Meeting Minutes - US/Mexico Border Transportation Planning

U.S. Delegation
U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) - Mark Busching, Fred Eberhart
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) -Jill Hochman, Roger Petzold, Sylvia Grijalva, Lisa Dye, Michael Avery, Jorge Castillo, Don Martinez, Robert Hollis, Al Alonzi, Crystal Jones, Frederick Werner
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) - John Gray
US Department of State -Robert (Buck) Waldrop (WHA-MEX), Jim McAnulty, Bill Carroll (U.S. Embassy, Mexico)
General Services Administration (GSA) - Ramon Riesgo, Larry Warner
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) -US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) - Steve Tzikas, Armando Goncalves, Carlos Torres
US VISIT -Brendan Hourigan, Jeff Tepsic
U.S. Trade and Development Agency - Kate Maloney
Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) - Agustin de la Rosa
New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) -Joseph de la Rosa, Alvin Dominguez
New Mexico Border Authority - Jaime Campos, Jim Creek
California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) - Pedro Orso-Delgado, Sergio Pallares
Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) - Dale Buskirk, Rudy Perez, Sandra Quijada
Arizona-Mexico Commission - David Randolph

Mexican Delegation
Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes (SCT-UAC) - José San Martin, Juan José Erazo, Oscar Ringenbach, Miguel Ángel Gutiérrez
Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes (SCT- ATransporte) Oscar Cruz
Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes (Centro SCT - Chihuahua) Gabriel Ramirez
Caminos y Puentes Federales (CAPUFE) - Octavio Vial
Instituto de Administración y Avalúos de Bienes Nacionales (indAAbin) -Santiago García Silva
Aduana - Manuel Ruiz
Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM) - Sergio Encinas
Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores (SRE) - Arturo Barrio
Secretaria de la Función Pública - José Manuel Asunsolo, Odin Berumen
Gobierno del Estado de Baja California (SIDUE) - Carlos López
Gobierno del Estado de Sonora (SIUE) - Fernando Lam Koerdell
Gobierno del Estado de Chihuahua - Luis C. Maynez
CODEFRONT - Regino Villareal
Gobierno del Estado de Tamaulipas - Derly Rivas
Gobierno del Estado de Coahuila - Noe García
Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC) - Salatiel Reyes

Consultants
New Mexico State University - Christopher Brown, Quinn Korbulic
GTSI - Venu Sarakki
Fentress, Inc. - Sheri Kujawa
Border Legislators Council - Edgar Ruiz

Congestion Relief Initiative - Mark Busching - USDOT, Office of Policy
The Secretary of Transportation, Norman Mineta has developed a national strategy to reduce congestion on America's transportation network. Congestion negatively impacts economic prosperity and quality of life. Causes of congestion are not a mystery, and the national initiative will focus on ways to relieve congestion. Of interest especially to the JWC is the targeting of major freight bottlenecks including establishing a senior-level DHS-DOT border congestion team to prioritize operational and infrastructure improvements at the nation's most congested border crossings. This effort will dovetail with ongoing efforts such as the Security and Prosperity Partnership. While this is a national strategy for localized problems, DOT understands that may cause challenges to the program and will be working with local groups to ensure smooth implementation of the national policy.

The JWC agreed to support US DOT's congestion relief initiative and has agreed to be the focal group for the initiative working toward relieving congestion along the US/ Mexico Border.

Approval of minutes from Puerto Peñasco November 2005 meeting - All
The JWC approved the minutes with the following correction - the Border Governors' Meeting will be held August 23-25 in Austin, Texas

Border Security Projects Overview
Summary - Jim McAnulty and Bill Carroll - U.S. Embassy, Mexico City
The border security projects are designed to deter terrorists and to ensure safe and secure trade. The Embassy received initial grant funding of $25M in FY2002, $15M in FY2004 and an additional $15M in FY2005. This funding goes toward projects such as Non-intrusive Inspection equipment, SENTRI lanes, and the SimFronteras border modeling. Jim will be leaving the Embassy and this will be his final JWC meeting. He thanked his staff and all the stakeholders that have worked with him to get border security projects implemented.

