Overview of US/Canada Border Crossings Whatcom County, WA and Lower Mainland, BC

Washington StateDepartment of Transportation

Transportation Border Working Group (TBWG)

Todd CarlsonPlanning and Engineering Services

Manager

Coeur D’Alene, IdahoApril 22 - 23, 2008

Overview of US/Canada Border Crossings Whatcom County, WA and Lower Mainland, BC

• Overview of the Region

• Four Major Land Border Crossings – Sumas/Huntingdon (SR 9 / Hwy 11)– Lynden/Aldergrove (SR 539 / Hwy 13)– Pacific Hwy (SR 543 / Hwy 15)– Peace Arch - Blaine / Douglas (Interstate 5 / Hwy 99)

• Washington Governor / BC Premier protocol agreement– Communications protocol– ITS/ATIS– Border Circulation Analysis– NEXUS / FAST Marketing

Washington / British Columbia Cascade Gateway

US/Canadian Border

Point RobertsPeach Arch

Pacific Hwy

Lynden/Aldergrove Sumas / Huntingdon

Bellingham, Washington

Vancouver, British Columbia

SR 9/Hwy 11 – Sumas/Huntingdon

• New SR 9 Highway Alignment Improvements

• Truck parking issue remains

SR 539 – Lynden / Aldergrove

• SR 539 improvements

• Missing piece from Lynden to the border (about 5 miles)

Pacific Hwy Border CrossingSR 543 / Hwy 15

• Improvements completed in winter 2008

British Columbia, Canada

Washington State, US

Interstate 5

Highway 99

SR 543

Highway 15

• New “return to Canada” configuration

• FAST lane breaks off

• New NEXUS/FAST/Bus lane

• New grade separation at D Street

• New southbound general purpose lane

• Intersection improvements at H Street

British Columbia Premier Washington Governor

Protocol Agreement

• Communications protocol• ITS/ATIS• Border Circulation

Analysis• NEXUS / FAST Marketing

Communications Protocol

Intelligent Transportation Systems / Advanced Traveler Information Systems

(ITS/ATIS)

• Variable/Changeable Message Signs

• Cameras• Traffic loops (providing data for

border crossings www.cascadegatewaydata.com )

• Highway Advisory Radio

Border Circulation Analysis

East-west Border LinkageCascadia GatewayProposalTo complete a planning study for east-west linkage of the key

north-south corridors through the Cascadia Gateway that connects the U.S. and Canada, between Highway 99(BC)/Interstate 5 (WA) in the west to Highway 11 (BC)/SR 9 (WA).

NEXUS / FAST Marketing

Searching for funding to continue

Thank You / Merci !!!

The End / Le Fin