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congested border crossing

Cross-Border Mobility

Border "Crossing Time" Measurement

Sponsor: Federal Highway Administration, 2007

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is undertaking a Freight Performance Measurement initiative aimed at examining automated measurement for travel times in freight-significant corridors and crossing and delay time at major U.S. land border crossings. The project seeks to identify appropriate intelligent transportation systems or other commercial technologies to more easily and precisely measure border crossing times using a consistent methodology that is comparable from one location to another. This project is currently in process, and TTI researchers have produced two reports: Technology Assessment (Tasks 1 and 2 Report) and Implementation Plan (Task 3 Draft Report).

Publications

Measuring Border Delay and Crossing Times at the U.S./Mexico Border: Tasks 1 and 2 Report PDF document - For best results, view PDF files with the most recent version of the Adobe Acrobat Reader
(April 2007)

Measuring Border Delay and Crossing Times at the U.S./Mexico Border: Task 3 Report PDF document - For best results, view PDF files with the most recent version of the Adobe Acrobat Reader
(September 2007, DRAFT)

For More Information:
Juan Carlos Villa
ph. (979) 862-3382 · fax (979) 845-6008
j-villa@tamu.edu

Truck Transportation Through Border Ports of Entry: Analysis of Coordination Systems

Sponsor: U.S.–Mexico Joint Working Committee, Texas Department of Transportation, 2002

This project for the U.S.-Mexico Joint Working Committee and the Texas Department of Transportation identified shortcomings in coordination of the border crossing process at U.S.–Mexico border ports-of-entry. The analysis included the review of numerous previous reports and more than 100 on-site, key stakeholder interviews from Texas to California. The project concluded that the underlying problem is the absence of an overarching forum for coordinated planning and operations. Researchers recommended alternatives to improve operations and reduce congestion and delay. The study suggested conducting pilot projects to incorporate the alternatives recommended in the report.

Publication

Truck Transportation through Border Ports of Entry: Analysis of Coordination Systems PDF document - For best results, view PDF files with the most recent version of the Adobe Acrobat Reader
(November 2002)

For More Information:
Juan Carlos Villa
ph. (979) 862-3382 · fax (979) 845-6008
j-villa@tamu.edu

Texas Model Border Crossing

Sponsor: Texas Department of Transportation, 2003

In partnership with the Center for Transportation Research (CTR) at The University of Texas at Austin, TTI undertook a project to develop a prototype model border crossing for application to future border crossings in Texas. This prototype would facilitate trade, while permitting federal and state agencies to maintain their inspection responsibilities. The project included an assessment of the physical and functional requirements, security enhancement through improved automation and screening and a feasibility assessment of retrofitting existing border crossings. To communicate the complex recommendations, TTI developed this simulated border crossing operation to brief public and private officials. The FAST Lane program unveiled by U.S. Customs in 2002 very closely resembles the recommendations made in this project.

Publication

Texas Model Border Crossing Project: Briefing Document PDF document - For best results, view PDF files with the most recent version of the Adobe Acrobat Reader
(July 2003)

For More Information:
Bill Stockton
ph. (979) 845-9947 · fax (979) 845-9356
bill.stockton@tamu.edu

North American Border Crossing Mobility Index

Sponsor: Texas Transportation Institute, in progress

The North American Border Crossing Mobility Index is a system for consistently and objectively measuring the performance of the overall supply chain at the border, emphasizing measurement of the effective use of infrastructure dedicated to cross-border traffic operations. The index builds on a decade of research and development by public and private sponsors and merges the results of those efforts into a single package of consistent measuring and reporting capabilities that could expand into regional networks.

For More Information:
Juan Carlos Villa
ph. (979) 862-3382 · fax (979) 845-6008
j-villa@tamu.edu

Cross Border Traffic Microscopic Simulation Model for the El Paso/Cuidad Juárez Region

Sponsor: Texas Transportation Institute, in progress

The objective of the research is to simulate traffic movement between the El Paso and Cuidad Juárez through ports of entry in a hybrid environment using a trans-border travel demand model. Using powerful traffic simulation applications, traffic movement can be simulated during peak hours at major arterials and highways in El Paso and Ciudad Juárez, and traffic conditions can be estimated at ports of entry. The model will ultimately allow the simulation of lane closures and incidents using real-time and historic traffic data.

For More Information:
Rafael Manuel Aldrete-Sanchez
ph. (915) 532-3759 · fax (915) 532-3762
r-aldrete@tamu.edu

Freight Delay Data Collection and Analysis for the Laredo World Trade Bridge

Sponsor: Texas Department of Transportation, 2000

This project was conducted to determine the feasibility of establishing a performance measure that can be used to evaluate freight movement at international border crossings and was undertaken at Laredo’s World Trade Bridge, which had just opened in April 2000. The bridge offers eight lanes exclusively for commercial traffic and a queue space for 300 trucks. The study successfully used a license plate data collection method to obtain travel time and traffic volume data required for establishing a performance measure for international border crossings.

Publication

Border Crossing Freight Delay Data Collection and Analysis World Trade Bridge – Laredo International Bridge 4 Laredo, Texas PDF document - For best results, view PDF files with the most recent version of the Adobe Acrobat Reader
(2000)

For More Information:
Steven P. Venglar
ph. (210) 979-9411 · fax (210) 979-9694
s-venglar@tamu.edu

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