SENTRI has been opened in San Ysidro and Mexicali. Construction is underway in Nogales, and the Embassy continues to work with other regions where the projects have had more of a struggle, Laredo and Brownsville. The Embassy will consider a SENTRI lane at the Hidalgo/Reynosa POE. Once a decision is made for Hidalgo/Reynosa, the lane will take 3 months for design and 3 months for construction. Ysleta, in El Paso is working as a temporary SENTRI solution. While the embassy has funding to cover the design drawings phase, it must still seek authorization and funding for the construction phase.

SENTRI Lanes - Miguel Angel Gutiérrez - SCT and Venu Sarakki - GTSI
Miguel Angel gave a more detailed update on the six SENTRI lanes projects underway borderwide: Tijuana-San Ysidro, Mexicali-Calexico, Nogales, Cd. Juarez, Laredo and Matamoros. Lanes in both Tijuana and Mexicali are operating. The SENTRI booth is open in Nogales, but no construction has been done in Mexico to date. Lanes in Nuevo Laredo and Nogales are under construction and should be done by July 2006. A temporary lane is functioning at Ysleta/Juarez. The lane in Brownsville/Matamoros has proved more difficult, because of indecision on competing uses for bridge lanes (FAST/SENTRI/truck/car). A project at Reynosa/Pharr has been added to the list and should be completely designed by August 2006. Venu from GTSI gave a brief presentation about how cost/benefit ratios were determined for the projects.

Jose San Martin (JSM) reiterated that SENTRI projects have a high benefit/cost ratio; they help mitigate congestion, increase safety and highlight collaboration between two nations and three levels of government. Private funding of these projects should be considered. Juan Jose Erazo (JJE) indicated that SENTRI in some areas is already saturated. We should begin to plan and implement next round of improvements. SENTRI is not a specific work plan item for the JWC, how can the JWC involve itself in planning for future projects? Sylvia Grijalva (SG) mentioned the need to coordinate more with Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Arturo Barrio (AB) indicated that SRE could help create a coordination group, including CBP, to make collaboration smoother, and to coordinate and build new projects. Pedro Orso-Delgado (POD) indicated that the design on SENTRI in Tijuana is such that the lanes change from regular lanes to SENTRI lanes based on demand. A moveable gate allows lanes to be designated. This concept could be expanded to other crossings. Another capacity increasing idea is the implementation of a "double-stacked" booth, or a booth that has space for two simultaneous inspections. Kate Maloney (KM) indicated that the U.S. Trade and Development Association has funds available to spend on technology abroad, and that a current focus is international borders. She has been with the agency nearly a year and is willing to work with the JWC on this and other projects.

SimFronteras - Oscar Ringenbach - SCT
The SimFronteras, simulation model and animation to analyze commercial, private vehicle, and pedestrian traffic entering Mexico at land ports of entry (POEs) is now complete. 21 POEs have been modeled: Mesa de Otay, Colombia-Laredo, Cd. Juárez (Córdoba- Las Americas), Nuevo Laredo III, Reynosa-Hidalgo and Reynosa-Pharr, Nogales/Mariposa, Suchiate II/Cd. Hidalgo (Mexico's southern border), Mexicali II/Calexico West, Matamoros/Los Tomates, Mexicali I/Calexico, Zaragoza/Ysleta, Nuevo Laredo I/Laredo I Nuevo, Laredo II/Laredo II, Nuevo Laredo III/Laredo IV, Ciudad Acuña/Del Rió, Jerónimo/Santa Teresa, and Camargo/Rió Grande City. Documentation and user manuals in both English and Spanish are complete, and training is underway. The first training course is a 3 hour overview for executive level staff and the second training course is a 3-day intensive training.

The model is being implemented at two levels, at the central government level and on a local/regional basis. SCT is distributing the tool and developing sharing agreements with the Technology Transfer (CETRATET) Centers and with the local Comités Intersecretariales de Coordinación Operativa en Puntos de Internación (CICOPIs) (at the Municipio level). Coordination will occur at several levels between federal state and local agencies and with national level and local level CICOPIs, which are also collaborative bodies by definition. The model will be used for existing POEs and to test/evaluate new POEs as well as for regional planning and in corridor planning and analysis. One current project underway is a regional analysis in the Reynosa area.

