The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) recently announced its efforts to accelerate three border infrastructure projects to address the continued cross-border delays at our nation’s ports of entry. The Border Trade Alliance (BTA), a strong partner with federal agencies and Congress on border issues, initiated and continues to lead its ongoing campaign to bring federal investment and resources toward this critical issue, which has significant national economic impacts.
In early summer 2008, the BTA broadcast notice of DOT’s Border Congestion Relief Program to stakeholders representing border communities and ports of entry. DOT’s program is designed to expedite border infrastructure project approval within the federal government that involve unique solutions, developed by stakeholders, to address border congestion and develop alternative sources for funding, innovated project delivery for border transportation needs. The BTA welcomes DOT’s attention in making transportation infrastructure a priority along our borders with Canada and Mexico, especially in light of the growing concerns associated with cross-border delays and the large gap between funding available and the large need for infrastructure upgrades. The BTA continues to advocate that federal policy-makers make border infrastructure and resource investment at our nation’s ports of entry a top priority.
DOT’s selection of three projects, in Blaine, Washington; Laredo, Texas; and San Ysidro, California; represent a few of the many border transportation infrastructure projects that require immediate and significant federal investment in order to address growing border delays and their threat to our national economic stability.
U.S. land ports of entry are responsible for conducting more than 3/4 of a trillion dollars in trade annually with Canada and Mexico. Since the ratification of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) trade and commerce has surged at U.S. border crossings. Meanwhile during the past seven years, federal homeland security operations at U.S. land ports have also greatly expanded. However, federal investment to maintain and upgrade port infrastructure and resources has not kept pace. Many ports are experiencing reduced traffic, yet longer cross-border delays. As the premier tri-national organization representing border communities and trade, the BTA, has expanded its advocacy efforts through its Border Infrastructure and Resource (BIR) Campaign to reverse the alarming trends of decreasing federal investment and growing wait-times to protect and enhance cross-border trade and commerce, a significant contributor toward our national economy.
The BTA hosted DOT Secretary Peters during our international conference in Washington, D.C. during the spring of 2007 and the BTA has been working closely with senior officials from DOT’s Federal Highway Administration regarding a number of specific concerns and projects along both the U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico borders.
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