Beyond the Border Action PlanBorder Wait Time Measurement Technology 

Beyond the Border Action Plan

• On December 7, 2011, the U.S. and Canada released the Beyond the Border Action Plan

• Committed to implement border wait time measurement technology at 20 high priority land border crossings.

• To be managed by the Border Wait Time Working Group (BWTWG)• U.S. CBP• CBSA• TC• U.S. FHWA

High Priority Border Crossings

•A•A

• Already completed (6 crossings)

• New Beyond the Border

(14 crossings)

• Point Roberts, WA – Boundary Bay, B.C.• Peace Arch: Blaine, WA (I-5) – Douglas, B.C. (Hwy 99)• Pacific Highway: Blaine, WA (WSR 543) – Hwy 15, B.C.• Lynden, WA (WSR 539) – Aldergrove, B.C. (Hwy 13)• Sumas, WA (WSR 9) – Huntingdon, B.C. (Hwy 11)• Sweetgrass, MT (I-15) – Coutts, AB (Hwy 4)• Portal, ND (US Rt 52) – North Portal, SK (Hwy 39)• Pembina, ND (I-29) – Emerson, MB (Hwy 75)• International Bridge: Sault Ste. Marie , MI – SSM, ON• Blue Water Bridge: Port Huron, MI – Sarnia, ON

• Detroit-Windsor Tunnel: Detroit, MI – Windsor, ON• Ambassador Bridge: Detroit, MI – Windsor, ON• Peace Bridge: Buffalo, NY (I-190) – Fort Erie, ON (QEW)• Rainbow Bridge: Niagara Falls, NY – Niagara Falls, ON• Queenston-Lewiston Bridge: Lewiston, NY – Queenston, ON• 1000 Islands Bridge: Alexandria Bay, NY – Lansdowne, ON• Champlain, NY (I-87) – St-Bernard de Lacolle, QC (Rte 15)• Highgate Springs, VT – St-Armand/Phillipsburg, QC (Rte 133)• Madawaska, ME – Edmundston, NB• Calais, ME (International Ave) – St. Stephen, NB (Hwy 1)

Preparatory Work

• In September and October (2012), the BWTWG held 6 webinars to introduce the initiative to local stakeholders in each region.

• SAIC will be conducting a site visit at each of the identified border crossings (December 2012) to:• Collect information on local traffic conditions• Identify needs• Develop timelines / work plans• Recommend potential technology solutions and

business models• Solutions to be fully operational by the end of 2014.

Data Archive

• Working with Whatcom to archive data from all 20 sites and provide historical information to the public.

Update on Buffalo/Niagara Border Wait Time Project

Bluetooth

• The BWTWG is implementing a Bluetooth technology solution to measure border wait times in the Buffalo / Niagara region.

• The technology is installed and calibrated at 2 crossings:• Peace Bridge• Queenston-Lewiston

Bridge.

Groundtruth Results

Groundtruth Results

Challenges

1. When approach lanes are close together, it can be difficult to distinguish between vehicle types.

2. Re-allocation of lanes among various vehicle types.

3. Cellphone signal used to communicate the data back to the vendor can be inconsistent.

A. Plaza reconfigurations

B. Ownership and operation

C. Consistent reporting to the public

Next steps

• Contract in place to implement solution at Rainbow• Migrate system to local operation• Consistently disseminate information to public• Evaluate hybrid Bluetooth/Loop system to improve

accuracy and reduce latency