U.S.-Mexico Joint Working Committee (JWC) Meeting Minutes

Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico
Dec 4 and 5, 2007

For this meeting the delegations were as follows:

Dec 4, 2007 - early morning - U.S. and Mexico Only Sessions

Dec 4, 2007 - Joint Working Committee Meeting-Joint Session¹

Welcome, Meeting Purpose and Introductions - Jill Hochman - FHWA and Juan Jose Erazo--SCT
Jill initiated the meeting, expressing that she would be acting as co-chair in place of Gloria Shepherd who sent her regrets. Jill welcomed the delegates. Juan Jose Erazo indicated that he would be acting as co-chair in place of José San Martín for the first portion of the meeting.

Approval of minutes from San Diego, May 2007 meeting - All
The JWC approved the minutes without comment.

Update on Border Facilitation Working Group -Fred Eberhart, U.S. DOT and Juan Jose Erazo _ SCT

Fred provided a U.S. perspective based on his role as coordinator of programs for the Department of Transportation on the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) agreement, which was established in 2005. At the last tri-lateral meeting, held in Montebello, Quebec, in August 2007, with the two Presidents (Bush and Calderon) and the Canadian Prime Minister (Martin) agenda items/initiatives were developed that are on-going and will be reported on at the next tri-lateral meeting scheduled for April 2008. Most of the U.S.-Mexico border activities and transportation initiatives are based directly on work that the JWC is performing. The Border Facilitation Working Group (BFWG) was established to facilitate flow of information between the two nations in pursuit of the action items/initiatives. The meetings are chaired by the White House Council on Homeland Security, and those federal agencies involved in the action items/initiatives, including DOT, Customs, Commerce, and others, meet frequently to discuss progress on activities.

Some examples of recently completed activities include a pilot project in Nogales to harmonize and expand hours of Port of Entry operation, a project in Laredo to expedite flow through four new booths at the World Trade Bridge (Laredo IV), and the implementation of variable signage and traffic channelization in Mexico. The group also works on harmonization of banking hours and other protocols. The BFWG is a good vehicle to mobilize multiple agencies at senior levels and show a strong commitment to the SPP. In Mexico, the counterpart to the BFWG is the Presidencia and they have worked hard to mobilize the Mexican federal agencies.

Juan Jose reiterated Mexico's commitment to the SPP and indicated that the Presidencia has worked at a very high level to help facilitate border projects and to solve specific problems at the border. Mexico is in the process of identifying urgent, high priority projects that could use intervention at a high level. Besides the projects mentioned by Fred in his presentation, Juan Jose also listed several SENTRI (Secure Electronic Network for Travelers' Rapid Inspection)/FAST (Free and Secure Trade) projects², and the Otay Mesa East/Mesa de Otay II Port of Entry.

Fred and Juan Jose will compare the reports from the different groups to make sure that they are similar and that they have a similar understanding about the projects.

Border Security Projects Overview - Juan Jose Erazo - SCT
The Department of State's (DOS) involvement in the development of SENTRI infrastructure in Mexico to enhance security along the U.S.-Mexico border officially ends today with the opening celebration in Reynosa, of the Reynosa SENTRI lane. DOS, through its International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) bureau has completed and funded six SENTRI lanes (Tijuana, Mexicali, Nogales, Nuevo Laredo, Matamoros, and Reynosa) across Mexico.

Juan Jose indicated that the program was received very happily in Mexico and indicated that through the construction of SENTRI lanes that there has been increased security as well as increased capacity and traffic flow, which helps relieve congestion in other Ports of Entry. SCT has proposed a second list of eight additional crossings that they will be submitting to the DOS for review with the other U.S. federal agencies. DOS is interested in obtaining the information on how these particular 8 crossings were selected, an indication of priorities among the eight and a discussion of why those priorities have been identified. Some criteria considered were daily flow rates, thresholds and other objective tests. No funding has been set aside by Mexico for implementation of the new SENTRI lanes.

SCT will send the criteria through SRE to DOS in a two week time period, such that DOS/CBP/SCT/Aduana can hold a meeting early in the New Year to discuss the proposal. A target date for this meeting would be the middle of February. The topic will be added to the agenda of the Binational Bridges and Border Crossing Group meeting scheduled for early February 2008, in El Paso, TX.

Pedro Orso, Caltrans indicated that the Border Governors are also supporting SENTRI projects and would be interested in a calendar of when SENTRI projects are expected to come on line. Carlos Lopez, SIDUE, reminded the group that Venu Sarakki, of GTSI, had a good methodology showing where new SENTRI lanes should go and describing the cost/benefits of the lanes. Dennis Counihan, CBP, stated that with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) that all lanes will be SENTRI capable and that some of those existing lanes could be dedicated as exclusive SENTRI lanes. From the States' viewpoint, there needs to be a commitment to provide dedicated lanes for SENTRI within Mexico. This provision will need to be vetted at the local level and the states would like to be a part of the group that decides which projects get implemented.

2005-2007 Work Plan
Regional Border Master Plan Calif./Baja Calif. - Pedro Orso-Delgado - Caltrans
Pedro gave an overview of the process to create a regional border-wide master plan with a comprehensive and prioritized assessment of the bi-state port of entry (POE) and transportation needs. State/local/federal governments have long had overlapping interests at the POEs, as evidenced by the many, varied proposals for port of entry projects. The process has involved a technical level working group and a policy level working group providing guidance and information on planning boundaries, project information, evaluation criteria, and other pieces of information critical to the process. The master plan final report will be presented to the technical working group in May and the policy advisory committee in July. The Master Plan product will be collaborative, and will provide a rational way for planning and funding cycles to work together for the benefit of the region.

