PNWER at Work > Working Groups > Transportation
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AboutPNWER's Transportation working group focuses on the infrastructure of our major corridors and gateways, with a special interest on border infrastructure.
Major focus areas of this group include:
The Transportation working group is also closely linked to the Infrastructure Finance working group. Please click here for more information. Webinar Presentations and RecordingsCutting the Red Tape: Permit Modernization
July 15, 2020 Watch the Recording Here Click Here for Presentation Slides State Permitting Council Handout About FAST-41 & FPISC Handout The permitting process for infrastructure projects across the United States is dated and often redundant, causing expensive delays before projects are even cleared to begin construction. In the U.S., the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (FPISC) seeks to streamline this federal permitting process without changing existing regulations, applying a 21st century program management approach to qualifying federal projects. Canada was successfully able to streamline federal and provincial permitting to complete the Asia Pacific Gateway project in the mid-2000’s, and has valuable best practices that can be implemented in the U.S. From a labor perspective, permit modernization and streamlining - without changing the substance of environmental regulations or other laws - could help support local job markets, especially following the COVID-19 related economic downturn. Following expert presentations, state legislators from Alaska, Idaho, and Washington discussed how a state-level permit streamlining council, similar to the FPISC, could help local infrastructure projects. Moderated by PNWER Transportation Co-Chairs Bruce Agnew and Chuck Winder, featured speakers include:
Road & Rail: Safety in Separation June 4, 2020 Watch the Recording Here Click Here for Presentation Slides Click Here for Background Resources Rail transit is an essential part of the transportation of consumer goods across North America. However, the areas where railroads intersect with highway systems cause congestion, delays, and present significant safety risks. With the potential for a major Congressional infrastructure bill on the horizon, federal highway-rail grade separation must be prioritized to improve safety and efficiency of the United State's infrastructure. How can federal, state, and local governments work with railroads and community stakeholders to implement high-cost grade separation projects to improve community safety and increase efficiency? Moderated by Bruce Agnew and Chuck Winder, featured speakers include:
ResourcesAction Items & Findings
Summit Archive
Summer 2019 Action Items Presentations Summer 2018 Agenda Summer 2017 Action Items Summer 2016 Action Items Agenda Presentations Summer 2015 Action Items Proceedings Agenda Presentations Summer 2014 Transportation I Proceedings Transportation II Proceedings Transportation Action Items Presentations Presentations
Presentations from the 2019 PNWER Annual Summit in Saskatoon News & Links
News
Links Summit Agenda
Welcome and Overview of Innovative Infrastructure Finance Taskforce Investing in American and Canadian infrastructure from public and private resources has rarely been higher on the political agenda of the two countries as it is today. PNWER is seeking to expand the public private partnership initiative through a federally sanctioned regional accelerator. This session will explore the latest developments in Washington D.C. and local and private sector responses. The federal government and PNWER regional accelerator: Session will examine fast tracking public-private partnerships (P3’s) and existing federal credit and loan programs (Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) and Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF). The Trump Administration proposes to replace the FASTLANE program with the $1.5 billion INFRA program. Can P3s enhance project delivery and permit reform? Why do we need them in limited resource and lower expertise environments? What purpose do they serve for urban regions (Vancouver B.C., Seattle- Tacoma, Portland) and rural regions (Port of Everett, Washington and Kalispell, Montana)? Moderated by Leslie Blakely, President, Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors Federal Government
State and local government response: designing state and local initiatives to leverage federal infrastructure initiatives
Columbia River I-5 Bridge Replacement Project
University Partnerships and Applied Research
Canada accelerates P3s; opportunities for Northwest states Canada is recognized as the global leader in building effective P3’s with more than 250 projects with a total capital value of over $120 billion. Between 2003 and 2012, P3 projects in Canada generated $15 billion in direct GDP, nearly 300,000 in direct, full-time equivalent jobs, and $7.5 billion in direct tax revenue to governments across Canada.
Performance-based Infrastructure on the West Coast Moderated by Mark Romoff of the Canadian Council for Public Private Partnerships
Successful Leadership in Private-Public Partnerships
Advancing the Cascadia Innovation Corridor and Enhancing Cross-Border Connections
Webinars & Resources
Cutting the Red Tape: Permit Modernization
July 15, 2020 Watch the Recording Here Click Here for Presentation Slides About FAST-41 & FPISC Handout About State Permitting Councils Road & Rail: Safety in Separation June 4, 2020 Watch the Recording Here Click Here for Presentation Slides Click Here for Background Resources Rail transit is an essential part of the transportation of consumer goods across North America. However, the areas where railroads intersect with highway systems cause congestion, delays, and present significant safety risks. With the potential for a major Congressional infrastructure bill on the horizon, federal highway-rail grade separation must be prioritized to improve safety and efficiency of the United State's infrastructure. How can federal, state, and local governments work with railroads and community stakeholders to implement high-cost grade separation projects to improve community safety and increase efficiency? Moderated by Bruce Agnew and Chuck Winder, featured speakers include:
Harbour to Harbor
PNWER has long supported “Harbour to Harbor” seaplane service between Vancouver, British Columbia and Seattle, Washington. British Columbia and Washington state share significant economic and cultural ties including the remarkably successful Two Nation Vacation initiative that has attracted international visitors and accelerated joint infrastructure and high technology investments.
“Harbour to Harbor” is an important addition to the rich mix of highway, rail, ferry, cruise ship, seaplane and fixed wing aircraft transportation operations that uniquely defines our bi-national region. Vancouver and Seattle share similar innovative, risk-taking cultures and a one hour “Harbour to Harbor” seaplane connection will accelerate the “Cascadia Innovative Corridor” initiative launched by Microsoft and others that has expanded cross-border employment and attracted world wide talent to the region. Our regional border security agency leaders also have a well-deserved reputation for cross border cooperation and effectiveness in partnering with private sector transportation providers in deploying innovative, technology based procedures for enhanced security. “Harbour to Harbor” seaplane service affords Transport Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency a new and exciting venue to continue to showcase Canada’s innovative approach. Additional resources and information can be found on the Tourism working group page here. Oil By RailSince 2012, the transportation of crude oil by freight rail has been rapidly increasing in Washington and other states in the Pacific Northwest. The spate of recent derailments in Canada and the U.S. has led to new regulations in oil train operations and tank car construction, along with an increased local desire for transparency and accountability in regards to oil train routing and scheduling. In order to address these issues, the Center for Regional Disaster Resilience has begun to explore oil freight rail transportation and safety as part of its Program Areas.
Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) and the Center for Regional Disaster Resilience (CRDR) hosted an Oil Train Safety Symposium at Clover Park Technical College in Lakewood, Washington on April 27, 2016. The Transportation Working Group, co-chaired by Sen. Chuck Winder, Idaho, and Bruce Agnew, Director, Cascadia Center for Regional Development, has addressed oil by rail concerns at recent PNWER meetings. This symposium provided a comprehensive overview of the current and future status of oil by rail transportation and emphasize partnerships to help ensure oil transport safety is being addressed across the region. By fostering dialogue between public and private sector entities, PNWER and CRDR hope to increase mutual understanding of oil train safety issues in a broad and holistic manner by including stakeholders from all parts of the supply chain both in the U.S. and Canada. The Symposium agenda is still under development; topics will include an overview of the transportation of hazardous material by rail, the driving factors behind the rise of oil transportation by rail, potential safety hazards, incident response, and planning for future movement of other fuel products. Find the event report, presentation, and oil safety news here. Autonomous, Connected Electric Shared VehiclesTransportation technology can deliver us from viaduct-closure gridlock - Seattle Times, Jan. 7 2019
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