Freight Shuttle System: Cross-Border Movement of Goods

The United States and Mexico are challenged by increasing levels of congestion at landside ports of entry. This congestion creates delay for both personal and commercial users of the crossings at a substantial cost to both economies. The objective of this report is to examine the potential viability of an alternative transportation system for trailers and containers in a multi-national, cross-border setting. The El Paso?Ciudad Juarez region serves as the environment for this analysis. The Texas A&M Transportation Institute developed and proposed the installation and use of a privately owned and operated Freight Shuttle System (FSS) to provide its service in a cross-border setting that currently handles large volumes of freight traffic. This system is commercially self-sustaining, offers elevated levels of security, and provides shippers with time-certain delivery of cargo at costs commensurate with prevailing transportation rates. The FSS runs on elevated, dedicated guideways that do not interfere with other transport systems. Benefits associated with the implementation of the FSS would accrue to the region, maquiladoras, and shippers. Implementing the FSS would reduce the emissions from trucks traveling to the border crossings and waiting at the border inspection/processing facilities. Eliminating wait time at the border dramatically improves productivity and will also reduce the consumption of diesel. Additionally, significant positive economic impacts will accrue from efficiency improvements for those businesses dependent on cross-border operations as well as from the construction and continued operation of the system, including the creation of jobs for the region.