Other next steps for SimFronteras include continued data collection, development of a systemized data collection system between different agencies, developing a better version of the software, developing a connection between SimFronteras and BorderWizard, development of a virtual interchange.

Octavio Vial (OV) of CAPUFE asked what role CAPUFE has in this project. CAPUFE is a user of the software and they have been part of the input process into the completed product. As things change at the POEs, CAPUFE will need to be involved in noting and transmitting updates into the systemized data collection system. Jill Hochman (JH) mentioned that FHWA has developed a new, free software TRANSIMS, that could be used in conjunction with SimFronteras and BorderWizard. For more information on TRANSIMS please see http://tmip.fhwa.dot.gov/transim.

Binational Geographic Information System (BGIS) - Christopher Brown and Quinn Korbulic- New Mexico State University (NMSU)
This development of the BGIS as a tool for spatial/non-spatial data which can be used for POE development, port planning, congestion tracking, environment security and safety issues, and future land use and transportation decisions is complete. The GIS consists of two components, spatial layers (roads, railroad, airports, POE locations, etc.) and a table of modal data identifiers on those layers. NMSU is working toward a comprehensive binational data source for multiple levels of BGIS. Recent data requests have been incorporated into the on-line site, as well as more Quickbird imagery at more ports of entry. The GIS information is housed online at http://mapper.nmsu.edu/JWC_BGIS/BGIS the "one-stop shop" for border GIS information, GIS data can be downloaded from this site hosted by NMSU. The userid for this file is geography/bgis and the password is BGIS. This server allows JWC members to access data sets and other data products.

Enhancements have been made to the GIS. The homepage was updated to look like the JWC webpage, a typical Arcview menu was added for greater clarity for those unfamiliar with GIS software, a new Distance to Port feature has been added, and a help/utility tool bar has been added to assist users negotiating their way around the site. Digital global data can be viewed through the site but cannot be downloaded (it is proprietary).

The JWC agreed to accept the work conducted by the New Mexico State University. The BGIS project developed the linear reference system for the five binational corridors identified in the Border Infrastructure Needs Study (BINS) study. The five corridors include: I-5 / MX 1; I-19/MX 15; I-35/MX 85; I-25 & I-10/MX 45; and I-69 (US Rt. 83/81)/MX 40. In addition, a background network was put in place for the BINS corridors. The GIS information is housed online (as referenced above). The JWC has two weeks to submit any corrections to the information.

NMDOT hosted a training course in August 2005 for ten people from New Mexico, Texas, Arizona and Chihuahua. Future training is proposed. There is a wide range of experience in the people who might potentially be trained (some potential participants know Windows, some know file management and others have ability and interest in mapping tools). Those with an advanced knowledge might be bored in a slower class. The classes can attempt to be grouped into two sessions depending on abilities to try to accommodate everyone, with about 15 people per class. Another option would be to have a "train-the-trainer" session for further teaching at the CETRATETs. Conduct one or two GIS training courses depending on demand. JWC members have two weeks to submit the names of people who would be interested in receiving training (potential invitees).

Port of Entry Coordination Pilot
Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Implementation at Bridge of the Americas (BOTA)- Gus de la Rosa - TxDOT TxDOT is working with the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) to work on eliminating multiple stops for commercial vehicles as they enter the U.S. Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has issued Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) cards to trucks using similar technology as that used by CBP. Measurements have been conducted at BOTA of the time when a truck exits the federal compound to the time when they exit safety inspection. 1,350 trucks per day were measured, and further differentiated between trucks entering secondary and trucks not passing through secondary. A permanent Border Safety Inspection Facility (BSIF) will be operational at this location in October 2006. Once the BSIF is complete, measurements will be conducted again. There are plans to implement FAST or a similar program through the BSIF, which will direct traffic based on history and performance record. The other recommendation from the POE coordination pilot, harmonization of hours of operation, is currently on hold.

ITS Measurement of Border Wait Times - Gus de la Rosa - TxDOT
TTI sent a scope to FHWA to use ITS to measure border wait times for freight traffic which was approved. Crystal Jones of FHWA is coordinating this and other pilots on-going using ITS technology to measure wait times. The funds are 50% grant with a 50% match requirement.

