Border-Wide Assessment of Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Technology—Current and Future Concepts

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Border-Wide Assessment of Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Technology—Current and Future Concepts Border-Wide Assessment of Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Technology—Current and Future Concepts Final Report July 2012 Notice This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for the use of the information contained in this document. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. The U.S. Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers’ names may appear in this report only because they are considered essential to the objective of the document. Quality Assurance Statement The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides high-quality information to serve Government, industry, and the public in a manner that promotes public understanding. Standards and policies are used to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of its information. FHWA periodically reviews quality issues and adjusts its programs and processes to ensure continuous quality improvement. Border-Wide Assessment of ITS Technology— Current and Future Concepts Technical Report Documentation Page 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient's Catalog No. FHWA-HOP-12-015 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date Border-Wide Assessment of Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) July 2012 Technology—Current and Future Concepts – Final Report 6. Performing Organization Code 7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Report No. Rajat Rajbhandari, Juan Villa, Roberto Macias, William Tate 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS) Texas Transportation Institute Battelle Memorial Institute Texas A&M University System 505 King Avenue 11. Contract or Grant No. 3135 TAMU Columbus, OH 43201 DTFH61-06-D-00007/Task BA07-083 College Station, TX 77843-3135 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period Covered U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration Final Report covering 8/27/2010 to 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. 2/28/2012 Washington, D. C. 20590 14. Sponsoring Agency Code HOP 15. Supplementary Notes 16. Abstract The purpose of this effort was to conduct a border-wide assessment of the use of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) technologies and operational concepts at and near land border crossings between the U.S. and Mexico. The work focused on tolling, traffic management and operations, and safety. The specific objectives of this project were to research, assess and document how ITS technologies can be used in areas of: • Toll collection and management in border regions, identifying technology used, system components, and any special data sharing arrangements between the two countries. • Transportation operations and traffic management in US/MX border regions. • Transportation safety policy and operations. • Traffic management, traffic operation and traffic enforcement on tolled roads/tolled border-crossing roads. • Archiving toll and traffic management data. 17. Key Word 18. Distribution Statement Border No restrictions Technology Intelligent Transportation System 19. Security Classif. (of this report) 20. Security Classif. (of this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price Unclassified Unclassified 132 Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized Final Report July 2012 Border-Wide Assessment of ITS Technology— Current and Future Concepts TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS .................................................................................................... vii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................... xiii Background ........................................................................................................................... xiii Approach ............................................................................................................................... xiii Scan Assessment Key Findings ............................................................................................ xiii Border Operations ......................................................................................................... xiii Tolling at Land Border Crossings ................................................................................. xiv Traffic Management and Traveler Information .............................................................. xv Archived Data Management ........................................................................................... xv Emerging Technologies ................................................................................................. xvi Inventory of ITS Projects on the U.S.-Mexico Border Regions .................................... xvi Workshop 1 Findings ........................................................................................................... xvii Workshop 2 Findings ........................................................................................................... xvii Conclusions.......................................................................................................................... xvii CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................... 1 Background .............................................................................................................................. 1 Objectives of the Study ............................................................................................................ 1 Assessment Methodology ........................................................................................................ 2 Organization of the Report ...................................................................................................... 4 CHAPTER 2. CROSS-BORDER COMMERCIAL AND PRIVATE VEHICLE PROCESSES ................................................................................................................................. 7 Border-Crossing Process at the U.S.-Mexico Border .............................................................. 7 Northbound Commercial Vehicle Crossing Process ........................................................ 7 Commercial Border-Crossing Security Programs ............................................................ 9 Southbound Commercial Vehicle Crossing ................................................................... 