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Border Crossings and Canadian Issues

OFBS has increasingly been focusing on improving relations with neighboring provinces and making improvements at Maine's border crossings with Canada. Border crossings are points that impact the free flow of freight transportation for Maine shippers and transportation providers. Since the implementation of free trade between the U.S. and Canada in 1989, truck traffic entering the U.S. through Maine's border crossings has increased significantly.  In fact, trade between the U.S. and Canada amounts to over a $1 billion a day. 

More generally, OFBS also looks to improve trade and transportation relations with the Canadian provinces. The OFBS provided project management for the Calais/St. Stephen Area Border Crossing study. This study resulted in the selection of a site for a new bridge and border crossing between Maine and New Brunswick that is currently being designed. 

Construction was completed in November 2010  and is the first stand-alone new border crossing on the U.S./Canadian border in at least 30 years.  Taken together, the total investment between MaineDOT, New Brunswick DOT, and the federal inspection agencies totalled over $120 million.

OFBS works with other New England state DOTs and Canadian provincial Ministries of Transportation on issues of common concern such as border crossing policies and transportation funding issues. For example, OFBS staff serves on the Board of Directors of the Eastern Border Transportation Coalition (EBTC); the Transportation Working Group of the New England Governors/Eastern Canadian Premiers Conference; and the FHWA/Transport Canada Transportation Border Working Group.

EBTC is an organization made up of the transportation agencies from Maine, Michigan, New York, Vermont, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. EBTC conducts studies, forms policy positions, and works to improve the flow of people and goods across the world's most prosperous border.

Border Crossing/Canadian Issues Links

• Eastern Border Transportation Coalition
• Transport Canada
• Transportation Association of Canada

Transportation Agencies of Neighboring Provinces

• Newfoundland & Labrador Dept. of Works, Services and Transportation
• Nova Scotia Transportation & Public Works
• New Brunswick Dept. of Transportation
• Prince Edward Island Transportation & Public Works

For more information concerning border crossings and other Canadian issues, please contact Rob Elder at (207) 624-3560.

 

 

This page last updated on 3/27/12

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