Overview
Several United States (U.S.) and Canadian agencies are conducting transportation and infrastructure improvement projects along the U.S.-Canadian Border at the Land Ports of Entry (LPOE) in Vermont, New York, and Québec. Work on this effort began in the summer of 2021. Over a period of four to five years, this work is expected to impact the flow of passenger and commercial freight across the U.S.-Canada border at LPOEs in both New York and Vermont. The projects will result in more safe, secure, efficient, and functional LPOE facilities to facilitate the flow of cross-border trade and commerce. Once completed, the projects are expected to reduce border crossing times.
The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) is the lead agency in the coordination of monthly meetings and communications materials supporting a multi-jurisdictional group of federal, state, and provincial agencies who are planning and constructing these projects – the Champlain Region Border Projects Stakeholder Group. The focus of the group’s efforts is to ensure a degree of coordination as projects move through the planning, design, and construction phases, and to provide regular, clear, and accurate messaging on the status of those projects to the public in both French and English.
Champlain Region Border Projects Locations and Lead Agencies
Champlain Region Border Projects
All projects are located at or around the U.S.-Canada border at or near two major border crossings between the Canadian province of Québec and the U.S. states of New York and Vermont.
- A-35 Completion | The completion of A-35 from Saint-Sébastien Québec to the U.S. border at Highgate Springs comprises the final segment of a direct 500 kilometer or 311-mile four lane limited access highway between Montréal and Boston. This effort will provide a more efficient route linking Montréal and many markets in the U.S. New England states via Interstate 89 (I-89).
- St.-Bernard-de-Lacolle Port of Entry | This project entails the replacement of the traveler and bus process portion of the Canadian LPOE that lies at the termini of Québec Autoroute 15 (A-15) and Interstate 87 (I-87) between Champlain, New York, and St.-Bernard-de-Lacolle, Québec. The LPOE is located along Québec’s most important international trade corridor, linking Montréal to New York City, and is one of the top ten busiest crossings between Canada and the United States, supporting 43% of international truck traffic crossing in Québec. This project will modernize and expand the CBSA facilities, including the construction of a bus processing center and renovation and expansion of the CBSA travelers’ facility. It will also include expansion of the enforcement area and secondary travelers’ examination facilities, improvements to the road configuration, upgrades to the officer arming facilities, inclusion of port running mitigation measures, and general enhancements to infrastructure (e.g., water treatment and fire prevention).
- St. Armand de Phillipsburg Port of Entry | The project will replace the Canadian St. Armand de Phillipsburg LPOE, which is located on the Canada-U.S. border at Highway 133/I-89. The project aims to relieve congestion and speed up the movement of traffic at this border crossing. Modernization of major border crossings is expected to provide the following long-term economic benefits: reduced border wait times (BWT); increased reliability of just-in-time shipments; reduced costs for shippers, carriers, and travelers; decreased fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions due to reduced engine idling at the border; and enhanced safety and security.
- Highgate Springs Land Port of Entry | This project entails construction and replacement of the Highgate Springs LPOE to accommodate increased traffic because of the completion of A-35 at the terminus of I-89 in Highgate Springs, VT. The capital project will include a new 117,000-square-foot facility that will be appropriately equipped to handle the anticipated growth in cross-border commerce.
- Project 036-1(9) VT-78 Roadway Improvements | This project entails a full reconstruction of Vermont Route 78 (VT-78) in Swanton, Vermont from near the Alburgh-Swanton town line 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) east towards the Swanton village line. The goals of this project are to achieve a state of good repair and address longstanding deficiencies in the existing roadway design. This facility will play a critical role as a detour while other projects are under construction.
Other Projects: There are two additional projects that are anticipated to impact border movement in the vicinity of the coordinated projects described above. At this time, the timeline for work to be performed at these locations has not been determined.
- Rouses Point Land Port of Entry | The current facility, built in 1933, has had very little improvement since that time. The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) received funds from the 2021 BiPartisan Infrastructure Law to modernize and improve efficiency. The new port will be located on an adjacent site in closer proximity to the U.S.-Canadian Border to enhance security and meet current CBP Port of Entry Design Standards.
- Trout River Land Port of Entry | Trout River is a border crossing in a rural area of upstate New York State approximately 65 miles south-west of Montréal, Québec. The port monitors a border crossing served by 2-lane NYS Highway 30 and Québec Provincial Road 138. Trout River is located approximately 12 miles west of Chateauguay LPOE and 10 miles east of Fort Covington LPOE. The existing Port Building was constructed in 1932 and has undergone very little site and structural improvements since that time. The project will improve security measures as well as modernize the port operations.
Stakeholder Group
The Champlain Region Border Projects Stakeholder Group includes representatives from the following eight agencies:
- Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) | The CBSA is a federal law enforcement agency that is responsible for border control, immigration enforcement, and customs services in Canada. The CBSA manages 117 land-border crossings and provides services at approximately 1,200 points across Canada. The organization is divided into seven regions; the Québec Region has jurisdiction over the LPOE projects encompassed in this effort.
- Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) | PSPC serves federal departments and agencies as their central purchasing agent, real property manager, treasurer, accountant, pay and pension administrator, integrity adviser and linguistic authority.
- Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) | The FHWA is a division of the United States Department of Transportation that specializes in highway transportation.
- Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility (MTMD) | The MTMD is the Québec government ministry responsible for the province’s transport and infrastructure. In cooperation with state administrations and federal agencies, MTMD is responsible for advancing the roadway networks connecting the U.S./Canadian border with Québec’s interior and the rest of Canada.
- New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) | The NYSDOT is the New York state government agency responsible for the planning, development, construction, operation, maintenance, and safety of highways, railroads, mass transit systems, ports, waterways, and aviation facilities in the U.S. state of New York.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) | As the largest federal law enforcement agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, CBP’s primary mission is to safeguard the country from any and all National Security threats. CBP facilitates legitimate trade and travel at over 300 land, air, and seaports and dedicates itself to enhancing stakeholder engagement while fostering domestic and international relationships.
- U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) | The GSA is an agency of the United States government established to help manage and support the basic functioning of federal agencies. In the context of border facilities, GSA manages more than 100 federally-owned facilities and 300 leased locations.
- Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) | AOT is a government agency of the state of Vermont that is responsible for planning, constructing, and maintaining a variety of transportation infrastructure in the state. Vermont shares 15 border crossings with Québec along a 90-mile border. Two of these border crossings, Highgate Springs and Derby Line, are the termini for U.S. Interstates 89 and 91, respectively, and handle the majority of cross-border traffic traveling through the state.