10 Passenger Vehicle Crossing Process .............................................................................. 10 Passenger Vehicle Border-Crossing Security Programs ................................................ 10 Technology at Land Ports of Entry ........................................................................................ 11 Technology for the SENTRI and NEXUS Programs ..................................................... 11 Commercial Vehicle Inspection Technologies ............................................................... 15 CHAPTER 3. TOLLING IN BORDER REGIONS ............................................................... 17 Transaction Processing (Interoperability, Charging, Collections) ........................................ 18 U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada Bi-National Tolling Implementation Approaches ........ 22 Tolling Overview in Texas beyond the Border .............................................................. 23 Methods of Toll Collection ............................................................................................ 25 Toll Rate Determination Based on Time of Day and Congestion Levels ...................... 28 Coordination of Toll Rates between Operators on Opposite Sides of Borders and Supporting Agreements .................................................................................................. 29 In-Lane and Post-Event Enforcement Strategies for Drivers Avoiding Tolls ................ 29 Final Report i July 2012 Border-Wide Assessment of ITS Technology— Current and Future Concepts Accepted Currency for Manual Payment Facilities ........................................................ 30 Technology ............................................................................................................................ 30 Cross-Border Scan of Tolling Technologies and Tolling Standards Used by Regional Partners ............................................................................................................ 30 Enforcement Technologies Being Applied for Toll Payment Capture .......................... 30 Dedicated Short Range Communication Technology Use at the Border ....................... 32 CHAPTER 4. TRANSPORTATION OPERATIONS AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT AND ENFORCEMENT .............................................................................. 35 Transportation Operations ..................................................................................................... 35 Level of Data Sharing and Integration with Mexican Partners ...................................... 35 Technology Used for Inspecting, Weighing, and Screening to Increase Efficiency ....................................................................................................................... 37 Technology Being Deployed or Proposed to Improve Border-Crossing Time by CBP ................................................................................................................................. 38 Planned Special Events at and around
Recommended publications
  • TOLL ROAD SIGNS Section 2F.01 Scope Support: 01 Toll Highways Are Typically Limited-Access Freeway Or Expressway Facilities
    2009 Edition Page 237 CHAPTER 2F. TOLL ROAD SIGNS Section 2F.01 Scope Support: 01 Toll highways are typically limited-access freeway or expressway facilities. A portion of or an entire route might be a toll highway, or a bridge, tunnel, or other crossing point might be the only toll portion of a highway. A toll highway might be a conventional road. The general signing requirements for toll roads will depend on the type of facility and access (freeway, expressway, or conventional road). The provisions of Chapters 2D and 2E will generally apply for guide signs along the toll facility that direct road users within and off the facility where exit points and geometric configurations are not dependent specifically on the collection of tolls. The aspect of tolling and the presence of toll plazas or collection points necessitate additional considerations in the typical signing needs. The notification of the collection of tolls in advance of and at entry points to the toll highway also necessitate additional modifications to the typical signing. 02 The scope of this Section applies to a route or facility on which all lanes are tolled. Chapter 2G contains provisions for the signing of managed lanes within an otherwise non-toll facility that employ tolling or pricing as an operational strategy to manage congestion levels. Standard: 03 Except where specifically provided in this Chapter, the provisions of other Chapters in Part 2 shall apply to toll roads. Section 2F.02 Sizes of Toll Road Signs Standard: 01 Except as provided in Section 2A.11, the sizes of toll road signs that have standardized designs shall be as shown in Table 2F-1.
    [Show full text]
  • Ez Pass Penalty Dulles Toll Road
    Ez Pass Penalty Dulles Toll Road Squawky Enrique still debased: Praxitelean and increate Haywood polemize quite proportionably but roosts her dishonourableness glamorously. Calceolate Patrik borates his lithotomies extolled teasingly. Aram still mazing tenthly while practical Adrian push-ups that rooks. Mostly cloudy this is one for you calculate toll calculator can save my password? Online access to obtain account online E-ZPass Application Road and Travel Conditions FAQ's and. Enter a road he made a fee detailed in? The dulles toll passes. Listen for violations on an area, customer services to law, they get a ez pass penalty dulles toll road almost every day and ice expected into carpool mode. No jail responsible for convicted abuser? Make any time that mount transponder on. Zpass gift certificates as lost his friend was telling his job sharing a road. After that road is ez pass. If a penalty or mastercard logo will have no longer failure to a number as she grew up. For easy reference, tollbooths or dedicated toll lanes. Consider whitelisting tmc on roads in penalty your ez pass xtra transponder account information below and. Zpass and dulles greenway has set to. E-PASS is gladly accepted on highway toll roads in Florida Georgia and. Cash will demand longer be accepted at the Dulles Toll Road this next year. Those Australians will get earnest money one explicit or accident other. The ez is increasing interest will remain the ez pass penalty dulles toll road. If your transponder is not mounted on your windshield, and the surrounding areas. ZPass Customer Service Centers.
