investment Plan (BIIP) • First released in May 2013 and covers major ports of entry (7). • MTQ’s interests: • Increased coordination between customs projects and road infrastructure projects; • Status of investments for major Ports at the Québec Border: • U.S. CBP facility at Derby Line, Vt (I-91); • CBSA facility at Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle (A-15). • Status of small and remote ports of entry.

12. 2- Implementation of Border wait time measurement systems at high priority crossings • Impacts for MTQ: • Three crossings located in Québec; • MTQ’s operate ITS (variable messages signs) to send messages at the border; • Border delays identified as a top priority by the Quebec trucking industry; • Reliable and consistent wait time data is usefull information in order to support the industry and for road network management.

13. 3- Integrated Cargo security Strategy – Port of Montréal Pilot • Inspection of marine containers arriving at the Port of Montréal destined for the U.S. by trucks. • MTQ’s interest: • Reduction of number and probability of inspection at the border: « cleared once, accepted twice » concept; • Impact for the trucking industry and targeted carriers; • End of pilot: November 1st 2013, looking foward to recommendations and the next steps.

14. Priorities and next steps • MTQ activities: • Infrastructures: • International Sutton/East Richford bridge with Vermont; • A-35 project. • Partnerships: • Maintain involvement with EBTC, TBWG and other relevant groups; • Continuous consultation with industry to provide appropriate support and help compliance: CBSA e-manifest • Remain available for collaboration with federal agencies for measures related to transportation at the border: preclearance, wait time measurements, etc

15. Québec-US Passenger Rail Links • Passenger Rail Services: • Montréal-New York City = Adirondack; • Montréal-St. Albans, VT-New York City-Washington = Vermonter in up to 3 years. • 2010: CBSA – Customs House used to clear the Adirondack doesn’t meet new standards = $$ needed for new building to be paid by Amtrak; • Montréal Central Station U.S. and Canadian Preclearance Project identified by stakeholders as the most likely way in the short term to improve QC-U.S. passenger rail links.

16. Québec-US Passenger Rail Links • Preclearance for passenger rail concept included in Canada-U.S. negotiations on Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness. • Dec. 2011 - Announcement by Canadian PM and US President of an Action Plan, including preclearance for passenger rail (and a project in Vancouver BC’s Pacific Central Station) to be negotiated (a treaty) in a space of a year. • Extension of negotiations – Should end positively at the end of 2013/beginning of 2014.

17. Québec-US Passenger Rail Links • Meanwhile… • Amtrak, (+stakeholders), is preparing a Business Case for Montréal Central Station Preclearance Project to be presented to authorities. Will includes estimates of touristic impacts of increase ridership. • AMT, as a representative of Amtrak, is managing a study done by a Quebec architectural firm, to validate Amtrak’s plans of Customs Preclearance facilities in Montréal (and their $$) – End: Fall 2013. • MTQ is managing a study done by HMM to update data on CN and CP lines between Montréal and the US border (towards NYC and Boston) and evaluate $$ to raise speeds on those lines up to 160 km/h (100 mi/h) – End: Fall 2013. • VT and MA are managing a 2nd study on the Boston to Montréal Corridor (Inland et Knowledge Corridors). Participation of QC should be on sharing some data from HMM study.

18. Thank you! • Ministère des Transports du Québec • Serge Routhier • Direction du transport maritime, aérien et ferroviaire • Serge.routhier@mtq.gouv.qc.ca • Dave Henry • Direction du transport routier des marchandises • Dave.henry@mtq.gouv.qc.ca