Juan Jose, SCT, indicated that they are happy with the project to date and they are interested to see how the process is used once it is completed, both for California/Baja California and for other regional areas.

Juan Jose also mentioned that the Mexican Federal Government has recently developed a new intensive work plan for the nation including 100 projects promised for the current six-year term of President Calderon. The plan does not include border projects per-se, but many of the infrastructure projects could have benefits to and/or impacts on the border. Port and access projects will be included at a later phase. More information on the 100 projects plan is available on SCT's webpage and a link will be provided to the JWC, and subsequently be posted to the JWC website.³ The Mexican states will be helping the federal government with this initiative because of resource and staffing constraints at SCT, and to make the projects more collaborative.

Border Infrastructure Needs Assessment (BINS II)/Geographic Information Systems (GIS) - Joseph de la Rosa - NMDOT and Chris Brown - NMSU

Joseph introduced Chris who gave an overview of the work completed to date for BINS- a developed systematic approach for assessing transportation needs in the border region (100km north and south of the international boundary) including defining criteria, evaluation process, border-wide data base and evaluation tools, significant projects and methods for funding the projects. Out of the BINS/BGIS work, further recommendations to improve corridor identification and selection, improve data collection and storage, include safety and environmental criteria, link BINS information to the GIS network already developed to house a data for the border geo-spatially will be incorporated. BINS II will span the gaps identified from BINS and fully integrate the GIS. It will also address a methodology to update corridors on a regular basis.

Since the last JWC meeting, a Technical Advisory Committee meeting was held in June 2007, project criteria were discussed and data needs were documented, a data mining effort to gather data from various sources was carried out, including the contracting of a Mexican consultant to assist with data mining in Mexico. Next steps include the distribution of the project criteria document to the U.S. and Mexican states and collection of required data. The full project will be completed 2009. It is very important that the states participate in this effort. The U.S. States have received their project criteria document and their request for participation from the JWC. The Mexican states' letter from SCT, including the project criteria document, will be sent in within two weeks from this meeting. Sylvia indicated that if there are specific projects identified in the BINS II project, or related to the BINS II project that the group has further interest in, that those can be added to the next work plan [to be discussed later in the meeting].

Regional Border Innovative Finance Activities -
Overview -Frederick Werner, FHWA, was prevented from attending the meeting due to airline problems, but sent ahead a report that the finance team continues to work with developing techniques for disseminating information on finance. Fred hosted a workshop for the TxDOT El Paso district on November 27^th which included, among other topics, the use of land development fees as a revenue stream for transportation projects. The finance team will also be providing assistance as needed to the SANDAG/Caltrans/Baja California as they use the completed financial feasibility studies to develop a binational financial plan for the SR11/Otay Mesa East POE/Otay II project.

SR11/Otay Mesa East/Mesa de Otay II/Tijuana - Francisco Calvario, SCT gave a presentation on the finance activities that have been completed to date for the Mesa de Otay II project in Tijuana. These include studies on the Cost-Benefits of the project and Traffic (market studies, financial and economic feasibility, conceptual layout to of the port of entry, urban master plan and roadway connections, etc.). Preliminary results from studies completed to date indicate that growth is expected to be between 7 and 12% and that another port of entry is needed, given that the existing port is operating near capacity. A preliminary estimate of a toll is $5 with a 30 minute maximum crossing time. At a 20 minute wait time with a toll of $20, between 5% and 8% of existing crossers would use a new port of entry. If the toll were $10 20% would use it, and if it were free, 50% of existing crossers would use it, according to the surveys taken by SCT. A published report is due in late December/early 2008.

Pedro Orso-Delgado, Caltrans gave a background on the purpose of the Otay Mesa East POE Project, which is to increase interconnections between the rapidly growing regions of San Diego/Tijuana, reduce wait times, and provide alternatives for regional ports of entry. The project is being considered to be financed by tolls and will be constructed as a turn-key operation for CBP and GSA. In order to attract investors to the project, a financial feasibility study must be completed to evaluate project risk and potential revenue generation. The financial feasibility study assumed that the new mixed mode POE (commercial and passenger vehicle) will provide a premium service (maximum wait time goal of 30 minutes for vehicles and 6 minutes for SENTRI) to border crossers who will be willing to pay for the service. Tolls would be variable based on demand and could range from $1-7 for passenger vehicles and $23-47 dollars for commercial vehicles. Based on the study results, the roadway project (including capital, operations and maintenance costs) is feasible with a grant of $50m, if the project costs also include capital costs for the POE, the project would be feasible with a grant of $400m.

Next steps for the project will be completion of a financial feasibility study for Mexico, a functionality study that will determine the best type of POE (commercial/passenger), an economic benefit analysis, work to develop legislation that would allow for tolls/fees, dedication of right-of-way for the project, a completed environmental document, and acquisition of a Presidential permit. Estimated project opening day is 2014.