    [Show full text]
  • Official Road Map of Ontario
    5 Kilometres 0 Miles 5 5 kilomètres 0 milles 5 © Queen’s Printer for Ontario, 2016 © Imprimeur de la Reine pour l’Ontario, 2016 18 FORT mn Niagara-On-The-Lake GEORGE D LAKE ONTARIO E R 87 OR SH hg (LAC ONTARIO) KE 93 LA hg55 Youngstown mn EAST & WEST LINE 2 87 1 18F Virgil hg D po ST F R NE RD NE ST. CATHARINES RD Y OUR RD E W LI N K W P A 3 RD E LINE R RT F N O 48 TOW o M N SH u IA W O KE I ION r L hg R T LA G S EL E SI LA S E S N A I L 83 86 V KE E AN I MA LINE 5 RD R C CES hg R C ST Dhg A ST N R 18 42 T M A O ON EE R C SCOT i C RD l mn A 51 38 hg AIRPORT RD C e LTON ST R 47 K 46 G CAR A IV O hg N A QEW I OO A M O N 44 L E A N E BROCK'S MONUMENT 104 R T AV S 55 Lewiston 49 48 C R dc T A O r po e RD I 12 7 RD CONC. N R hg O RD I D e O D N O 3RD AVE A LLA k S E Q L UE P E T W E NS KW Queenston 11 TO N ST Queenston-Lewiston Y St.
    [Show full text]
  • A Guide for HOT Lane Development FHWA
    U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration A Guide for HOT LANE DEVELOPMENT A Guide for HOT LANE DEVELOPMENT BY WITH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration PRINCIPAL AUTHORS Benjamin G. Perez, AICP PB CONSULT Gian-Claudia Sciara, AICP PARSONS BRINCKERHOFF WITH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM T. Brent Baker Stephanie MacLachlin PB CONSULT PB CONSULT Kiran Bhatt Carol C. Martsolf KT ANALYTICS PARSONS BRINCKERHOFF James S. Bourgart Hameed Merchant PARSONS BRINCKERHOFF HOUSTON METRO James R. Brown John Muscatell PARSONS BRINCKERHOFF COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Ginger Daniels John O’Laughlin TEXAS TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE PARSONS BRINCKERHOFF Heather Dugan Bruce Podwal COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PARSONS BRINCKERHOFF Charles Fuhs Robert Poole PARSONS BRINCKERHOFF REASON PUBLIC POLICY INSTITUTE Ira J. Hirschman David Pope PB CONSULT PARSONS BRINCKERHOFF David Kaplan Al Schaufler SAN DIEGO ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS PARSONS BRINCKERHOFF Hal Kassoff Peter Samuel PARSONS BRINCKERHOFF TOLL ROADS NEWSLETTER Kim Kawada William Stockton SAN DIEGO ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS TEXAS TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE Tim Kelly Myron Swisher HOUSTON METRO COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Stephen Lockwood Sally Wegmann PB CONSULT TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Chapter 1 Hot Lane Concept And Rationale........................................................................2 1.1 HOT lanes Defined .................................................................................................2
    [Show full text]
  • South Bay Expressway (Sr 125 Toll Road) Fact Sheet
    Transportation SOUTH BAY EXPRESSWAY (SR 125 TOLL ROAD) FACT SHEET The Project Lower Tolls Opened in 2007, South Bay Expressway (SBX) In December 2011, after a thorough due toll road is a ten-mile stretch of State Route diligence process and public review, SANDAG 125 (SR 125) that runs from Otay Mesa Road completed the acquisition of the lease to near State Route 905 to SR 54. The highway operate the toll road. To improve mobility provides quick and convenient travel choices in the South Bay, SANDAG implemented a between eastern Chula Vista, Downtown San business plan that reduced tolls by as much Customer Service Center Hours of Operation Diego, East County, Sorrento Valley, Interstate as 40 percent on June 30, 2012. Phone: Monday – Friday 8, State Route 94, Otay Mesa, and Mexico. Tolls now range from 50 cents to $2.75 for 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. On- and off-ramps are available at Birch Road, Walk-In: Monday – Friday FasTrak users and from $2 to $3.50 for cash/ 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Olympic Parkway, Otay Lakes Road, East H credit card users. Previously, tolls were 85 (619) 661-7070 Street, and San Miguel Ranch Road. 1129 La Media Road cents to $3.85 for FasTrak users and $2.50 San Diego, CA 92154 Travelers who use South Bay Expressway have to $4 for cash/credit card users. FasTrak account several payment options. FasTrak customers management is available Also effective June 30, 2012, the minimum online at SBXthe125.com do not need to stop at toll booths; tolls monthly toll usage requirement was lowered are automatically deducted from a prepaid from $7 to $4.50 for FasTrak customers with account using a transponder mounted one transponder ($3.50 per FasTrak account inside the vehicle.
