Trends in Border Trends in Border Crossing Volumes Crossing Volumes 1994-20051994-2005

Steven Beningo – USDOT/RITA/BTSSteven Beningo – USDOT/RITA/BTSPresentation to the Transportation Border Working Presentation to the Transportation Border Working Group Group Niagara Falls, OntarioNiagara Falls, OntarioOctober 23, 2006October 23, 2006

OverviewOverview

RITA/BTS Border Crossing and Transborder RITA/BTS Border Crossing and Transborder Freight Data programsFreight Data programs

Changes in border traffic from 1994 to 2005 Changes in border traffic from 1994 to 2005 at:at:– The Niagara River CrossingsThe Niagara River Crossings– New York State Border CrossingsNew York State Border Crossings– The entire U.S. – Canada BorderThe entire U.S. – Canada Border

Border Crossing DataBorder Crossing Data

Counts of inbound crossings to the Counts of inbound crossings to the United States from Canada and MexicoUnited States from Canada and Mexico

Available monthly from October 1993 Available monthly from October 1993 onwardonward

On-line data from January 1995 onwardOn-line data from January 1995 onward

Data on:Data on:– VehiclesVehicles– PassengersPassengers– ContainersContainers– PedestriansPedestrians

Border Crossing Data Border Crossing Data ImprovementsImprovements Now available in an online searchable Now available in an online searchable

database: database: www.bts.gov/ittwww.bts.gov/itt– Users can search and download all Users can search and download all

historical data by:historical data by: StateState PortPort ModeMode YearYear MonthMonth

Transborder Freight Transborder Freight DataData

Transportation data for U.S. freight trade with Transportation data for U.S. freight trade with Canada and Mexico by ALL modes of transportationCanada and Mexico by ALL modes of transportation

Detailed subset of official U.S. Trade StatisticsDetailed subset of official U.S. Trade Statistics Available monthly from April 1994 onwards: Available monthly from April 1994 onwards:

www.bts.gov/ittwww.bts.gov/itt

Data on NAFTA trade by:Data on NAFTA trade by:– ValueValue– WeightWeight– ModeMode– Commodity (two-digit HS)Commodity (two-digit HS)– Port of entry/exitPort of entry/exit– State/Province of originState/Province of origin

and destinationand destination

Transborder Freight Transborder Freight Data ImprovementsData Improvements

Air and Vessel mode data added in 2004Air and Vessel mode data added in 2004

Critical gaps filled beginning with 2007 Critical gaps filled beginning with 2007 statisticsstatistics– New data structure linking port and commodity New data structure linking port and commodity

detaildetail– Weight data on exports to Mexico for all modesWeight data on exports to Mexico for all modes

Searchable database modernization underwaySearchable database modernization underway(Target completion – Spring 2007)(Target completion – Spring 2007)– Multi-dimensional search tool will offer improved Multi-dimensional search tool will offer improved

functionality over current searchable databasefunctionality over current searchable database

Niagara River Niagara River CrossingsCrossings

Peace BridgePeace Bridge Rainbow BridgeRainbow Bridge Whirlpool Bridge (NEXUS only)Whirlpool Bridge (NEXUS only) Lewiston-Queenston BridgeLewiston-Queenston Bridge

Niagara River Crossings – Niagara River Crossings – Personal VehiclesPersonal Vehicles2005 personal vehicle crossings were down 19% over 2005 personal vehicle crossings were down 19% over 19941994

Personal Vehicles Entering the U.S. at Niagara River Crossings Each Year

0

1,000,000

2,000,000

3,000,000

4,000,000

5,000,000

6,000,000

7,000,000

8,000,000

9,000,000

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Year

Nu

mb

er o

f P

ers

on

al V

ehic

les

Niagara River Crossings –Niagara River Crossings –TrucksTrucks 2005 truck crossings were up 29% over 19942005 truck crossings were up 29% over 1994

Trucks Entering the U.S. at Niagara River Crossings Each Year

0

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

1,200,000

1,400,000

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Year

Nu

mb

er

of

Tru

cks

Port of Buffalo-Niagara Port of Buffalo-Niagara Falls – Falls – Value of Imports by Value of Imports by TruckTruck 2005 value of imports by truck were up 37% over 19952005 value of imports by truck were up 37% over 1995