Discussion:
A question was asked about toll costs. Both studies looked at toll costs for their respective projects only, e.g. The Mexican Study had tolls for the Mexican POE only and the U.S. study had tolls for SR11 and the Otay Mesa East POE (U.S. Facility) only. The U.S. also considered a variable toll, one that could be based on demand. SCT will conduct further studies using a micro-simulation to determine what levels of timing and how many inspectors are required to maintain their stated minimum standards. It will be useful for both countries to investigate the financial feasibilities of the projects together, and to explore possible funding sources, including FINFRA⁴ and NADBank⁵. Recently, the positive economic benefits on air quality by reducing congestion through new infrastructure have been used as justification to pursue NADBank funds. Use of these funds for the San Luis II POE has been pursued. Further research on this topic has been submitted as part of the 2008-2010 Work Plan.

Bottlenecks Study - Phase II
Nogales Bottleneck Study- Rudy Pérez - ADOT and Fernando Lam -Sonora
Arizona and Sonora are committed to conduct a bottleneck study of the transportation infrastructure at the Nogales Ports of Entry. The University of Arizona has been contracted and the study will evaluate the area between the POE and SR 19 (Business). The study will identify congestion improvements based upon its evaluation and identify those that are low-cost, high impact solutions. Federal Inspection facilities will not be addressed. The report should be complete by late spring 2008.Fernando Lam has been working with Aduana and the Tec de Monterrey (Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey) to develop a similar study within Sonora

Discussion: Ramon, GSA indicated that GSA is investing $170million at the Nogales location for a renovated POE, but is concerned about the progress of the connecting roadway infrastructure in Sonora, noting that SCT plans do not include this roadway project. INDAABIN is modernizing the 1.5km corridor fiscal and making some changes to the customs area. SCT indicated that although project is not specified in the 100-projects list that it will be part of the second level of infrastructure projects that will be identified by the June of 2008. The connecting roadway project will be identified at this time. Ramon reiterated that the GSA method is to design projects in phases, and that his project will need to be coordinated with the SCT plans, to ensure that the construction is done simultaneously. It was agreed that SCT will provide plans for roadway interconnections in Nogales to GSA. The schedule for the improvements to the roadway corridor will affect GSA's decision to build the POE to the appropriate capacity.

Texas Travel Time Study (Bottleneck Study) - Esther Hitzfelder - TxDOT
TxDOT is working on a border travel time study which will identify high-impact, low cost projects for each of Texas' 26 POEs. The study has a two-fold purpose: travel time analyses for passengers and freight and identification and improvement of bottlenecks (up to 5 miles from the border (outside the CBP federal facilities)) with a 2-5 year implementation period. RJ Rivera consultants have been contracted and are underway on the study. Two rounds of stakeholder outreach workshops will be held in each TxDOT district (the first round has already taken place) and the project team will also perform on-site recognizance. Sample projects identified from the workshops and site surveys conducted so far include signage improvements, pedestrian/auto separation, and provision of truck parking areas. The entire study will be complete in 12 months. The study will yield recommendations and a financial plan. Further updates will be provided as the study progresses. The Scope of work of this project will be linked to the JWC home page. Mexican stakeholders would like to conduct similar studies in Mexico.

Regional Operations Model - Pilot Study Reynosa and Low Cost -High Impact Projects: Identification of Projects in Targeted Metro Areas - Juan Jose Erazo - SCT
Juan Jose gave a presentation on SCT's vision for a holistic nationwide transportation system. This vision seeks to develop an integrated methodology using JWC developed tools, and other traditionally used tools, to identify infrastructure projects that will facilitate binational flow, not just at the local level, or just at the border, but including national, regional and local projects focusing on interconnectivity. SCT is focusing on establishing strategic corridors, strengthening regional competitiveness and developing border infrastructure. To roll out this strategy, SCT is focusing on 8 regional areas (Matamoros/Brownsville, Reynosa/Pharr, San Diego/Tijuana, Mexicali/Calexico (including San Luis I and II), Nogales/Nogales, El Paso/Juarez, Laredo/Laredo, Eagle Pass/Piedras Negras). In these areas SCT will be working to build/augment infrastructure, develop SENTRI and FAST lanes, modernize roadway connections to POEs, and implement technology.

SCT has done a pilot study at Reynosa, Tamaulipas, based on the vision outlined above for the Regional Operations Model. Using Transcad, VISSIM/VISSUM and information from the SimFronteras simulation software, SCT has modeled the region. The model shows the impacts of new links, roadway loops and connections and can test the implementation of other programs such as FAST/SENTRI. SCT has identified projects in the 8 zones that can be built in the short-, medium- and long term to improve flow. The Regional Operations Model (as tested in the Reynosa pilot) is a way to study multiple improvements at one time and show the cumulative impacts of improvements. The goal of the pilot is to help concentrate JWC and other resources on the projects that will produce the best cumulative results for a region. All of this information can then be fed into the Border Master Plan to populate that data base with project information. It would also be useful to have this information available on a system like a 511 information system, where private funding could be invested in real-time information and signage.

NMSU would like more information about this project, who on SCT staff is working on this? External contractors are working on the various projects, but NMSU can contact Juan Jose and he will pass on information to NMSU.