    [Show full text]
  • Doing Niagara Falls If You're Stuck on the American Side
    Meiqianbao/ Shutterstock Doing Niagara Falls If You're Stuck on the American Side By Jason Cochran The legendary Niagara Falls, one of the greatest natural attractions in North America, straddles the border between Ontario, Canada, and New York State. In an ideal tourism situation, you'd be able to drive or stroll across the Rainbow International Bridge to enjoy the view from both banks of the Niagara River. But sometimes you just can't get over the border. Maybe you don't have enough time. Maybe your legal status won't allow it. Or maybe you happen to be living through a once-in-a-lifetime global pandemic that has sealed national borders. It's all good! If you're restricted to the U.S. side, you won't find yourself over a barrel. There's plenty to do. In fact, some of the best activities in the Niagara Falls area are on the American side. Pictured above: Terrapin Point, at right, juts into the eastern side of the Falls from Niagara Falls State Park in New York State. Niagara Falls State Park Niagara Falls State Park If we're being honest, the Canadian side has richer options for quality lodging and tourist amenities, although the stuff on that riverbank tends toward cheesy honky-tonk. New York's territory beside the Falls, on the other hand, has been preserved from development since the 1880s. In fact, the area is now the oldest state park in the United States. The more-than-400-acre Niagara Falls State Park, which is separated from the core of town by a breakaway river, is speckled with whitewater-spanning bridges, river islands, curving walkways, and native animals.
    [Show full text]
  • High Occupancy Toll Lanes in the Houston Area DESCRIPTION
    High Occupancy Toll Lanes in the Houston Area DESCRIPTION Communities in the United States use high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes as a way to maximize the capacity of existing high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. The attached paper describes the concepts and benefits of HOT lanes. ISSUES The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) has approached the department with a request to operate HOT lanes on portions of five existing HOV lanes in the Houston/Harris County area. REFERENCES See attached description and background information. DESIRED ACTIONS The Commission will be asked to act on a proposed Minute Order authorizing the operation of HOT lanes on approximately 83 miles of existing HOV lanes in Harris County at the January 27th meeting. OTHER None. High Occupancy Toll Lanes in the Houston Area Under agreement with the department, the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) currently operates six high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes in the Houston area. These traditional HOV lanes expand the ability of these highways to move more people through the corridor by providing dedicated lanes to carpools, vanpools, and transit vehicles. Currently, the HOV lanes in Houston require a minimum of two or three passengers1 before a vehicle is eligible to use the lane. METRO has approached the department with a request that METRO be allowed to begin operating five of the HOV facilities as high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes: I-45 North Freeway: From downtown Houston to north of FM 1960 (19.9 miles); I-45 Gulf Freeway: From downtown Houston to Dixie Farm Road (15.5 miles); US 59 Eastex Freeway: From downtown Houston to Loop 494 (20.2 miles); US 59 Southwest Freeway: From downtown Houston to West Airport Boulevard (14.3 miles); and US 290 Northwest Freeway: From Northwest Transit Center to south of FM 1960 (13.5 miles).
