Border Wait Time Measurement Technology  

Beyond the Border:A shared vision for perimeter security and

economic competitiveness

• On February 4, 2011, Prime Minister Harper and President Obama announced the shared vision.

• On December 11, 2011, President Obama and Prime Minister Harper released an Action Plan to implement the shared vision.

• Under the Action Plan, one of the commitments was to:

“Implement a border wait-time measurement system at mutually determined high priority Canada-United States border crossings.”

Border Wait Time Measurement Technology

• CBSA and CBP to identify reasonable and achievable border wait-time service levels at major crossings, and publish these by June 30, 2012.

• Install border wait-time measurement technology over the next three years at the top 20 crossings.

• Wait-time information will be available on CBSA and CBP websites, and through other electronic media.

• Real-time information will be available to the public on websites, roadside signs, and other traveller information systems by the end of 2013.

Benefits of BWT Information

• Increased efficiency and better management of border resources

• Automated dissemination of wait time data to drivers to make informed decisions about where and when to cross the border

• Reduced delays at the border• Increased capacity• Used to measure benefits of other Beyond the Border

initiatives

5

• A

Already completed (6 crossings, bi-national)

New Beyond the Border initiative (14 crossings)

20 Border Crossing Locations

• Location selection based on:• Truck and car traffic volumes• Average wait times• Presence of a nearby crossing alternative

Next Steps

• BWTWG will oversee the technology implementation• Identify federal funding• Begin consultations with border states and provinces• Work out various data formatting and exchange issues• Data archive