CETRATET/BTEP implementing JWC Tools
Overview - Patrick Wlaschin - FHWA
Patrick gave an overview of FHWA's Office of International Programs, including its structure and supported programs. This office funds the Border Technology Exchange Program (BTEP), which is administered by the U.S. states, and the Technology Transfer Centers in the Mexican Border States, now referred to as CETRATETs, which are administered by a committee to which FHWA and others, including SCT and the State Departments of Transportation, are advisors. BTEP activities include conferences, training courses, site visits and other types of technical assistance. CETRATET activities are similar. There are CETRATETS in all six northern Mexican Border States. Future activities for the BTEP/CETRATET program include road safety assessments, value engineering and support of new and on-going JWC initiatives (e.g. Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) or GIS training)

Technology Transfer of SimFronteras Model - Juan Jose Erazo - SCT
SCT is interested in working with the CETRATETs to be the repository of tools/training for border projects as developed by the JWC and others, and to assist SCT by performing the analysis and micro-simulation that SCT needs for projects (like its regional operations model projects). SCT will use the personnel of the center because they are available and trained in the special skills needed. The U.S. Embassy in Mexico City provided initial seed money for equipment (laptops and software). That funding is now exhausted, but SCT would still like to follow through with the CETRATETs by developing agreements based on annual work plans with the CETRATETs, and with the Universities to which the CETRATETs pertain, which will provide some funding for the centers and outline which projects SCT needs the centers to work on.

Discussion: The funding distribution problems from FHWA to the CETRATETs has negatively impacted the centers, both with personnel, and on achieving progress on SCT's plan to use the centers for these special projects. Use of the models may be able to assist the CETRATETs by providing some income. It is important to ensure that the use of the models does not create problems for the centers. Fidel from the Sonora CETRATET asked if the Cooperative Agreements were going to be renewed. Their cooperative agreement expires in summer 2008 and they have not received funding in either 2006 or 2007 which has made it difficult for them to fulfill their agreements and mission. Fidel requested a meeting with Patrick and the other center directors to discuss the cooperative agreements and funding.

Pedro Orso-Delgado asked SCT for information from the SimFronteras Model for Otay Mesa because they need that information in order to complete the Feasibility Study for Otay Mesa and Otay Mesa East. Juan Jose requested that Caltrans send the future forecasts for traffic in the horizon years that they need model information for. Caltrans will send a request explicitly detailing the SimFronteras information that they require along with traffic forecast information for the San Diego/Tijuana region to SCT by December 7, 2007. SCT, upon receipt of the request, will work with IMT to provide the information from the model that Caltrans needs by January 2008.

Value Engineering - Juan Jose Erazo - SCT
In the United States, projects with a cost of more than $25 million or bridges with a cost of more than $5 million need to complete a value engineering (VE) process before the projects can proceed. Mexico has projects worth up to 10 times the value of these thresholds that are proceeding without any value engineering process being completed. SCT wants to implement a similar program in Mexico, because based on a few pilot exercises (in Texas), SCT has seen how VE can save projects money. Pedro Orso-Delgado suggested that the JWC select one project to use as an example to help SCT to develop guidelines. VE can be done before a project is bid, or it can be done as part of a design-build contract, where the contractor becomes part of the team to look at the project and decide how to reduce costs, where the savings becomes an incentive because the contractor saves the money, and the contract management risk is also assigned to the contractor. Baja California has done VE and saved up to 30% of the project cost. TxDOT has certified VE experts. The existing value engineering subcommittee, consisting of Mike Avery, FHWA, Joseph de la Rosa, NMSU, Agustin de la Rosa, TxDOT and Pedro Orso-Delgado, Caltrans, will provide information to Mexico in this topic area working towards the possibility of providing training. This will be a 2008-20101 Work Plan.

Dec 5, 2007 - Joint Working Committee Meeting-Joint Session

JWC Strategic Planning Performance Measures -
Sylvia Grijalva - FHWA and Juan Jose Erazo - SCT
The decision to initiate an updated Strategic Plan that would help guide future activities of the group, be a useful tool in selecting annual work plan items, and would help to document and institutionalize the work of the JWC for the JWC was made in 2006 at the Tucson meeting. Work began on the revised strategic plan in X by the planning subcommittee. At Saltillo, in 2007, a preliminary draft Strategic Plan (written in English and Spanish) was presented to the group. This draft was conceptual in nature, discussing general consensus on vision, mission and the four main strategic objectives: congestion, safety/security, global competitiveness, and sustainability. The strategic plan as written, up to and including the strategies was accepted.

Since then, the JWC Strategic Planning subcommittee has focused on performance measures, reporting mechanisms and tie to biennial work plans. Performance measures are limited to those that relate to goals, objectives and strategies that provide timely relevant and concise information to determine progress, and that describe organizational performance direction and accomplishments. Performance measures are further divided into output: products are actions that are taken by the JWC, e.g. road safety survey and outcomes: overarching benefits that correlate with the JWC objectives, e.g. reduction of automobile fatalities in the border region.

At the Saltillo meeting and since, there has been a lot of discussion on the merit of outputs vs. outcomes, and it has been difficult to come to consensus on performance measures. In order to make the discussion clearer and to eliminate confusion, the subcommittee decided to remove outputs from the Strategic Plan, but will keep outputs as an internal measure only. Overarching benefits and outcomes of each strategy will be included in the Strategic Plan and each JWC Work Plan item will have performance measures that correlate with outcomes.

Sylvia outlined the next steps for the Strategic Plan with dates for implementation. These steps include circulation of a draft, including performance measures, circulation of the plan to stakeholders and external customers, a final revision of the draft based on feedback and approval of the strategic plan by the JWC. The JWC approved integrating performance measures as discussed into the Strategic Plan and also approved the schedule of next steps (circulating the plan including performance measures to internal and external stakeholders).