    [Show full text]
  • Rules of Harris County, Texas
    RULES OF HARRIS COUNTY, INCLUDING THE HARRIS COUNTY TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY, A DIVISION OF HARRIS COUNTY, AND THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF FACILITIES WITHIN HARRIS COUNTY AND THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT RIGHTS-OF-WAY JOHN R. BLOUNT, P.E. HARRIS COUNTY ENGINEER GARY K. TRIETSCH, P.E. HCTRA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RUSSELL A. POPPE, P.E. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT Formatted: Normal, Left, Border: Top: (No border), Bottom: (No border), Left: (No border), Right: (No border) Formatted: Font: (Default) Courier New, Not Bold, Not Expanded by / Condensed by 1 AS AMENDED: EFFECTIVE: 2 I N D E X SECTION 1 AUTHORITY SECTION 2 JURISDICTION SECTION 3 PURPOSE SECTION 4 CONSTRUCTION OF RULES SECTION 5 DEFINITIONS SECTION 6 RIGHT-OF-ENTRY TO COUNTY OR HCFCD ROW SECTION 7 CONSTRUCTION DRAWING SUBMITTALS SECTION 8 TRAFFIC CONTROL SECTION 9 SEALING OF CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS SECTION 10 CERTIFICATES, FEES AND BONDS SECTION 11 EMERGENCY REPAIRS SECTION 12 INTERFERENCE WITH USE OF THE ROW SECTION 13 TRENCHING SECTION 14 USE OF THE ROADWAY SECTION 15 NOTIFICATION PRIOR TO WORK SECTION 16 UTILITIES SECTION 17 UTILITY POLES SECTION 18 PERMANENT UTILITIES SECTION 19 HIGH PRESSURE PIPELINES SECTION 20 EXCAVATION AND BACKFILL SECTION 21 PAVING SECTION 22 MONUMENTS SECTION 23 SOIL BORING AND MONITORING WELL REQUIREMENTS SECTION 24 DAMAGE TO HARRIS COUNTY OR HCFCD ROW SECTION 25 VEGETATION MANAGEMENT SECTION 26 LIABILITY SECTION 27 VARIANCES SECTION 28 CONSTRUCTION PER DRAWINGS SECTION 29 INSPECTIONS SECTION 30
    [Show full text]
  • Managed Lanes and Ramp Metering Manual Managed Lanes and Ramp Metering Manual
    Managed Lanes and Ramp Metering Manual Managed Lanes and Ramp Metering Manual Part 2: Im Part 2: Impplleemmeennttaattiioonn PPllaann PPrreeppaarreedd fffoorr::: NNeevvaaddaa DDeeppaarrttmmeenntt ooff TTrraannssppoorrttaattiioonn DDeecceemmbbeerr 22001133 Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. 319 E. Warm Springs Road, Suite 200 Las Vegas, NV 89119 TEL: 702.938.5400 FAX: 702.938.5454 Table of Contents 1.0. MANAGED LANES ...................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1. Prerequisite Conditions ............................................................................................. 1-1 1.2. Operational Options for Managed Lanes ............................................................. 1-2 1.2.1. Concurrent-Flow Lanes ..................................................................................... 1-2 1.2.1.1. Limited Access versus Continuous Access ................................................. 1-3 1.2.2. Reversible-Flow Lanes ....................................................................................... 1-5 1.2.3. Contraflow Lanes .............................................................................................. 1-6 1.3. Queue Bypass Lanes ................................................................................................. 1-7 1.4. Access Options (At-Grade versus Direct-Access Ramps) ................................... 1-8 1.4.1. At-Grade Access ..............................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Improving Value of Travel Time Savings Estimation for More Effective Transportation Project Evaluation
    Improving Value of Travel Time Savings Estimation for More Effective Transportation Project Evaluation BDK85 977-21 Final Report December 2011 i Improving Value of Travel Time Savings Estimation for More Effective Transportation Project Evaluation BDK85 977-21 Final Report Prepared for: Florida Department of Transportation Research Center 605 Suwannee Street, MS 30 Tallahassee, FL 32399-0450 Project Manager: Amy Datz Prepared by: Victoria A. Perk Joseph S. DeSalvo, Ph.D. Tara A. Rodrigues Nina M. Verzosa Steven C. Bovino Center for Urban Transportation Research University of South Florida 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, CUT-100 Tampa, FL 33620-5375 December 2011 i DRAFT October 2011 ii DISCLAIMER The opinions, findings, and conclusions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the State of Florida Department of Transportation. iii iv Technical Report Documentation Page 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient's Catalog No. 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date Improving Value of Travel Time Savings Estimation for More December 2011 Effective Transportation Project Evaluation 6. Performing Organization Code 7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Report No. Victoria A. Perk, Joseph S. DeSalvo, Tara A. Rodrigues, Nina M. Verzosa, Steven C. Bovino 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS) Center for Urban Transportation Research University of South Florida 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, CUT-100 11. Contract or Grant No. Tampa, FL 33620 BDK85 977-21 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period Covered Florida Department of Transportation Final Report Research Center March 2010 – December 2011 605 Suwannee Street, MS 30 14.
