Border Infrastructure
Both Canada and the U.S. have funding mechanisms in place at the federal
level to support border infrastructure. In Budgets 2000 and 2001, the
Government of Canada set aside $665 million in funding for border infrastructure
under the Border Infrastructure Fund (BIF) and the Strategic Highway Infrastructure
Program (SHIP). Since 2001, the Government of Canada and provincial governments,
in conjunction with other partners such as municipal authorities and bridge
authorities, have set aside more than $1 billion (CDN) in total for
border infrastructure improvements. This funding will help to address
border infrastructure needs and support enhanced border programs such
as FAST and NEXUS developed under the Smart Borders Action Plan. For more
information see:
Border
Infrastructure Fund (BIF)
Strategic
Highway Infrastructure Program (SHIP)
The United States Government is also considering re-authorization of
its primary surface transportation funding legislation, the U.S. Transportation
Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). TEA-21 contained the funding for border
projects under the “Corridors and Borders” programs and its
successor legislation is also expected to contain funding for border infrastructure.
For more information on the reauthorization process see:
Surface
Transportation Reauthorization
For an update on the state of reauthorization legislation see:
THOMAS - US Congress
- Legislative Information on the Internet
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