A next step would be to have external stakeholders look at the Strategic Plan. However, discussion on releasing the Strategic Plan raised concerns that without having a baseline measurement of the strategies and work plan items, it may be more confusing to external stakeholders than useful. SCT commented that a tri-lateral statistical database was recently released that could be used to develop a base-line. In addition to having a baseline, SCT would also like to see some targets for strategies and work plan items, so that we can determine whether we have achieved what we intended.

2008-2010 Work Plan - Sylvia Grijalva - FWHA and Juan Jose Erazo - SCT The 2008-2010 Work Plan will be consistent with the strategic plan as approved to date. The four focus areas in the Strategic Plan have been identified by the JWC: congestion, safety/security, global competitiveness, and sustainability. Work Plan projects should fit within these four focus areas. Project sponsors will need to develop performance measures and their "vision of success" to be included with their request to be added to the 2008-2010 Work Plan. Activities already completed will need to be tied back to both the Strategic Plan and the 2008-2010 Work Plan. Discussion on individual work plan items is outlined below.

Balanced Scorecards- Edwin Simpson, Consultant for SCT
Edwin Simpson presented one methodology to develop a baseline and targets for performance measurement, the balanced scorecard. The balanced scorecard relates objectives and strategies with their successes in four areas: security, efficiency, regional competitiveness and environmental sustainability. Each area is supported by various indicators such as travel time, risks, economic benefits etc. The cards are evaluated from various perspectives, from society in general, from the users, that of internal processes, that of learning and improvement of human capital, and that of continuity. Projects and initiatives are then grouped into four categories: infrastructure, ITS, Systems (processes and models) and Equipment/Response Teams (truck scales and tow trucks). Then projects and initiatives are fed into the different categories in a matrix format with programs in the columns and objectives in the rows. Then a model can be developed to evaluate how the rows and the columns are working together.

Edwin Simpson used the example of the SENTRI program to demonstrate the matrix showing how SENTRI (a program) has a high impact on some rows (objectives) and a low impact on other rows. Levels of impact could be generated by distributing surveys to internal and external holders, tabulating the information and marking the matrix. Then the JWC would focus on the initiatives that had the most impacts and then as time allowed to move on to other initiatives.

Discussion: Patrick Wlaschin asked if the model would allow government priorities to be assigned importance, and would the model allow the different objectives to be weighted according to those objectives that are most important to the group e.g. security being more important than environmental sustainability. A: yes the model could do this. Carlos Lopez reiterated the need to have a baseline before targets are developed. He suggested using the Border Master Plan as an example on which a baseline could be established. Sergio Pallares indicated that we need to be careful to measure things on the score card that are of our influence only. Jill Hochman was very impressed with the depth and level of detail of the scorecard process, and indicated that we are not quite ready for this level of detail but that the scorecard could be something that we work toward. Especially because the scorecard could be used as a measure of how the group is doing in each area. Pedro Orso-Delgado mentioned that the scorecard is very useful but can be very data intensive (Caltrans has 5 people that work exclusively on their version of the scorecard, the dashboard.) Problems can also arise when project data is collected differently by different actors.

It was determined that the scorecard is something to work toward, but that the group should take interim steps to reach that goal. We should begin with what we can measure, ensure that the measurements are all taken the same way. The JWC will convene a subcommittee to develop a simple framework for a strategic planning and management system, using on-going or upcoming work plan items, to align business activities to the vision and the strategies of the JWC in order to monitor organization performance against strategic goals. The subcommittee will include Allan Kosup, Caltrans, Carlos Lopez, Baja California, Jaime Campos, NMBA, Jorge Acha, IMT, Paltrick Wlashcin, Sylvia Grijalva and Lisa Dye, FWHA, Juan Carlos Gastellum, CODEFRONT, Juan Jose Erazo, SCT, Dennis Counihan, CBP and Ramon Riesgo, GSA.

Border Wait-times studies -
Base-line information - Crystal Jones -FWHA
Crystal gave presentation describing FHWA's program to measure and improve border performance by developing a base-line of border travel times. FHWA has piloted a border travel time study using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) technology on trucks for 25 interstates and 5 U.S./Canada border crossings. A Mexican pilot is under development.

The most important outcome of this process is travel time reliability: consistency or dependability in travel times measured from day to day, across different times of day and for different commodities. Actual travel time is less important for most users than inconsistent or unexpected delays.

For the effort on the Mexican border, a variety of technologies will be explored. Texas (in El Paso) chose to use Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, mainly because there was already a large investment made by DPS for their own uses and it made sense to build upon that effort. California (in Otay Mesa) will explore two other technologies, Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPR) and GPS.

El Paso will be measuring at least two locations using this technology and are in the implementation phase. The California/Baja California pilot will be getting underway (first stakeholders meetings in January) and a decision will be made about which technology to further pursue. Baja California indicated that they had some resources to add to the California effort.

The results of the FHWA program could be used to quantify border performance measurements and could be distributed to public and private sector partners for a variety of uses. Expected outcomes of the program are a one-year data set of baseline travel times, documentation to guide future deployments at other sites (the consultant selected for the Texas effort will provide technical support to other areas/cities), and a plan to support continuous measurement at the pilot sites, and other sites. Ideally both historical and continuous (real time) data would be collected. FHWA's total investment in this is $500,000 but that includes more than just implementation costs, and once the systems are in place, total cost of measuring the data should decrease.

