DOT Establishes New Border Congestion Relief Program, Seeks Applications
The Department of Transportation is establishing a new Transportation Border Congestion Relief (TBCR) Program to help fight transportation border congestion at international land border crossings.
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DOT is also soliciting applications for this program by June 30, 2008 (see details below).
Program Objectives
The primary objectives of the TBCR Program are to:
- Reduce border travel time delays by promoting non-traditional transportation project delivery and operation approaches at or near international land border crossings.
- Illustrate the benefits of alternative financial models.
- Promote and support a more efficient coordination process among the various Federal and local agencies that have an interest in U.S. land borders.
- Improve system connectivity to facilitate trade and the safe, legitimate, movement of people and goods across the U.S. border by decreasing border travel times without compromising the mission of securing U.S. borders within the Border Region1.
- Demonstrate the viability of developing land border crossing projects using an investment model based on sound economics and market principles.
- Build on the institutional expertise in place within the U.S./Mexico Joint Working Committee for Border Planning (http://www.borderplanning.fhwa.dot.gov/mexico.asp) and the U.S./Canada Transportation Border Working Group (http://www.thetbwg.org/) and interagency groups related to border facilitation.
DOT Solicits Applications for Program, Will Select Two or More Projects
The DOT is seeking applications from the 15 international land border States, bridge and tunnel operators, or from private sector entities which identify and advance land border transportation projects that can alleviate current or forecasted congestion at or near the U.S. border with Mexico and with Canada within the border zone.
According to DOT, applicants may consider applying for authority to toll any Federal-aid highway as part of a TBCR Program. The use of tolls would not only help finance the road, but the use of tolls also, if the amounts are varied, could help manage the volume of traffic utilizing the crossing at any given point during the day.
DOT states that it envisions a selection of two or more projects that can serve as models for land border travel time improvements.
Value of Freight Shipments among U.S. & Mexico/Canada Growing
According to a DOT press release, over the last two decades, the value of freight shipments among the U.S., Canada and Mexico has risen by 170%, growing an average of 8% annually. In 2007, U.S.-bound traffic from Canada experienced delays up to three hours at many crossings, costing businesses more than $14 billion annually. On the Mexico side, San Diego County alone loses $271 million in annual revenue due to delays at the border.
1A Border Region is defined as any portion of a U.S. State that is within 100 miles of an international land border with Canada or Mexico.
DOT contact- Alla Shaw (202) 366-1042
DOT notice (FR Pub 05/30/08) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-12055.pdf
DOT press release (FHWA 12-08, dated 06/02/08) available at http://www.dot.gov/affairs/fhwa1208.htm