Implementation of Recommendations in Mexico - Jose Manuel Asunsolo - CICOPI
The Intersecretarial Commission for the Operative Coordination at International Crossings (CICOPI) was created in April 2002 to plan, promote and evaluate policies and actions of the Mexican federal government to coordinate and improve international boundaries. The CICOPI is made up of 14 federal agencies. 4 Regional-level CICOPIS are located on the U.S.-Mexico border in Tijuana, Nogales, Ciudad Juarez and Nuevo Laredo, with 5 local-level CICOPIs in Tecate, Mexicali, Piedras Negras, Reynosa and Colombia. The CICOPIs are charged with improving many facets of the business at international boundaries including hours of operation, transparency, installing centralized business offices for "one-stop" border processing, etc. The Coordination Pilot Project identified shortcomings in coordination at U.S.-Mexico ports of entry, and the Mexican government submitted its alternatives to CICOPI for implementation. CICOPI is more or less in agreement with the recommendations, which were made for six different opportunity areas, but will still need to make a decision about implementation.

Regional Border Master Plan Proposal - Pedro Orso-Delgado - Caltrans
Caltrans has developed a proposal to create a border-wide master plan with a comprehensive and prioritized assessment of the bi-state POE and transportation needs, and the JWC has accepted the proposal. State/local/federal governments have overlapping interests at the POEs and have been discussing the need for a master plan that provides order to the planning process. Such a plan would need to be collaborative and could be used in all of the planning and programming processes. The goal is to develop a prioritized list of projects (transportation and POE projects) for the short-, medium- and long-term via a process and criteria determined by stakeholder collaboration. The Border Master Plan will incorporate the BINS I/BINS II efforts and move beyond them to an updatable working plan for border projects.

The plan will be carried out via the following work tasks: stakeholder participation via a Policy Advisory Committee (PAC), determination of existing capacity and demand, estimation of growth and future demand, analysis and prioritization of needs, public outreach, development of a final document, and implementation of the document. Caltrans will test the plan with a pilot study using the San Diego/Baja California region. Full funding was received for this project in early May, with a start date of June. The stakeholder' meeting will be held in July/August. The scope of work for the project has been reviewed with FHWA, GSA, CBP and SANDAG. U.S. VISIT may also participate with funding. Expected project timeline is 18 months.

Border Information Flow Architecture (BIFA) - Crystal Jones - FHWA
After developing and approving the BIFA Action Plan, the BIFA subcommittee is ready to begin developing the Architecture. Funding was received for this project in spring 2006, and a contractor was hired to help with the effort. The project has an expected completion date of November 2008. The architecture development process will identify technologies and agencies that use technologies at or near the border, identify priorities of these various agencies, promote interoperability of technologies, reduce technology investment cost, and enhance information exchange, coordination and communication. This effort will provide a framework for ensuring institutional agreement and technical integration for the implementation of ITS projects or other technology solutions at major land border crossings.

Work will be coordinated via the BIFA subcommittee and regular meetings (monthly or bi-monthly) will commence. Active participation from the subcommittee, the public sector and the private sector will ensure greater buy-in. The first teleconference, scheduled for June 2006 will re-engage the subcommittee with the project, and will discuss barriers and challenges, perceptions, and potential benefits/usefulness of the project.

Oscar Cruz - SCT
Mexico is nearing completion of its national architecture. Topics under consideration include: interoperability between different modes of transportation, measurement of weight of vehicles, determination of virtual weight, an interoperable system that facilitates data exchange with others-e.g. police who need the same information. Initial projects for the architecture are traveler's information, vehicle weight monitoring and electronic cargo. Border related projects include monitoring of suspicious vehicles, public transit safety, intelligent intersections, emergency, accident and hazardous material notification, and logistics. This ITS can be applied to selected key binational corridors and will be folded into the BIFA effort.

Border Infrastructure Needs Assessment (BINS II)/GIS - Pedro Orso-Delgado - Caltrans, Chris Brown -NMSU and Juan Jose Erazo -SCT
The BINS II project will build upon recommendations from the BINS I study: improve corridor and project identification, collect data to fill gaps in BINS I, develop an update mechanism for BINS I, redefine transportation corridors considering continuity, enhance corridor evaluation process and re-evaluate accordingly, and enhance compatibility of BINS I data with the Binational Geographic Information System (BGIS).