Discussion: El Paso is doing other RFID efforts including a cargo screening pilot (prescreening cargo and drivers) and New Mexico has some other efforts with FMCSA and NMU using RFID tags in a test that CBP is running. The challenge is to coordinate all of the border wait time measurement efforts.

Esther Hitzfelder gave a presentation on the Pharr/Lower Rio Grande Valley wait time measurement effort (assisted by the same consultant as in El Paso). Currently the Scope of Work is being finalized. The Pharr bridge is quite long (over 16,000 feet), therefore there are a few measuring challenges, but those will be addressed in the scope of work. TTI (the contractor for both El Paso and Pharr) wants to develop a border crossing time index similar to their congestion travel time index, in the future. There was mention of a system in Philadelphia (The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge - http://www.drjtbc.org/) that paid for measuring equipment on the bridge (bridge system) and the equipment pays for itself through sale of the publication of the wait-time information.

Economic Impact - Pedro Orso-Delgado, Caltrans
Caltrans and the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) commissioned a study on the economic impacts of border wait times in the California-Baja California region, to quantify regional and national monetary and labor impacts of border waits. At current estimated average wait times of 45 minutes, the U.S. loses $5.35 billion annually in lost output (California, $4.56 billion and San Diego County $3.32 billion) where Mexico loses $3.28 billion annually in lost output (Baja California $2.22 billion and Tijuana, Tecate and Rosarito $1.77 billion). These figures are costs of waiting at California POEs only.

Discussion: It would be important to include the impacts of WHTI (the model as developed could do that - it is flexible and changeable). It could be modified to include environmental and social impacts of border wait times. These are also societal costs that have not been measured.

Safety Initiatives
Road Safety Audits - Patrick Wlaschin - FWHA
Two safety audits have been held, one in Nogales and one in El Paso. The audits focused on the highway structures at the local level and included county, city, local police, sheriff, CBP, and safety officers. Access issues were discussed and a checklist of about 20 items was presented (how to analyze, gather data, present findings, manage expectations and mitigate safety issues). The results are low-cost safety fixes. More audits can be held next year, most likely in other southern border locations in the June/July/August time frame and the meetings can be coordinated with annual CETRATET meetings or through the CETRATETs.

Joseph de la Rosa indicated that the event held in Nogales was very successful. Simple fixes were discovered that were quick short-term implementations that improved safety. Gus de la Rosa sponsored 4-5 people through his BTEP program for the audit and they were very pleased with the outcome. Rudy Perez and Fidel Garica also expressed positive comments. The group in Nogales was very dynamic and the meeting included a practical exercise in the field, everyone collaborated actively and all participants received great value from the exercises.

UNAM Safety Initiatives using GIS and Safety Signage Project for Southern Border
These two safety topics have been proposed for the 2008-2010 Work Plan. They are good topics and will be further fleshed out and added to the plan.

Bottleneck Studies
Arizona and Sonora are working together to complete a bottleneck study currently for the Nogales area. Sylvia asked for other locations where there would be possible interest in a bottleneck study. Some suggestions include San Luis, AZ. Other areas interested in such a study should notify Sylvia.

Traffic Studies and Transportation Modeling Peer Exchange
Two traffic studies are on-going and will be added into the 2008-2010 Work Plan: the Nogales traffic study described earlier in this document and an evaluation of the pre- and post- conditions and documentation of improvement due the FAST lane at Otay Mesa. The transportation modeling peer exchange was suggested at a Border Master Plan meeting to facilitate understanding between different agencies and their varying modeling methodologies. FWHA has committed to convene at least one meeting to discuss this and work in this area will be added to the 2008-2010 Work Plan. NMDOT will contribute BETP funds for the peer exchange activity if needed.

SCT mentioned that at the Mexico only meeting there was an interest expressed to conduct traffic studies at each of the 8 major regional areas (the same areas where the pilots are taking place), as well as to carry other projects like the Border Master Plan to these regions. Due to staffing issues at SCT, they indicated willingness for the Mexican states to have a greater role in carrying the JWC tools to regions (SCT would not be able to participate at same levels as in the original or pilot studies but want to ensure that the projects carry forward). They would also like to see the CETRATETs involved in this regional distribution. SCT would accept the methodology for the projects, provide information as required and then delegate action of authority to the local decision makers. The Mexican States are amenable to this SCT proposal and see it as an opportunity to have more involvement in the JWC. This also serves to distribute the projects from state to state horizontally as earlier discussed.

Innovative Financing Activities
Any of a number of ongoing activities or new activities related to innovative financing for border projects could be included under this work plan item. One specific initiative was raised by Francisco Calvario, SCT on use of NADBank funds for border crossing projects. NADBank is used generally for environmental improvements, but ports of entry can be considered as environmental improvements due to decrease in vehicle congestion (and subsequent improvements in air quality). SCT had tried to apply for NADBank funds for San Luis II. The application was rejected for other reasons, and other funding was used to pay for the concession for the transportation connections on the Mexican side. However, it would be useful to pursue NADBank financing for other upcoming projects such as Otay Mesa East. The Innovative Finance subcommittee (Caltrans, SCT, SIDUE and FHWA) will contact NADBank to discuss possible funding for roadway and POE capital projects. The discussion will target the Otay Mesa East/Mesa de Otay II POE.

Regional Master Plans
This was discussed above as one of the JWC tools/projects that will need to be carried out to the 8 regions.