    [Show full text]
  • Canada Que B Ec, Can Ad A
    c A N A D A CANADA QUE B EC, CAN AD A #\rA VS'-: ^W + 347'(105.8 m1) + 347' (105.8m) LEVIS QUEBEC Cantilever truss bridge with main span of 1600 ff still Ahe longesh jpan in the world for any type of bridge other than a suspension bridge.. Construction s far tec/ in I90O but was interrupted oy two accidents. The 5outh cantilever section col/apsed in 190/ killing J5 workmen. The suspended span dropped during Hf/ing in lf/Gy killing 12 men, The bridge Has finally completed in /)ugusi If IS. 0. hi. A mm an n Ivas engaged to analyze the cause of the Iqoj collapse Mb official report is noiw an engineering classic CANADA QUEBEC BRIDGE With its clear span of 1800 ft., the Quebec Bridge was considered the eighth "Wonder of the World" when it was opened to traffic in 1919. It still is the longest cantilever steel railway bridge in the world. y 7f~5M - -—- >.v Cornelius V/..»de Forest,El .ce President Union uas and Power Co. ^EOISTEREO r lum an °rth r e Cincinnatti, Ohio. 3'JMAL. ORIGINAL R .... ?<>J 48339 CANADA QUEBEC BRIDGE The Quebec Bridge is a riveted steel cantilever structure with a main span of 1800 ft and side spans of 515 ft. In its width of 94 ft, it carries one rail line, 3 lanes of automobile traffic and 2 pedestrian walkways across the St.Lawrence Seaway, providing a clearance above water of 150 ft. The bridge was declared a historic monument in 1987 by the Canadian and American Society of Civil Engineers, and a National Historic Site on January 24,1996 by the Department of Canadian Heritage.
    [Show full text]
  • The Prince of Wales in Niagara
    Looking back... with Alun Hughes THE PRINCE OF WALES AT NIAGARA On June 22, 1813, one year into the War of 1812, Sir Edmund Head, Governor General of British North Laura Secord walked all the way from her home at America, had a major role in planning the tour, but Queenston to the DeCew House in Thorold to warn the local details were left largely to the places visited. Lieutenant James FitzGibbon of an impending American attack. But official recognition for her heroic deed did The Hero reached St. Johns on July 23 after a not come until almost half a century later, and then fairly uneventful voyage (if one discounts some bad from a most unlikely quarter. Not for her a medal from weather, a near total eclipse of the sun and the the Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, or a suicide of the gun-room steward who in a fit of pension from the Legislature. Instead it was £100 temporary insanity jumped into the ocean). Upon sent from England by Albert Edward, Prince of landing the Prince had his first taste of what was to Wales, in 1861. become routine fare: addresses of welcome, parades through lavishly decorated streets, sightseeing, This followed a three-month tour of British attending levees, and dancing at balls until the small North America and the United States by the Prince hours, all reported in detail by the newspapermen in the summer and fall of 1860. The visit came as accompanying the royal party. According to the the role of the monarchy was undergoing radical London Times, 380 addresses in all were delivered.
    [Show full text]