JWC Meeting Minutes

December 13, 2001
Phoenix, Arizona

The meeting opened with welcoming remarks from Jill Hochman and Oscar de Buen and introductions.

The minutes of the previous meeting in Chihuahua were approved.

The Draft futures vision for the JWC was approved in concept. A more developed vision will be completed by Claude and Sylvia and will be forwarded to the JWC members. This vision will be voted on for formal approval at the next meeting.

Work plan
Sylvia will be developing a matrix to keep track of all the projects including milestones and time frames. This will be put on the Internet. Claude discussed the development of an ITS committee.

GIS
Juan Carlos Espinosa gave a presentation on current status of project including next steps. The results of the GIS workshop were discussed focusing on the architecture problems of integrating the GIS in the Border States. Chihuahua presented there results because of the their pilot project status. Sergio stated that they still needed information from all US states analyzing attributes, developing base maps. There was still a need to reconfirm the names and contact information of the technical committee. There will be a meeting of the technical committee in January.

German Ezzre of the Sonora presented Sonora's progress on GIS. Sonora added attributes to the SCT model to fit the states needs. CDs for the Sonora system were given to Sergio, Dale, & Tere. Oscar, Claude and Sylvia.

BINS
Sergio Pallares presented the status of the BINS project. The RFP has will be out in early February or March.

Approval of the JWC was requested and received for including the economic angle (population, housing, and income level components) in the scope of the project.

Approval of the JWC was requested and received in order to amend Task 1 (literature search) to include reports focusing on the impacts of NAFTA on the Border region.

Oscar suggested moving forward with the project, but that we should revisit the project during the second meeting of 2002 to make sure we are in alignment with our new vision and to make sure we take advantage of the value of this topic.

Coordination System for the Operation of the Port of Entry
The consultants on behalf of TXDOT and SCT (Felipe Ochoa Associates and Texas Transportation Institute & Center for Transportation Research gave the presentation.

The US team schedule is little further behind the Mexican team because of September 11. Phase I has been completed. They are now working on phase II.

The consultants have on their website their literature review (all documents). They have printed executive summaries or have written a summary of other documents.

The website is http://bordercross.tamu.edu/CPOE, Username=CPOE, Password=CPOE2001

Sergio asked why the banking problems in Mexico (drivers having to wait until the banks open) for NB traffic are not a problem? Answer: most brokers are paying in advance.

Jose San Martin asked three questions/ comments
1) DEA and PGR inspection- How are these functions affecting the system
2) Analysis of coordination on land POEs with Seaports. Maybe the project should incorporate visits to seaports for lessons learned.
3) Consultants should incorporate existing models (tools) in a useful way (Border wizard, freight study, etc.) The JWC decided that items 2 and 3 were to be included as part of the scope of the project.

Mike suggested teat the cost benefit concept be included in the study. The JWC agreed.

Jose San Martin suggested that the study should also look at the indirect cost associated with delay cost. The JWC agreed that if the concept were within the scope, the project would include the concept.

Dale suggested that the word "transportation" be included in the title for clarification purposes. The JWC agreed.

Transborder Corridor Planning
Esteban Figueroa gave a presentation on Intermodal Freight Corridor efficiency from Mexico City to Nuevo Laredo/Laredo. The objective: to improve the intermodal network in Mexico by a cultural shift to intermodal transportation in the railway business environment and implementation of technology for intermodal transportation.

The proposal was made to table the Transborder Corridor Planning work plan item until the next work plan cycle so that we can better align the project with our new vision. It is a very important for the North American Transportation system. The JWC approved the measure.

ITS Application along the border
Mike Onder lead a discussion on adding ITS architecture on the border to next years work plan. Mike also discussed the OTAY Mesa ITS project. A proposal was made for creating a group with private sector involvement to evaluate capacity and other issues. To begin, the group can focus on evaluating the difficulties and obstacles to implementing ITS and define concrete objectives and effective results and focus on the long range.

The JWC was requested and approved setting up a small group that can focus and evaluate the difficulties on implementing ITS on the border from a binational stand point. Work is to be done in 3 months time on a long-range view (cargo, passenger & pedestrian)

Border Technology Exchange Program
Tere Franceschi presented the current status of the BTEP. The states develop a work plan for the entire year. There is a small Canadian BTEP. Lisa and Tere will be developing a border wide plan to fill in any gaps not covered by the state plans. Accomplishments of the last six months include the Technologies and Transfer Symposium in Florida. T squared centers in San Diego, Chihuahua, and Nuevo Leon. We are looking forward to additional Technology Transfer Centers in Sonora, Tamaulipas and Baja California. Sonora is most probable as the next center. SCT is also planning on expanding the T squared centers into the rest of Mexico. The Office of International Programs will be giving them technical support.

Additional a Professional exchange program to Washington is being established. The program will last 18 months. That person will be working on border needs. Tere is to provide information on this program to all the US & Mexican states.

NM - Chihuahua BTEP
Joaquin and Adrian (Chihuahua and NM) are looking into a 2-month exchange program. Also there is a Bridge Inspection Program at New Mexico State University along with a student exchange program with the University of Chihuahua receiving training with NMSH & TD. Joaquin said that this year they sent folks to the bridge inspection training classes in Las Cruces and are looking forward to sending more in March.

Texas - BTEP
BTEP is very important. 60 individuals participated in training, site visits, etc. TX DOT - International Relations Office is going to distribute money from FHWA to District Offices so that they can implement local BTEP exchange and activities.

Nuevo Leon - BTEP
Nuevo Leon is able to host free professional training classes in the T squared center, however a sponsor must be identified.

Next Work Plan Cycle
Claude commented on the importance of the next work plan. The topics should include ITS, intermodal activities, results of the POE coordination study, and innovative financing mechanisms.

A proposal was made to form a subcommittee to work on the next work plan. The JWC agreed to this.

Security Update
Larry Warner of GSA provided the JWC with an update on security changes at the border since September 11. Larry stated that there would be some one at every Port of entry 24 hours a day (Customs and Immigration). Animal Plant Health Inspection Service primary focus was on bioterrorism. The Food Drug Administration was adding 360 inspectors to the border area. GSA has been instructed to harden the border stations (physically).

Freight Scanning meeting in Brownsville
Mike Onder provided a summary of the meeting

Miscellaneous
Section 350 of the new appropriations bill was discussed briefly

Rob Harrison stated that he has access to a library that may help Claude and Mike with their task assignment in ITS.

The next meeting of the JWC will be in Monterrey Mexico in May.