The JWC approved the listed 2008-2010 Work Plan Items: Value Engineering, Monitoring Framework, Traffic Studies and Traffic Forecasting Peer Exchange, Innovative Finance, Regional Master Plans, Safety Initiatives, Border Travel Time Studies, Bottleneck Studies, and Evaluating Transportation Planning Process.

Border Governors' Conference - Border Crossings Worktable - Sergio Pallares - Caltrans and Fernando Lam - Sonora
The Border Governors' Conference (BGC) has met since 1980, with participation by State DOTs since 1996. The BGC is divided into different work tables. The Border Crossing Work Table (including logistics) develops recommendations on border crossings that are then included in a Joint Declaration that is signed by all 10 governors.

Fernando Lam discussed highlights of the last Border Governors' meeting held in Sonora in September 2007. Sergio Pallares outlined the Logistics and International Crossings Recommendations: 1) Optimize and expand current POE infrastructure by identifying current staffing and vacancy need of inspectional agencies of both countries and then asking for federal funding to fill those vacancies and by implementing tandem booth (double booth) inspection stations along the entire border 2) request that federal agencies work together with Border States to develop a border-wide master plan, similar to that being conducted in California-Baja California, 3) request applicable federal and state legislation to allow private/public partnerships within the U.S.-Mexico border region for transportation and land POE facilities and infrastructure construction 4) promote use of transportation information (congestion, incidents, etc.) in border states using available technologies (such as the 511 program in Arizona/Sonora - www.az511.com) 5) request that each member state develop an inventory of logistical infrastructure in their territory, and 6) define and operate coordination mechanisms with other worktables related to logistics issues. The next Border Governors' meeting will be held in Hollywood, California in summer 2008.

Strategic Resource Assessment (SRA) Update- Dennis Counihan - CBP
Dennis gave a presentation on CBP's Land Port of Entry (LPOE) Program. He discussed the CBP mission, and emphasized that success of CBP's enforcement strategy relies on the proper mix of infrastructure, personnel and technology. Present LPOE needs are much greater than available funding: 57% of sites are over capacity and 67% of buildings are over capacity. CBP through the Strategic Resources Assessment process has determined a need of $4.9 billion to address current issues. Over the 2003-2007 time period CBP averaged $120 million per year; at that rate of funding it would take 40 years to address existing need. CBP is working to improve project delivery by updating and refining SRA information so that it can be used as an information management system, by streamlining project authorization processes, by working to reduce time and delivery for projects, and by increasing funding through targeted appropriations and leveraging existing funding through innovative acquisition and delivery methods. CBP recognizes the need to work collaboratively with its partners, including GSA and state and local stakeholders, and will continue to do so for the benefit of the LPOE program.

Discussion: There was a request that CBP be more transparent in terms of their short-term infrastructure improvement projects. A: WHTI projects are currently available on the web and. Facilities projects are available from the Facilities Division (contact Reginald Watkins (reginald.watkins@dhs.gov)). CBP will work towards providing short term facility projects to the states (including a schedule of operational improvement projects and indication if they are funded). A question was asked about enrollment time periods for trusted traveler programs? CBP will follow up on questions about the enrollment time periods for trusted traveler programs. Juan Jose had a question about a program he found on the internet that indicated that CTPAT enrolled vehicles are reducing their waiting times by a factor of 3.5. He would like more information on this study. SCT will provide the name of the study/internet link to Sylvia, once CBP receives the information they will research and provide public information on target goals for the agency.

GSA/INDAABIN Projects Requiring Transportation Infrastructure - Ramon Riesgo - GSA, Fidel Castañeda - INDAABIN

Ramon Riesgo and Fidel Castañeda gave a port by port analysis of projects proposed for the southern border in both the U.S. and in Mexico. Their presentations are available on-line. . SCT thanked GSA for their work on getting the San Luis II and Anzalduas projects ready for construction. Also there is a potential conflict between GSA and INDAABIN's plans for expansion at Douglas, AZ/ Agua Prieta, Sonora with one port being proposed four miles away from the corresponding port. GSA and INDAABIN are aware of the discrepancy and will continue to monitor it.

Planning Subcommittee of the Intersecretarial Group for Bridges and Border Crossings - Sean Cazares - SRE
The Intersecretarial Group for Bridges and Border Crossings (Grupo Intersectretarial de Puentes y Cruces Fronterizos) is the national level group where Mexican federal agencies meet to develop a common position with regard to POEs. The group discusses such issues as negotiation, construction, operation and maintenance of POEs and the services provided at the POEs. They also evaluate and approve proposed new POEs and work to implement those same projects once they are approved. In the last few years the group has served to consolidate agreements between state, local and federal governments on actions that benefit border communities in both nations.

The Intersecretarial Group meets on an as-needed basis as many times per year as required to address specific issues. Agreements reached at the national level are then disseminated via regional meetings to discuss specific border projects.

The members of the Intersecretarial Group also meet with their U.S. counterpart agencies at the Binational Bridges and Border Crossings Group (BBBXG), co-hosted by SRE and the State Department at least once a year, with regional meetings to focus on regional projects in between. Each meeting traditionally consists of two parts, a public session and a technical session for federal and state agency participation only.

The most significant recent advances from this group have been the following.