Value of U.S. Imports by Truck Through Buffalo-Niagara Falls

0

5,000,000,000

10,000,000,000

15,000,000,000

20,000,000,000

25,000,000,000

30,000,000,000

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Year

Cu

rren

t U

.S. D

ollars

Port of Buffalo-Niagara Port of Buffalo-Niagara Falls – Falls – Tonnage of Imports by Tonnage of Imports by TruckTruck 2005 tonnage of imports by truck were up 18% over 19952005 tonnage of imports by truck were up 18% over 1995

Weight of U.S. Imports by Truck Through Buffalo-Niagara Falls

-

2,000,000

4,000,000

6,000,000

8,000,000

10,000,000

12,000,000

14,000,000

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Year

U.S

.Sh

ort

To

ns

Destination States for U.S. Destination States for U.S. Imports by Truck Through Imports by Truck Through Buffalo-Niagara Falls: 2005Buffalo-Niagara Falls: 2005

Top 5 by Value (Billions of U.S. dollars)

New York 5.4

Pennsylvania 3.6

Michigan 3.1

Ohio 2.2

New Jersey 1.6

Top 5 by Weight(Thousands of U.S. Short Tons)

New York 3,475

Pennsylvania 2,194

Ohio 1,266

New Jersey 713

Michigan 520

Niagara River Crossings -Niagara River Crossings -

PedestriansPedestrians 2005 pedestrian crossings were up 4% over 1994, but 2005 pedestrian crossings were up 4% over 1994, but down 55% over 2002down 55% over 2002

Pedestrians Entering the U.S. at Niagara River Crossings Each Year

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

700,000

800,000

900,000

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Year

Ped

estr

ian

s

Niagara River Niagara River Crossings -PedestriansCrossings -Pedestrians

In 2005, pedestrian traffic on the Niagara In 2005, pedestrian traffic on the Niagara River crossings (primarily the Rainbow River crossings (primarily the Rainbow Bridge) accounted for:Bridge) accounted for:– 99.3% of all New York State Pedestrian 99.3% of all New York State Pedestrian

CrossingsCrossings– 61.2% of all Pedestrian Crossings on the U.S. – 61.2% of all Pedestrian Crossings on the U.S. –

Canada BorderCanada Border– 0.8% of all Pedestrian Crossings into the United 0.8% of all Pedestrian Crossings into the United

StatesStates

Niagara River Crossings -Niagara River Crossings -BusesBuses2005 bus crossings were down 12% over 19942005 bus crossings were down 12% over 1994

Buses Entering the U.S. at Niagara River Crossings Each Year

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

80,000

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Year

Nu

mb

er o

f B

use

s

Niagara River Crossings –Niagara River Crossings –Bus PassengersBus Passengers2005 bus passenger crossings were up 14% over 1994, 2005 bus passenger crossings were up 14% over 1994, but down 31% over 2000but down 31% over 2000

Annual Bus Passengers Entering the U.S. at Niagara River Crossings

0

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Year

Nu

mb

er o

f B

us

Pas

sen

ger

s

Whirlpool BridgeWhirlpool Bridge2001-2006:2001-2006: 80% Decrease in June Traffic80% Decrease in June Traffic

Total June Vehicles - Whirlpool Bridge

-

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

45,000

50,000

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Year

Nu

mb

er

of

Veh

icle

s

Source: Niagara Falls Bridge Commission

NEXUS

Implemented

Niagara River Niagara River Crossings –Other Crossings –Other Crossing TrendsCrossing Trends Trains and Train Passengers:Trains and Train Passengers:

– 2005 train crossings were down 17% 2005 train crossings were down 17% over 1994over 1994

– 2005 train passenger crossings were 2005 train passenger crossings were down 22% over 1994down 22% over 1994

Personal Vehicle Passengers:Personal Vehicle Passengers:– 2005 personal vehicle passenger 2005 personal vehicle passenger

crossings were down 9% over 1995crossings were down 9% over 1995

New York State Border New York State Border CrossingsCrossings Niagara RiverNiagara River St. Lawrence St. Lawrence

RiverRiver Land Border with Land Border with

QuebecQuebec Buffalo – Niagara Falls

New York State Border New York State Border Crossing Personal Vehicle Crossing Personal Vehicle TrafficTraffic 2005 Compared to 1994 - 2005 Compared to 1994 -

Percentage Change in Personal Percentage Change in Personal Vehicle Volume:Vehicle Volume:

Trout River/Fort Covington/Chateaugay: Trout River/Fort Covington/Chateaugay: - 32%- 32% Champlain/Rouses Point: Champlain/Rouses Point: - 29%- 29% Buffalo-Niagara Falls:Buffalo-Niagara Falls: - 19%- 19% Ogdensburg: Ogdensburg: - 15%- 15% Alexandria Bay/Cape Vincent:Alexandria Bay/Cape Vincent: - 8% - 8% Massena:Massena: - 4% - 4%

Truck Traffic Entering New York Truck Traffic Entering New York State at the Border with State at the Border with

CanadaCanada 2005 Compared to 1994 - 2005 Compared to 1994 -

Percentage Change in Truck Volume:Percentage Change in Truck Volume:

Ogdensburg: Ogdensburg: 122%122% Champlain/Rouses Point: Champlain/Rouses Point: 42% 42% Trout River/Fort Covington/Chateaugay:Trout River/Fort Covington/Chateaugay: 42% 42% Buffalo-Niagara Falls:Buffalo-Niagara Falls: 29% 29% Alexandria Bay/Cape Vincent:Alexandria Bay/Cape Vincent: 22% 22% Massena:Massena: 5% 5%

U.S. – Canada Border U.S. – Canada Border CrossingsCrossings

Border Crossings in 11 States, 7 Border Crossings in 11 States, 7 Provinces and the Yukon TerritoryProvinces and the Yukon Territory

Top States – 2005 Personal Top States – 2005 Personal Vehicles:Vehicles:– New York New York 9.1 million9.1 million– MichiganMichigan 8.9 million8.9 million– Washington Washington 5.0 million5.0 million– MaineMaine 3.6 million3.6 million– VermontVermont 1.4 million1.4 million

U.S. – Canada Border U.S. – Canada Border Personal Vehicle Traffic: Personal Vehicle Traffic: 2005 Compared to 19942005 Compared to 1994

Vehicle crossings into the U.S. fell Vehicle crossings into the U.S. fell from 40.3 million to 30.4 million from 40.3 million to 30.4 million (a 25% decline)(a 25% decline)

Personal vehicle traffic was down Personal vehicle traffic was down in all statesin all states

Only Grand Portage, Minnesota Only Grand Portage, Minnesota and Walhalla, North Dakota had and Walhalla, North Dakota had more personal vehicle traffic in more personal vehicle traffic in 2005 than 1994.2005 than 1994.

U.S. – Canada Border U.S. – Canada Border Truck Traffic: 2005 Truck Traffic: 2005 Compared to 1994Compared to 1994

Truck crossings into the United Truck crossings into the United States increased from 5 million to States increased from 5 million to 6.8 million (a 37% increase)6.8 million (a 37% increase)

Top States – 2005 Trucks:Top States – 2005 Trucks:– MichiganMichigan 2.7 million2.7 million– New York New York 1.9 million1.9 million– Washington Washington 0.7 million0.7 million– MaineMaine 0.5 million0.5 million– North DakotaNorth Dakota 0.3 million0.3 million

U.S. – Canada Border U.S. – Canada Border Truck Traffic: 2005 Truck Traffic: 2005 Compared to 1994Compared to 1994

Incoming truck crossings up over 100% Incoming truck crossings up over 100% at:at:

Scobey, Montana (404%)Scobey, Montana (404%) Boundary, Washington (192%)Boundary, Washington (192%) Point Roberts, Washington (160%)Point Roberts, Washington (160%) Lynden, Washington (154%)Lynden, Washington (154%) Laurier, Washington (138%)Laurier, Washington (138%) Ogdensburg, New York (122%)Ogdensburg, New York (122%) Alcan, Alaska (121%)Alcan, Alaska (121%) Pinecreek, Minnesota (116%)Pinecreek, Minnesota (116%)

Key PointsKey Points

Niagara River CrossingsNiagara River Crossings– More trucksMore trucks– Fewer personal vehiclesFewer personal vehicles– More than half of all U.S. – Canada More than half of all U.S. – Canada

pedestrian crossingspedestrian crossings– Whirlpool Bridge volume declineWhirlpool Bridge volume decline

New York BorderNew York Border– More trucksMore trucks– Fewer personal vehiclesFewer personal vehicles– Ogdensburg trucks more than doubledOgdensburg trucks more than doubled

Key PointsKey Points

U.S. – Canada BorderU.S. – Canada Border– More trucksMore trucks– Fewer personal vehiclesFewer personal vehicles

Questions?Questions?

Steven BeningoInternational Transportation SpecialistBureau of Transportation StatisticsResearch and Innovative Technology AdministrationU.S. Department of Transportation(202) 366-9683steven.beningo@dot.gov