Bi-National Transportation Strategy for the Niagara Frontier
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Bi-National Transportation Strategy for the Niagara Frontier December 2005 Bi-National Transportation Strategy for the Niagara Frontier Contents Page Preface 3 Introduction and the Vision 5 Process to Develop the Strategy 8 Characteristics and Outlook for the Niagara Frontier 12 Issues and Opportunities 22 A Strategy for the Niagara Frontier 30 Glossary and Notes 40 Bi-National Transportation Strategy for the Niagara Frontier The Niagara Frontier in a Regional Context Bi-National Transportation Strategy for the Niagara Frontier Preface The Bi-National Transportation Strategy for the Niagara Frontier was developed to address existing and future transportation needs of the region’s border crossings and approach corridors. These needs are a component of the larger set of transportation improvements identified for the overall region. The development of the Strategy was a joint effort led by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation and the New York State Department of Transportation with participation from federal, state, provincial, regional, local governmental agencies and industry stakeholders from both sides of the border. Given the unique and evolving nature of the challenges pertaining to planning and managing this international region, it is important that the Strategy be kept current. The Strategy will continue to evolve as emerging issues such as new security measures proposed for the border are identified, assessed and addressed. Ongoing coordination of transportation, economic and growth management strategies will address the complexities of the Niagara Region’s international border crossings. The Strategy recommendations will be best implemented in an effective and coordinated manner through the establishment of a sustained and structured border coordination group. Preface 3 Bi-National Transportation Strategy for the Niagara Frontier Mission Statement for the Bi-National Transportation Strategy To develop a strategic action plan of synergistic opportunities to address existing problems and to meet the future needs of border crossings along the Niagara Frontier in order to support trade and tourism. Vision for the Niagara Frontier People and goods move safely, securely and efficiently within the bi-national Niagara Region via a transportation system that is unified, provides multimodal alternatives, is environmentally sensitive and supports economic growth. 4 Introduction and the Vision Bi-National Transportation Strategy for the Niagara Frontier Introduction and the Vision Canada and the United States are the largest trading partners in the world. Their economies are highly integrated with a substantial dependence on cross-border trade. A modern border that provides for safe and efficient Bi-National Trade Between Canada and the US1 movement of people and goods is therefore critical to both nations to maintain continued growth in the economy and trade. The increased security demands since September 11, 2001 (Sept. 11) have resulted in the need to focus even more closely on the operations of our border crossings and approaches so that efficiency improvements are made in concert with the implementation of enhanced safety and security measures. The Niagara River is a unique geographic feature that separates Ontario and New York State. The Niagara Frontier is home to Niagara Falls, one of the world’s most distinctive attractions visited each year by 14 million people from all over the world.2 The four highway bridges and two active railway bridges across the Niagara River also make the Frontier the second busiest commercial border crossing on the entire Canada-US border carrying about 16 per cent of all Canada-US trade.3 Consequently, the development and continued management of safe and efficient border crossings and approaches at the Niagara Frontier is of vital importance to the region, the province/state and the two nations. Recognizing the close economic ties between the two countries, the Province of Ontario and the State of New York organized a summit conference in June 2001 involving the Premier of Ontario and the Governor of New York. Participants of the Summit acknowledged the acute importance of the Niagara Frontier and initiated the creation Introduction and the Vision 5 Bi-National Transportation Strategy for the Niagara Frontier of a Bi-National Working Group, comprised of This vision is supported by specific goals: representatives from transportation providers, state, provincial and municipal officials to oversee and set · Commuters and other travellers enjoy safe, predictable direction for the development of a bi-national transportation and efficient trips across the Niagara region; strategy for the Niagara Frontier. · National and regional economies expand and prosper At the working level, a steering committee with with rapid, predictable and safe movement of goods representation from New York State Department of and people through the region; Transportation (NYSDOT), Ontario Ministry of · Goods and people move securely and infrastructure is Transportation (MTO), both federal transportation agencies, secure; and local planning bodies and bridge authorities was formed to coordinate the development of the strategy. While · Decision-making recognizes the importance of the recognizing both the economic opportunities for the Niagara environment and the well being of border communities. bi-national area and the economic penalties of not responding to border issues, this transportation strategy has evolved to reflect the new complexities of cross-border travel following the events of Sept. 11 and the increase in border security. The strategy was developed to consider: · Existing and future transportation - related border crossing problems and needed improvements in light of global economic and trade trends; · Connectivity to population, economic and recreational centres in both countries through key transportation corridors; · Availability of transportation mode choices; · Sufficient network redundancy, or capacity to accommodate periods of stress on specific links; and · An implementation plan that includes clear roles, responsibilities and timing. 6 Introduction and the Vision Bi-National Transportation Strategy for the Niagara Frontier The Study builds on existing projects and potential initiatives, and brings them into a comprehensive strategy that addresses the border transportation needs in a synergistic approach. Stakeholder mandates, expertise and knowledge were important components in the strategy development. Introduction and the Vision 7 Bi-National Transportation Strategy for the Niagara Frontier Process to Develop the Strategy The Niagara Frontier has over the years been the subject of many public and private agency studies, proposals, and projects involving the corridors leading to the Frontier and at the specific border crossings themselves. Many of these initiatives are ongoing and form an important component of the overall strategy development process. Development of this Bi-National Transportation strategy involved a number of steps: · Conducting an overview of the existing transportation systems in the Niagara Region; · Reviewing and documenting all projects and initiatives identified to date; · Preparing an overview of travel trends and forecasts; · Reviewing existing and proposed border crossing processing techniques; · Engaging stakeholders to identify ongoing and emerging issues and opportunities; · Identifying border transportation and processing limitations/problems; · Reviewing opportunities for optimizing use of all transportation modes to improve the efficiency of the border transportation system; · Identifying Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) issues and strategies; and 8 Process to Develop the Strategy Bi-National Transportation Strategy for the Niagara Frontier · Developing a long-term vision that will: knowledge of these various stakeholders were important components in the development of the strategy. · Assess existing and potential initiatives in terms of their ability to address the identified problems, their Input was particularly sought from the following ability to support the stated goals, their synergy with stakeholders as part of the consultation effort: other initiatives, their implementation time frame; and · Canadian and US federal border inspection agencies; · Result in recommended strategies with an action · Enforcement agencies; plan to support the vision. · Municipalities; The identification of ITS issues and strategies was · Shippers, brokers and trucking associations; undertaken through an over-arching study sponsored by the NYSDOT. Key outputs from that study, including issues and · Rail companies; opportunities related to ITS for the Frontier, have been integrated into this Bi-National Transportation Strategy. · Auto and bus organizations; The strategy builds on existing projects and potential · Marine organizations; initiatives, and brings them into a comprehensive strategy that addresses the border transportation needs in a · Private sector groups with proposals for new border synergistic approach. This in turn will lead to the crossings; and development of a series of action plans to ensure that individual initiatives within the strategy move forward in a · Economic and tourism organizations. timely manner and in response to growing demands, as well In addition to these stakeholders, the project team held as to measure the success of these initiatives. extensive discussions with federal, state, provincial, and Stakeholder Consultation regional transportation