The most important component of this project will be buy-in and participation by the states. BINS I was not as complete as it could have been due to missing or partial information from some states. With participation, BINS II will provide a better evaluation process, a better definition of regional goals and viewpoint. The JWC will formally request the Border States' transportation plans in the border region for Phase II of the Border Infrastructure Needs Assessment/ GIS study.

The estimated cost for BINS II is $150,000 with a completion date of 12 months after award of contract. Funding is now available and NMSU has been selected as the contractor for the project. Both NMDOT and Caltrans will work together with NMSU to advance the project. NMSU will be developing a formal mechanism whereby information can be input into BINS II, to assist in creating a better product, which will then be integrated into other JWC projects at a variety of levels. First meeting of the subcommittee is June 13.

SCT is exploring ways to use the existing BINS data and with the integration of new intermodal/multimodal data (highway/rail/sea and air) to be able to determine relative competitiveness of various modes: those with low cost/high reliability/high effectiveness and then measure economic benefits of intermodal choice, especially on the 5 binational corridors. They will be working with the Mexican states to make sure all necessary information is provided to NMSU.

Binational Safety Conscious Planning (SCP) Seminar - Sylvia Grijalva- JWC
This conference, to bring together the safety and planning communities was held as planned in April 2006 in Hermosillo, Sonora. Approximately 75 people attended to discuss road safety, pedestrian safety, vehicle safety, border control checkpoint design, and U.S. and Mexican fatality characteristics. The conference had an emphasis on region specific issues, safety initiatives in both countries, how the transportation/ infrastructure planning process impacts safety, traditional and non-traditional partners, how to identify local/corridor/area-wide safety problems, and human and cultural factors. Recommendations were established at the two-day conference, and are included in the on-line reading materials.

The JWC agreed with the recommendations derived from the Binational Symposium on Safety in Transportation Planning conducted in Hermosillo, Sonora on April 18 & 19 and agreed to pursue follow up activities in the 2007-2009 work plan.

SCT has a shared vision with regard to the importance of safety and has made safety a strategic theme for the agency. They are working to integrate safety both in their current planning process, and also through the use of other JWC tools.

Innovative Financing
Regional Border Finance Workshops- Frederick Werner - FHWA
FHWA hosted an innovative finance workshop in San Diego in April 2006. Over 30 attendees participated to discuss two local projects (Otay Mesa East Port of Entry/SR 11 and the Cross border Passenger Terminal) with experts in public financing (FHWA/SCT) and from law firms, developers and public finance firms all with expertise on private/public partnership projects, including public finance perspective, and specifics on traffic toll and revenue studies. The workshop was intended as a hands-on dialogue between regional people and experts in the field. A set of follow-up action items was identified including a financial feasibility study for Otay Mesa E/SR 11 and a white paper on the legality of establishing a binational authority for financing/managing tolls. The JWC accepted the recommended actions derived from the Innovative Finance Workshop conducted in San Diego in April 2006.

Another regional finance workshop is planned for early next year. The El Paso/Juarez/NM area is under consideration as a potential site. The regional stakeholders have agreed to meet to discuss potential projects and then decide whether a regional workshop would meet their current needs. The JWC will work toward conducting an innovative finance workshop in the El Paso/ Cd. Juarez/ Southern NM area. The regional stakeholders will work toward developing a package of projects that could attract financiers.

The Finance subcommittee will work to document methods or processes necessary to utilize TIFIA, RTIF and BANOBRAS funds for border projects (from November 2005 commitments).

Low Cost -High Impact Projects
This work plan item was initially conceived as an outflow of the Nogales III/Mariposa FAST lane project. The idea was to identify other projects where flexible funding could be utilized, and where results could be obtained quickly. The JWC asked for identified projects so it could pursue funding. At the present time states are working on these types of projects on their own. Two such examples follow:

Nogales/Mariposa FAST Lane - Rudy Perez - ADOT and Fernando Lam Koerdell - SIUE Sonora
On the U.S. side the funding has been acquired, the design is done and the bid has been awarded, with construction underway. Mexico has solved its sub concession issues and is moving forward. A large ceremony is planned for August 15, 2006.

