TPEA Recognizes the Calais, Maine – St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada New International Border Crossing
June 20, 2008
(Harrisburg, Pa.) The Calais, Maine – St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada New International Border Crossing was recognized by the 2008 Federal Highway Administration’s and the Federal Transit Administration’s Transportation Planning Excellence Awards Program (TPEA) as receiving an Honorable Mention in the planning leadership category.
The first new international border crossing spanning a waterway on the U.S. – Canadian border in more than 30 years, this project included a new border crossing between Calais, Maine and St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada; highway approaches; customs and inspection facilities in the U.S. and in Canada; and a new bridge over an international waterway and boundary.
This project was identified as the number one border priority for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and received the first Presidential Permit for a new border crossing between the U.S. and Canada from the U.S. State Department.
The project involved extensive international agency coordination and cooperation. The team included the Maine Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration’s Maine Division, the New Brunswick Department of Transportation, and Transport Canada. Close coordination with those primarily responsible for providing inspection facilities and performing inspections – the U.S General Services Administration, U.S. Customs Service, and the Canadian Border Services Agency – was also required. Support was provided by Gannett Fleming, an international planning, design, and construction management firm.
The planning leadership and methodology used to develop this complex and unique undertaking resulted in the successful completion of the project. As a result of analyzing, comparing, and contrasting the planning and project development processes in both countries, the New Brunswick Department of Transportation increased public involvement in their activities and included public involvement earlier than typically performed. The project involved extensive international, intergovernmental coordination and cooperation, including engaging agencies and levels of government in both countries not normally encountered.
The new border crossing is under construction and scheduled to be open to traffic in November 2009.
TPEA recognizes outstanding initiatives across the United States in developing, planning, and implementing innovative transportation planning practices. The planning leadership category distinguishes organizations which demonstrate leadership through innovative transportation planning initiatives, raise the standards in transportation, and provide as an exemplar for others.
For more information, please contact Judy L. Hricak at (717) 763-7211, ext. 2624 or via e-mail.
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