"Michigan is the primary gateway for U.S.-Canadian trade, so my constituents have seen firsthand the pressures that commerce places on our nation's highways and trade corridors," Senator Levin said. "Delays at border crossings and insufficient roads pose significant obstacles in industries that are dependent on just-in-time deliveries. Our bill would help to ease some of these burdens to ensure that the flow of freight on our highways is smooth and efficient."
"Yearly truck traffic into Maine from Canada has doubled in the last decade," said Senator Collins. "For example, yearly traffic from Canada into Calais, Maine has gone from 70,000 trucks annually ten years ago to 140,000 annually. This bill will help provide the needed technology and infrastructure to allow us to accommodate the increasing volume while getting the trucks across the border safely and efficiently."
The National Highway Borders and Trade Act of 2003 would address the growth in international trade and highway traffic by authorizing $400 million a year for six years for programs to ease congestion at border crossings and to improve highway corridors that connect to border regions. Although there are only 15 land border states, the goods that are shipped through those states eventually travel to every state in the country.
Specifically, the bill would: 1) break the existing Borders and Corridors Program into two distinct programs; 2) change the existing border program so that half of the funds are distributed by a formula and half are discretionary. This would ensure the stability and predictability of the program for states; 3) clarify eligibility for funding by using the definition of "border region" adopted by international law; and
4) expand the corridors program so that roads connecting water ports, in addition to roads connecting land borders, would be eligible for funds. This is necessary since water ports play an important role in international trade and the connecting roads are severely deteriorated.
NAFTA, and increased trade generally, have put strains on the highway system that carries 70% of the total goods shipped in the United States. When the Federal Highway Administration studied border crossing times for trucks in 2001, it found that some trucks experienced delays of over 83 minutes.
Six years ago, Congress recognized the need for highway programs dedicated to interregional and international trade corridors in funding the Borders and Corridors Program. While this funding has helped to improve transportation efficiencies, continued growth has taken a toll on roadways and borders. Additionally, total freight traffic is expected to more than double by 2020. Approximately 10% of the nation's gross domestic product is attributable to transportation goods and services, and more than 10 million people are employed in transportation related industries.