California Examples - Pedro Orso-Delgado - Caltrans
California has been cobbling money together for various projects and with various agencies for a while now. Some examples of projects with low outlay but big impacts include increasing capacity for SENTRI exit at San Ysidro ($500,000 east side $1,000,000 west side), installation of a SENTRI booth to test the double-stacked concept of inspections ($1,000,000) and construction of an additional FAST lane at Otay Mesa ($1,300,000). These projects have been collaborative efforts with CBP and GSA and have improved capacity/flow/traffic circulation for little cost.

BTEP Strategic Plan - Michael Avery - FHWA
Update of the BTEP Strategic Plan was approved as a JWC work item in May 2005 and a committee of representatives of the FHWA, SCT, Border States and T2 centers was established to review the 2003 Strategic Plan in preparation for development of a new plan. The committee met and agreed on a new Vision, Mission and Goals for 2005-2010. Two separate Strategic Plans were produced, one for the Border Technology Exchange Program - that program administered by the U.S. states and one for the Technology Transfer Centers - program administered by a committee of which FHWA and others are advisors. By March 2006, additional work was to be completed to clarify the roles and responsibilities of partners in both programs, however, that clarification required more work than was previously anticipated, and will be presented separately from the final strategic plan. A final plan is expected by July 06. Discussions for increased activities include training for 511 service, possible expansion of the peer exchange program, and outreach to new partners (CETRATETS, ARTBA, LTAP, others). FHWA's Office of International Programs agreed to circulate a revised BTEP strategic plan and a BTEP roles and responsibilities paper by June 30, 2006. Sylvia Grijalva and/or Juan Jose Erazo will then circulate these papers for comments and approval.

Border Wizard Pilot - Lisa Dye - FHWA
The purpose of the Border Wizard pilot was to evaluate the compatibility and linkages between Border Wizard (simulation model) and local or regional travel demand forecasting model. The Border Wizard model inputs flows and outputs delays or queues. Traditional travel demand forecasting models input delay and output flows. Two pilots were sponsored on the southern border by two Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs): El Paso MPO and San Diego Association of Government (SANDAG), with a grant amount of $30,000 each.

El Paso: The El Paso MPO will be comparing Border Wizard with two types of models, the VISSUM/VISUM dynamic traffic assignment model and the 2005 TransCAD trans-border passenger Travel Demand Model. Training for MPO staff on the Border Wizard software was carried out in July 2005. Networks for 3 POEs (Paso del Norte, Stanton St and Anapra/Sunland Park) were completed in March 2006. The MPO is currently working on a report outlining initial results of their analysis. They will then make recommendations about using Border Wizard and TDM modeling as a general practice, and also for a standardized Presidential Permit "traffic section" for the permit applications. In other modeling progress, the MPO has also been using the dynamic traffic assignment model to help determine toll rates and demand on a proposed toll roadway in El Paso. A similar process could be used by other jurisdictions to evaluate tolls, either with or without the linkages to Border Wizard.

San Diego: SANDAG intends to have a third party provide the model runs that they will use to link Border Wizard with SANDAG's regional transportation planning model. Prior to linking Border Wizard, and in order to optimize the grant funding and to provide more accurate results, SANDAG decided to update their cross-border model. The cross-border model is designed to work with SANDAG's existing TRANSCAD model (a U.S. to U.S. component) and Tijuana's Instituto Municipal de Póaneación's (IMPLAN's) model (a Mexico to Mexico component). The original cross-border model was built from surveys, which generated cross-border trip tables, and incorporated peak hour patterns and border delay, and will be updated with new land-use, demographic and road network information from Mexico, and converted from TRANPLAN to TRANSCAD (with an expected completion date of late June 2006). Once this update is complete, SANDAG will go through a bid process to select a contractor for the Border Wizard model run. Various wait times and queues as outputs from Border Wizard and inputs into the regional model will be tested for a port (or ports) of entry in the San Diego Region. Completion date for the draft report is anticipated by late fall.

