Coutts/Sweetgrass Automated Border Crossing: Phase I

COUTTS/SWEETGRASS AUTOMATED BORDER CROSSING PHASE I By Randy Carroll Research Assistant And Jodi L. Carson, Ph.D. Senior Research Associate Of the Western Transportation Institute Civil Engineering Department Montana State University - Bozeman Prepared for the STATE OF MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION MOTOR CARRIER SERVICES DIVISION In cooperation with the U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION March 1999 DISCLAIMER The opinions, findings and conclusions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Montana Department of Transportation or the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. Alternative accessible formats of this document will be provided upon request. Western Transportation Institute i TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................................... iv LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................................... iv 1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Background ......................................................................................................................... 2 1.1.1 Site Description........................................................................................................... 2 1.1.2 Trade and Traffic Characteristics................................................................................ 3 1.1.3 Current Border Crossing Operations .......................................................................... 8 1.1.4 Stakeholders.............................................................................................................. 10 1.2 Report Purpose and Contents............................................................................................ 13 2 METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................. 15 2.1 Define Phase I Goals and Objectives................................................................................ 15 2.1.1 Track A..................................................................................................................... 15 2.1.2 Track B...................................................................................................................... 17 2.1.3 Track C...................................................................................................................... 17 2.1.4 Tracks A, B, and C Combined .................................................................................. 17 2.2 Track A............................................................................................................................. 17 2.2.1 Perform Literature/National Review......................................................................... 17 2.2.2 Document Program Marketing Strategies and Database Development.................... 18 2.2.3 Select Measures of Effectiveness.............................................................................. 19 2.2.4 Document Baseline Conditions................................................................................. 20 2.2.5 Document Conditions Following System Implementation and Note Changes ........ 20 2.3 Track B.............................................................................................................................. 21 2.3.1 Develop and Administer Constituent Survey........................................................... 21 2.4 Track C.............................................................................................................................. 22 2.4.1 Document Contractor’s Success in Ensuring Adequate System Performance ......... 22 Western Transportation Institute ii TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 LITERATURE/NATIONAL REVIEW............................................................................ 23 3.1 National Initiatives............................................................................................................ 23 3.1.1 International Trade.................................................................................................... 23 3.1.2 Intelligent Transportation Systems/COmmercial Vehicle Operations ...................... 25 3.1.3 Border Crossing Activities........................................................................................ 31 3.2 Site-specific Efforts........................................................................................................... 32 3.2.1 Traffic Characteristics............................................................................................... 33 3.2.2 Infrastructure Characteristics .................................................................................... 33 3.2.3 Operational Characteristics....................................................................................... 37 3.2.4 Safety and Weight Inspections.................................................................................. 40 3.2.5 Border Technologies................................................................................................. 40 3.2.6 Tolls .......................................................................................................................... 40 3.2.7 Border Restrictions ................................................................................................... 44 3.2.8 Border Efficiency...................................................................................................... 44 4 INSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGES.................................................................................. 48 4.1 Overview of Institutional Challenges ............................................................................... 48 4.1.1 Differing Philosophies and Perspectives .................................................................. 49 4.1.2 Legislative, Regulatory and Organizational Limitations .......................................... 50 4.1.3 Lack of Motivation and Leadership.......................................................................... 50 4.1.4 Communications ....................................................................................................... 51 4.1.5 Funding and Resource Limitations ........................................................................... 51 4.1.6 Automation Constraints ............................................................................................ 52 4.1.7 Standards................................................................................................................... 52 4.2 Institutional Challenges Affecting the Coutts/Sweetgrass International Border .............. 53 5 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS............................................................ 59 REFERENCES............................................................................................................................ 61 Western Transportation Institute iii LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Montana’s 1996 Exports to Canada..................................................................................6 Table 2. Coutts/Sweetgrass Automated Border Crossing Project Oversight Committee.............14 Table 3. Traffic Characteristics.....................................................................................................34 Table 4. Infrastructure Characteristics..........................................................................................35 Table 5. Operational Characteristics.............................................................................................38 Table 6. Safety and Weight Inspections........................................................................................41 Table 7. Border Technologies.......................................................................................................42 Table 8. Tolls ................................................................................................................................43 Table 9. Border Restrictions .........................................................................................................45 Table 10. Border Efficiency..........................................................................................................46 Table 11. Comparative PIC/SAFESTAT Exchange Between Montana and Alberta...................57 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Greater Coutts, Alberta/Sweetgrass Montana Area.........................................................4 Figure 2. Montana’s Agricultural Exports ......................................................................................5 Figure 3. Montana’s 1996 Exports to Canada ................................................................................6 Figure 4. Montana’s Manufactured Export Destinations................................................................7 Figure 5. General Border Crossing Process....................................................................................9 Figure 6. Phase I Methodology.....................................................................................................16 Figure 7. National ITS/CVO Program..........................................................................................27 Figure 8. Investment vs. Safety and Operational Improvements..................................................55 Western

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