Cross-Border Transit Study
The Cross-Border Transit Study assessed current and future demand for regional, cross-border transit in the Cascade Gateway. 
The IMTC coalition identified numerous benefits that a cross-border transit system would provide for the Cascade Gateway binational region:
- Reduction in cross-border personal vehicle trips and related congestion
- Environmental and efficiency improvements for cross-border work commuting
- Enhanced travel links for regional shopping, recreation, and tourism
- Enhanced regional intermodal connections
- Creation of a transportation system reflective of the degree to which the people of this binational region cross the border as part of daily life.
This project consisted of four tasks:
- Examine current and projected levels of demand for cross-border transit.
- Identify appropriate transit system links. There will also be an examination of other cross-border transit systems currently in operation, such as the system between San Diego and Tijuana.
- Define needed at-border processing and procedures.
- Develop a phased plan for integrating cross-border transit services across the Cascade Gateway.
A series of white papers resulted from the study, including analyses of preliminary markets, the development of the services, and a survey of existing cross-border transit services.
Since the study completed in 2004, the Whatcom Transportation Authority added a cross-border component to their updated strategic plan.
Follow-on discussions between Whatcom Transportation Authority and B.C. TransLink have pursued the idea of starting a cross-border transit pilot project. This initiative is currently pending funding.
Funding Partners
- U.S. Federal Highways Administration: $26,260
- B.C. TransLink: $5,000
- Transport Canada: $5,000