Reynosa: - Oscar Ringenbach - SCT
SCT is using SimFronteras to develop a regional model for four bridges in the Reynosa area. They have developed a basic binational network in TRANSCAD, with zones and network, balanced inputs and outputs in the model, and run traffic assignments. They investigated the potential use of the proposed Anzalduas Bridge using the model. They will present the results of the analysis at the next JWC meeting. SCT wants to continue to link all of the JWC planning tools together as much as possible. They would like to continue to investigate a way to use SimFronteras with Border Wizard, perhaps in the San Diego region. In an effort to link the San Diego Border Wizard pilot to a SimFronteras regional pilot in Tijuana, the JWC agreed to facilitate a meeting between SANDAG and SCT to explore possibilities to link the Border Wizard and SimFronteras regional studies.

Bottlenecks Study - Phase II - Sylvia Grijalva - FHWA
Caltrans developed a methodology to identify bottlenecks in the vicinity of the Ports of Entry. Now that the 5 major binational corridors have been identified, it would be a good opportunity to expand this methodology to other locations. This study can be a good identifier of low cost-high impact improvements, another JWC work plan goal. TxDOT is considering a bottleneck study. The JWC will investigate to see if a binational component can be added to a bottleneck study currently planned in Laredo by TX DOT. Arizona & Sonora committed to conducting a bottleneck study of the transportation infrastructure at the Nogales ports of entry.

Regional Operations Model - Juan Jose Erazo - SCT
This proposal seeks to develop an integrated methodology using JWC developed tools, and other traditionally used tools, to identify infrastructure projects that will facilitate binational flow. SCT will review JWC tools and previously completed studies, develop a typical transportation planning model, and then see which projects are the best to pursue. This methodology is being tested in a study area identified in Tijuana, Baja California, with development of a zone system and network, identification of infrastructure projects, development of an urban network, origin and destination matrices and a demand model.

JWC Webpage - Sylvia Grijalva - FHWA
The web page address is www.borderplanning.fhwa.dot.gov. Project reports will be included on the website in the future, including these minutes and presentations from the meeting. If there are links that would be useful to the group, please let Sylvia know, so they can be added. The website will be also available in Spanish (with the participation and help of SCT via a link to SCT's webpage). dc.sct.gob.mx.

Outreach Strategies - Sylvia Grijalva - FWHA
While the JWC has developed a lot of useful tools for planning and programming there has not been a lot of external dissemination of the work products. The proposal of this work plan item is to heighten awareness of the JWC as a group, to raise its image, and to implement an effective dissemination of JWC tools and products to implementing agencies and organizations that would utilize them. One functioning product of the outreach effort is the JWC webpage. Suggestions for groups to include in a dissemination of JWC information include the World Bank, PIARC, and the TRB International Subcommittees. Suggestions for locations of outreach include the CETRATET centers. Other ideas are welcomed.

The JWC has been in existence for over 10 years. The original MOU discusses planning, and we have done a good job in advancing planning. Mexico is questioning the role of the JWC as a planning body only, and is interested in taking some of the planning projects and tools into an implementation phase. They are also interested in finding a way to institutionalize the JWC and the planning process into the three layers of government. In the United States, each level of government has differing concerns and priorities. The benefit of the JWC for the U.S. is that the group focuses exclusively on border planning and on issues related to the border, issues that have broad relevance to all the participants. Given the limited sources of funding for the JWC, the U.S. participants would like to see it remain more as it is. Both nations are interested in keeping the region globally competitive, without promoting competitiveness between different states, or different binational corridors.

Several ideas were put forth for discussion including: TxDOT indicated that U.S. states could extend an invitation to Mexico to better define the planning process - a sort of peer exchange. Caltrans suggested that we should focus on the expansion, the security and the efficiency of the border transportation system, and include other planners, not just transportation planners. We should work to develop tools that all participants can use. Al Alonzi, FHWA, suggested that perhaps the JWC was a victim of its own success and the question should not be are we doing things right?, but are we doing the right things? The MOU is perhaps too general and a JWC strategic plan might be in order, a living document developed between all participants that would be modified as the group continues to grow. ADOT indicated that the JWC is one of the few groups that represent various levels of government, various different agencies and has consistent representation. We should focus more on the interplay of the various actors and keep focusing on how to improve that, to know more about others, how they react and interplay with transportation.

