Whatcom Council of Governments

The Cascade Gateway

The Cascade Gateway includes the third busiest passenger vehicle crossing along the U.S. - Canada border, and the fourth busiest commercial crossing.  Over 21,000 cars and over 2,500 trucks cross through the Cascade Gateway every day, carrying over $40 million (USD) in daily trade.  The Cascade Gateway is a prominent, international trade and travel connection.

Cascade Gateway Ports-of-Entry:

1. Peace Arch/Douglas: Blaine, WA/Surrey, B.C. (Interstate 5 & B.C. Hwy 99)
2. Pacific Highway: Blaine, WA/Surrey, B.C. (State Route 543 & B.C. Hwy 15)
3. Lynden/Aldergrove:  Lynden, WA/Aldergrove, B.C. (State Route 539 & B.C. Hwy 13)
4. Sumas/Huntingdon: Sumas, WA/Abbotsford, B.C. (State Route 9 & B.C. Hwy 11)

52 percent of people crossing the Cascade Gateway cross at least once a month. (2008 IMTC Passenger Intercept Survey)

Regional population growth is disproportionately high. The Lower Mainland of British Columbia and Whatcom County, Washington are under increasing transportation demans of higher-than average population growth.(U.S. Census, Statistics Canada, WA State OFM, BC Stats)

30 percent of all traffic uses NEXUS lanes. 30 percent of southbound and 26 percent of northbound traffic use the pre-approved travel lanes. 63 percent of interviewed NEXUS users crossed once a week or more. (U.S. Customs & Border Protection, Canada Border Services Agency)

Over $34 million (USD) of goods cross through this port every day . In 2009 U.S. and Canadian exports at Pacific Highway alone exceeded $12.3 billion. (Bureau of Transportation Statistics, U.S. Department of Transportation)

Over 20 percent of southbound trucks use the FAST lane. 23 percent of southbound trucks at Pacific Highway used the FAST lane during surveying in 2009. 73 percent of these trucks were empty. Northbound, only 2 percent of trucks used the FAST lane.(2009 IMTC Commercial Vehicle Operations Evaluation Survey)

40 percent of Lynden/Aldergrove and Sumas/Huntingdon travelers would use NEXUS if the port had a NEXUS lane. A study of travelers in 2009 revealed that 73 percent of Lynden/Aldergrove travelers were familiar with the NEXUS program, 3 percent already had NEXUS cards, and the rest would be willing to apply.(2009 IMTC Commercial Vehicle Operations Evaluation Survey)

IMTC Objectives

The goal of the IMTC project is to improve safety, mobility, and security for the Cascade Gateway. To this end, the following objectives have been identified:

1) Improve planning and data collection efforts.

• Improve travel information and data.
• Promote development and management of the Cascade Gateway as a system.
• Determine the feasibility of rail, transit, and marine options.
• Monitor work completed by regional and national-level planning initiatives (TBWG, West Coast Corridor Coalition)

2) Promote infrastructure improvements.

• Improve border crossing approach roads.
• Improve rail crossings and connections.
• Improve corridor connections of trade and travel routes.
• Integrate Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS).

3) Promote improvements to operations, policy, and staffing at the border.

• Promote cooperation and improvements in accordance with the goals of federal initiatives, including the Security & Prosperity Partnership and the U.S. - Canada Smart Border Declaration.
• Increase resources and staffing levels at border inspection facilities.
• Improve traffi c management at all four Cascade Gateway ports-of -entry.
• Ensure ongoing sustainability of the NEXUS and FAST programs.
• Encourage institutional collaboration and integration of information systems to improve risk management and increase cross-border security.
• Promote harmonization and consolidated administration of regional pre-approved travel programs including commercial travel.
• Explore options for binational financing structures for future cross-border improvements.
• Pursue shared, U.S.–Canadian border inspection facilities including the creation of accord processing zones.
• Consider off-border inspection functions.
• Promote the adoption of pre-clearance for passenger rail under Canada’s 1999 Pre-Clearance Act.

Participation

IMTC participants contribute to the forum in three different groups:

Steering Committee - There are approximately 30 agencies represented on the Steering Committee, which meets monthly and makes suggestions to the Core Group.

Core Group - Including the Steering Committee, over 60 agencies and organizations participate in the Core Group, which meets quarterly and is the decision-making body of IMTC.

General Assembly - In addition to the Core Group, the General Assembly is a broad constituency of border stakeholders - businesses, organizations, and agencies that depend on an efficient, productive, and safe cross-border system. Over 200 mostly private-sector participants comprise the General Assembly, which meets annually to provide feedback and gain information on evolving border policies and operations.

Participating Agencies and Organizations:

Transportation Agencies

• B.C. Ministry of Transportation
• TransLink
• Transport Canada
• U.S. Department of Transportation - Office of the Secretary
• U.S. Federal Highway Administration
• U.S. Federal Transit Administration
• WA State Department of Transportation
• Whatcom Transportation Authority

Inspection Agencies

• Canada Border Services Agency
• U.S. Customs & Border Protection

Border Municipalities

• Bellingham City Council
• City of Abbotsford, B.C.
• City of Bellingham, WA
• City of Blaine, WA
• City of Ferndale, WA
• City of Lynden, WA
• City of Nooksack, WA
• City of Sumas, WA
• City of Surrey, B.C.
• City of White Rock, B.C
• Greater Vancouver Gateway Council (Metro Vancouver)
• Township of Langley, B.C.
• Whatcom County, WA

Other Governmental Agencies

• B.C. Ministry of Tourism, Culture & the Arts
• Canadian Member of Parliament - Russ Heibert
• Consulate General of Canada
• Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board
• Port of Bellingham
• U.S. Consulate, Vancouver
• U.S. General Services Administration
• U.S. Representative Rick Larsen
• U.S. Representative Dave Reichart
• U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell
• U.S. Senator Patty Murray
• WA State Community, Trade, & Economic Development
• WA State 42nd District Legislators
• Whatcom Council of Governments

Non-Government Organizations

• B.C. Chamber of Commerce
• Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce
• Better Borders Northwest
• Border Policy Research Institute (Western Washington University)
• Bureau of ITS and Freight Security (University of British Columbia)
• Cascadia Center/Discovery Institute
• Cloverdale District Chamber of Commerce
• Lynden Chamber of Commerce
• Pacific Corridor Enterprise Council
• Pacific NorthWest Economic Region
• TransNOW
• Vancouver Port Authority
• White Rock - South Surrey Chamber of Commerce

Private Industry

• A&A Contract Customs Brokers
• Airporter Shuttle/Bellair Charters
• Amtrak
• B.C. Trucking Association
• Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway
• Chang & Boos
• Tourism Vancouver
• UPS Freight Services
• Vancouver Board of Trade
• Vancouver International Airport Authority
• West Coast Duty Free