Idaho/Canada Border Idaho/Canada Border IssuesIssues
Transportation Border Working Group Transportation Border Working Group MeetingMeeting
Coeur d’Alene, IDCoeur d’Alene, IDApril 22-23, 2008April 22-23, 2008
Regional PictureRegional Picture
U.S.-95U.S.-95
• Idaho’s major north/south link with Canada• Congressional high-priority corridor• Eastport among top 20 U.S./Canada commercial
port of entry in dollar volume• Experiencing increases in truck traffic to and
from Canada• Improvements are important to international,
interstate and local trade• $132 million already invested or programmed
U.S.- 95/Canada TradeU.S.- 95/Canada Trade
• Heavy truck traffic at Eastport has increased 47% since 1993 and could increase more as improvements to U.S. 95 are made.
• For WA, OR and CA destinations, traffic from Alberta travels through Eastport rather than Sweetgrass, MT because it provides a shorter, more efficient route.
U.S.-95/Canada TradeU.S.-95/Canada Trade
• Improvements to U.S. 95 from the Canadian border south to the Junction of Idaho 1 to remove trailer length and off-track restrictions and improve safety are and will provide a shorter, safer route for international and local traffic.
• Improvements to US-95 will enhance economic efficiency and mobility because international trade can move over a more direct route to markets and avoid more circuitous and costly alternative routings
Eastport Southbound Truck TrafficEastport Southbound Truck Traffic1978-20071978-2007
Eastport, Idaho Trucks
0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
19781979
19801981
19821983
19841985
19861987
19881989
19901991
19921993
19941995
19961997
19981999
20002001
20022003
20042005
20062007
Fiscal Year
Tru
ck
s
(Former!) Eastport Rerouting (Former!) Eastport Rerouting OptionOption
Eastport Commercial TrafficEastport Commercial Traffic
• Primary Canadian Products by truck-Lumber and wood products-Livestock (primarily cattle)-Fertilizer
• Primary Canadian Products by rail-Petroleum products-Propane-Potash-Lumber
Intermodal Advantages of Intermodal Advantages of Eastport/KingsgateEastport/Kingsgate
• Serves as a rail interchange as well as a truck port of entry
• Provides Union Pacific Railroad’s only direct interchange with Canadian railroads
• Currently 80-120 trains per month
• Lumber from Canada is transported short-haul by truck and loaded on rail for long-haul movement
U.S.-95 High Priority U.S.-95 High Priority Border ProjectsBorder Projects
U.S.-95 south of the borderU.S.-95 south of the border
Highway 95 north of the borderHighway 95 north of the border
(Former!) U.S.-95 southbound (Former!) U.S.-95 southbound from U.S. Customsfrom U.S. Customs
New U.S.-95 southbound New U.S.-95 southbound from U.S. Customsfrom U.S. Customs
South Moyie River BridgeSouth Moyie River Bridge
UP Railroad Grade SeparationUP Railroad Grade Separation
Scoping Feasibility for theScoping Feasibility for theInland Pacific HubInland Pacific Hub
• Economics and Existing Infrastructure Analysis
• Transportation Strategies and Economic Impacts
• Emerging Technology Analysis
• Transportation Funding Sources
• Environmental Screening & International Issues
• Individual State & Provincial Plans
• Transportation Funding Sources
• Environmental Screening & International Issues
• Individual State & Provincial Plans
Joint Funding for Collaborative Assessments
Salt Lake CityPop. - 1M
CalgaryPop. - 2.6M
Port of VancouverPop. - 2M
Idaho Dept. of Commerce, 2005;
U.S. Consulate Office Alberta Canada,2006
Inland Inland Pacific Pacific HubHub
Nearly 20 million people live within 16 hours driving time.
Bay AreaPop. - 8M
Portland
Puget SoundPop - 3.46M
Pop - 1.7M
Vancouver
Inefficient capacity use, weak systems planning compound the challenge
Potential for Interconnected Transfer Points
I-90 Improvements
Geiger Spur w/ Trans-Loader
Railex Distribution Center
Port capable of shipping loads by barge and rail
Bridging the Valley increasing rail efficiency
International Airport with Federal Trade Zone & Customs
North South Connections
Union Pacific International crossing 24 Hr. Border
Business & General Aviation Airport
Huetter Bypass
New Trucking & Distribution Centers
Sand Creek Byway
Bi-State Fiber Ring
• Capitalizing on Strengths
• Strategic Use of Funding
• Regional Opportunities
Idaho/Canada Border IssuesIdaho/Canada Border Issues
• Thank you for your attention and thank you to the TBWG for having your meeting in Coeur d’Alene!
• Questions?