Border Governors' Status Report - Fernando Lam - SIUE
The Border Governors' Conference (BGC) has met for 26 years, with participation by State DOTs since 1996. Recently, one federal agency representative per agency has also been appointed to participate in the BGC. The BCG is divided into different work tables. The Border Crossing Work Table has a lot of projects that have synergy with JWC projects. Currently, three recommendations are being proposed by the work table 1) expedite SENTRI/FAST lanes across the southern border 2) send a letter to the State Department regarding the implementation of Executive Order 13337 (Policy for Presidential Permits for Land Border Ports of Entry) 3) accelerate approval for new Ports of Entry. The BCG can bring to bear the influence of the Governors on issues of importance to the JWC. The next Border Governors' meeting will be held in Austin, Texas August 23-25, 2006. The JWC agrees to request assistance of the Border Governors' Conference Work Tables when implementing and promoting projects of mutual benefit.

Strategic Resource Assessments (SRA) - Sheri Kujawa - Fentress, Inc.
The SRA process was developed to help CBP meet their dual mission of protecting the border and facilitating trade by being a better predictor of facility requirements. The SRA is being conducted to provide informative support to current and future projects, target resources to the areas of greatest need and to communicate with and listen to stakeholders. The SRA analyzes workload and staffing trends, forecasts workload, staffing and space, indicates deficiencies, identifies, justifies and prioritizes projects, as listed in the 5-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Both northern and southern border ports of entry are being studied. Along the southern border assessments have been conducted at all of the CBP field offices (Tucson, San Diego and Laredo, and El Paso from October 2004-January 2006). The entire SRA process is expected to be updated every 3 years.

Draft reports have been written and are waiting final approval. Attempts for Mexican input into this process have been unsuccessful for a variety of reasons, Sheri will follow up to see how or if this could still be done. The CIP has an internal due date of July 06, and the final plan will be released to external stakeholders late FY 2006/early 2007. One key component of any projection for staffing levels would be traffic projections; transportation stakeholders have been providing input into the SRA process but have yet to review any projects. They are ready and willing to participate.

Planning Subcommittee of the Intersecretarial Group for Bridges and Border Crossings - Arturo Barrio - SRE
Arturo discussed the ongoing work that is being done to develop a process for a prioritized evaluation of bridges and border crossings. One step in this direction has been to hold regional vs. borderwide meetings to discuss issues in a more detailed way. Such regional meetings have been held in Arizona (San Luis) and California (Tecate), with proposed upcoming meetings June 8 (San Diego) and July 25 (Nogales). SRE is working to improve strategic planning via these regional meetings so that both nations can work together. SRE has committed to work with the JWC/Caltrans on the Border Master Plan, to build consensus between agencies, so each agency doesn't strike out on its own, especially given the interesting political climate with upcoming changes at the presidential and state levels of government. The next border wide Binational Bridge and Border Crossings Group (BBBXG) meeting will be held in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon the week of October 16, 2006. The JWC agreed to make a presentation at the next BBBXG meeting.

New Border Vision - Edgar Ruiz - The Council of State Governments (CSG)
The Council of State Governments consists of the governors, legislators, elected state justices and senior appointed officials of all 50 states. One of CSG's emphasis areas is International Programs, promoting U.S. Trade, and joint approaches to shared border problems and key issues. The Border Legislative Conference (BLC) is a joint effort of CSG (west) and the Southern Legislative Conference, and receives support from U.S. AID and Mexico City. The BLC is comprised of state legislators from the 10 U.S.-Mexico border states and has conducted several forums on border issues. Their latest proposal seeks to establish Secure Manufacturing Zones, by monitoring commercial vehicles from origin to clearance into the U.S., by increasing supply chain visibility and integrating high priority corridors. Another initiative would retrofit gas engines on commercial vehicles with natural gas systems. This proposal is expected to cost $100 million and take between 2-5 years to complete. The BLC is looking for new strategic partnerships to help obtain their goals.

Summary of Commitments and Agreements
Sylvia Grijalva and Oscar Ringenbach summarized the commitments and agreements reached at the current meeting. The JWC agreed with the Commitments and Agreements as read.

Next Meeting
The next JWC meeting will be held in Saltillo, Coahuila during the week of November 6th, 2006.

Other Decisions and Discussion
Jill Hochman expressed regrets from Cindy Burbank for not being able to attend the meeting and thanked Jim McAnulty for his help with the group, as he will be leaving his position in Mexico City.

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)

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