• The coordination of federal and state agencies on official language for diplomatic notes that established national and international agreements for the construction and opening day for three new bridge and border crossings: San Luis Río Colorado/San Luis II, Reynosa/Mission "Anzaldúas" y Río Bravo/Donna.
• Through collaboration with the Border Facilitation Working Group, the acceleration of the Otay Mesa East/Otay II POE (Tijuana/San Diego) construction schedule from 2015 to 2009.
• Completion (or near completion) of financial feasibility studies for Otay Mesa East/Otay II by SCT in collaboration with GSA, with delivery of the report by the end of December 2007
• Completion of the Proyecto Ejecutivo for the expansion of the San Ysidro/Puerta Mexico "El Chaparral" project, with delivery of the report by the end of December 2007 so that Aduana (SAT) can add it to their next year's budget
• Continued work for the acquisition of land by the Mexican federal government for the Progreso-Nuevo Progreso project in Tamaulipas/Texas and funding for the first phase of the project
• Scheduled anchorage inspection for the Miguel Alemán-Roma bridge by Freyssinet in January 2008 to determine if bridge can be rehabilitated.
• SRE, after consultation with the Grupo Intersecretarial, sent a diplomatic note about the second phase of SENTRI projects (in June 2007). They are awaiting a reply from the U.S. government.
• Similarly, a Mexican proposal for new FAST lanes is being submitted in the early part of 2008 to the U.S. Government for their consideration.
• The Proyecto Ejecutivo for the Guadalupe/Tornillo project will be completed by March 2008 at which point, SRE will be able to provide to the U.S. government a tentative schedule for the project so that a binational calendar for the project can be established.
• The group will be evaluating shortly a proposal from the Municipality of Ciudad Acuña for the widening of the bridge at Ciudad Acuña-Del Río in Coahuila-Texas and a plan for constructing a new roadway that disperses traffic from the bridge around the downtown area.

Discussion: Pedro Orso-Delgado asked what California needs to demonstrate to the Grupo Intersecretarial for Otay II. Sean Cazares responded that California should keep SRE informed on the progress and that Mexico will have a meeting in January to generate a diplomatic note for the U.S. or at least the next steps for the project. Ramon Riesgo wanted to mention that DOS has stopped assisting project sponsors with the CILA/IBWC permits for border crossings. This is proving problematic as IBWC will not let GSA begin construction on projects until CILA signs off but that CILA needs clearance from many Mexican agencies, some of whom do not respond to requests. Ramon is asking both DOS and SRE for help with this issue in the future.

Cross Border Commercial Truck Demonstration Project - Gerardo Michel - SCT
Gerardo Michel gave an overview of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety (FMCSA) commercial truck demonstration project. At meeting time, only seven companies were participating in the pilot, with 44 registered Mexican vehicles and 47 registered U.S. vehicles. Forty additional companies are expected to sign up for the pilot and are in the process of registering.

North American Freight Transportation Data Conference - Roger Petzold - FHWA
Roger Petzold discussed the Transportation Research Board circular on the North American Freight Transportation Data Workshop. For more information please see (http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/circulars/ec119.pdf)

Summary of Commitments and Agreements
Sylvia Grijalva read a list of previously agreed to commitments and agreements that remain outstanding. Then Sylvia Grijalva and Juan Jose Erazo summarized the commitments and agreements reached at the current meeting. The JWC agreed with the Commitments and Agreements as read (shown in this document in orange).

All PowerPoint files presented at the JWC meeting will be posted to http://www.borderplanning.fhwa.dot.gov/filemanager/ The password is jwcmeeting

Location and Date Next Meeting
The next JWC meeting will be held in Laredo, Texas, on June 10 & 11, 2008. U.S. and Mexico only meetings will be held the evening of June 9, 2008.

Concluding Remarks
Jose San Martin indicated that SCT is in the middle of a strong concession program which will involve the tripling of the annual infrastructure budget for SCT and reiterated that the border region will continue to be high priority. SCT will also be sharing more policies and programs with the states to coordinate border projects in the U.S.-Mexico border region, not just border crossings, but integrated projects. Jose thanked the State of Tamaulipas for their efforts in hosting the meeting. Jill Hochman also thanked the State of Tamaulipas, her staff, the JWC participants and commended SCT for its reconfirmed commitment to the JWC.

Reference

¹Because presentations from the meeting are now available in real-time from the JWC Webpage, http://www.borderplanning.fhwa.dot.gov/filemanager (password: jwcmeeting), the minutes do not reiterate the presentations, only provide a brief summary of the presentation topic and any discussion made on that topic at the meeting. (back)

²SENTRI/FAST are CBP pre-registered and pre-vetted trusted traveler programs. SENTRI is for passenger vehicles and FAST is for commercial vehicles. (back)

³SCT Program 2007-2012 SCT Program 2007 - 2012: http://busqueda.sct.gob.mx/StaticHTML/Res/PROGRAMASECTORIALWEB.pdf
National Infrastructure Program 2007-2012: http://www.infraestructura.gob.mx/
National Infrastructure Program 2007-2012 (Can be down loaded from this site): http://www.concamin.org.mx/infraestructura/indexee8b.html?page=documento-completo-en-formato-pdf (back)

⁴Fondo de Inversión en Infraestructura (FINFRA) one of the funds managed by and available for infrastructure projects from the Banco Nacional de Obras y Servicios Públicos, S.N.C. (BANOBRAS), a development bank, owned entirely by the Mexican government. (back)

⁵North American Development Bank (NADBank) a fund created under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) for financing environmental projects. (back)