TBWG Future Directions

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TBWGFuture Directions

• Dearborn, Michigan, U.S.A.
• June 1, 2005

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Why are we discussing this?

• Survey distributed in summer 2004 to gauge
  satisfaction of TBWG members result presented in
  fall 2004
• Consensus that a smaller, more focused Future
  Directions Subcommittee should be formed
• Would be composed of representatives from FHWA,
  TC, CBSA, CBP and two state/provincial colleagues
  from both East and West

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Draft Paper Distributed

• U.S.-Canada MOU
• TBWG timeline
• Future Directions Subcommittee
• Draft recommendations
• 15 recommended changes
• Revised action plan
• Invitation for feedback on each item
• Process for review and consensus

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Review of Recommendations
Unanimous approval
Document
Finished
Feedback to-date
Scrap
Finished
Majority disapproval
Feedback today
Document fatal flaws
Back to committee
Finished
Further discussion here today
Modification desired
Document
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Review

• Recommendations with a favourable response
• Recommendation 3 A
• Meeting frequency
• Recommendation 4 A-BMeeting duration and time
  allocation
• Recommendation 7Action Plan structure and
  contents
• Recommendation 9TBWG Communications

6
Review

• Recommendations meeting with disapproval
• Recommendation 5Presentation format
• Recommendation 8 B
• TBWG and coordination of Policy

7
Review

• Recommendations requiring discussion
• Recommendation 1TBWG Mission Statement
• Recommendation 2 A-B-CConsidering formation of a
  TBWG Steering Committee
• Recommendation 3 BLocation
• Recommendation 6Action Plan structure and
  contents
• Recommendation 8 A-C
• TBWG and coordination of Policy

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Recommendation 1TBWG Mission Statement

• 1-It is recommended that the TBWG Mission
  Statement be modified to read as follows
• The mission of the Transportation Border Working
  Group is to facilitate the safe, secure and
  efficient movement of people and goods across the
  Canada-U.S. border. The TBWG brings together
  multiple transportation and border agencies, and
  other organizations, to coordinate transportation
  planning, policy implementation, and the
  deployment of technology to enhance border
  infrastructure and operations. As such, this
  forum fosters ongoing communication, information
  sharing, and the exchange of best practices to
  improve the transportation and inspections
  systems that connect our two countries.
• Comments
• Change inspections to supporting

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Recommendation 2Considering formation of a TBWG
Steering Committee

• 2 A-It is recommended that Transport Canada and
  U.S. Federal Highway Administration remain the
  two co-chair agencies of TBWG.
• Comments
• I would like to see state and provincial DOT
  share the co-chair roll in some capacity.

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Recommendation 2Considering formation of a TBWG
Steering Committee

• 2 B- It is recommended that a TBWG Steering
  Committee be formed.
• Comments
• If co-chair roll cannot be shared, perhaps state
  DOTs and Provincial DOTs take the lead

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Recommendation 2Considering formation of a TBWG
Steering Committee

• 2 C-(If a Steering Committee is adopted) The TBWG
  Steering Committee should be composed as follows
  
• ChairsTC and FHWA (permanent representation)
• CBSA and CBP (permanent representation)
• four members representing states, provinces
  and/or border-region planning agencies or
  coalitions (rotation among them)

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Recommendation 2Considering formation of a TBWG
Steering Committee

• Comments on 2 C
• How will the voluntary change of members work?
• No coalitions on steering committee

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Recommendation 3Meeting frequency and location

• 3 A-It is recommended that the TBWG continue the
  semiannual plenary meeting format.
• Comments agreed

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Recommendation 3Meeting frequency and location

• 3 B-It is recommended that the location of
  meetings alternate between border areas and
  travel-hub cities.
• Comments
• Good idea about travel hubs. I would like to see
  a 500 travel allowance for each state/province.
  This would ensure better state/province
  participation.
• The border-crossing visits should be held in the
  late afternoon of the second day of the meeting
• Agree. Add Washington DC, Ottawa

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Recommendation 4Meeting duration and time
allocation

• 4 A-It is recommended that the TBWG conduct
  plenary meetings over a three-day (half-day,
  full-day, half-day) period.
• Comments agreed
• 4 B-It is recommended that the each TBWG meeting
  include a one-hour, open-mic period for member
  announcements of events and issues, updates, and
  resulting discussion with the rest of the group
• Comments agreed

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Recommendation 5Presentation format

• 5- It is recommended that the each presentation
  delivered at the plenary session receive a
  one-hour time slot
• Comments
• Ok. But what about topics that are just short
  updates?
• We probably should not be so rigid. Some
  presentations may warrant more or less time.
• At the most one hour.
• Disagree. Each presentation should be given
  adequate time, no absolute limits.

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Recommendation 6Action Plan structure and
contents

• 6- It is recommended that the TBWG revise the
  structure of the action plan (see action plan).
• Comments
• Delete Policy Implementation objective
• Too open ended. Need to add structure to action
  items, include dates, milestones, products,
  performance measures

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Recommendation 7Action Plan structure and
contents

• 7- It is recommended that the Action Plan delete
  coverage of some items (currently under the
  heading, Area of Interest.
• Comments Agreed

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Recommendation 8TBWG and coordination of Policy

• 8 A- It is recommended that the TBWG Action Plan
  add an objective, Policy Implementation.
• Comments
• I would prefer that there not be a Policy
  Implementation objective.
• I am not a big fan of policy in general!
• Agree, but Action Plan needs elaboration.

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Recommendation 8TBWG and coordination of Policy

• 8 B-It is recommended that, under the Policy
  Implementation objective, the TBWG Action Plan
  include an initiative to identify, describe, and
  report on policy-changes that would be necessary
  to pursue operational, information-flow, or
  infrastructure objectives identified by TBWG or
  by other border-related mandates.
• Comments
• Disagree I do not believe that the TBWG should
  concern itself with policy implementation.
• I need to hear more discussion about policy
  implementation. If the objective suggests that
  TBWG will itself be involved in policy
  implementation, I dont see this happening. I
  think more clarification is needed

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Recommendation 8TBWG and coordination of Policy

• 8 C- It is recommended that, under the Policy
  Implementation objective, the TBWG Action Plan
  include an initiative under which a dialogue will
  be established between TBWG and relevant,
  border-related policy-research centers at U.S.
  and Canadian universities .
• Comments
• Rename to make it a research objective and not a
  policy objective
• Dialogue is good, but should be limited to policy
  related issues

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Recommendation 9TBWG Communications

• 9- It is recommended that, under the
  Communications objective, the TBWG Action Plan
  specify that a single website will be established
  for the purposes previously identified as well as
  for future, internet-based communications needs.
• Comments Agreed

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More comments

• In my opinion, one of the main problems with TBWG
  is that not much has been happening on committee
  and subcommittee work between semi-annual
  meetings. (I think it has improved in the past
  year or so). I advocate that each chair of a
  committee or subcommittee take responsibility for
  the work plan and activity of his/her group and
  be asked to report out briefly at each plenary,
  stating what the group has accomplished re
  specific goals and objectives, and what it plans
  to do in the next six months.

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Next steps

• Send back comments approved by the group to the
  future direction sub committee for
  implementation.