Related to the Impacts of the I-5 Bridge Collapse
Washington Connecting to Canada: Flows of Goods
Canada is a major trade partner of Washington State, and a dense web of goods-transport connections links the two. This article catalogs those connections, illustrates the size of the trade relationship, the kinds of goods traded, the specific provincial partners within Canada, and the modes used for specific goods.
Cross-Border Freight Flows at the Two Land Borders
This article describes the trade moving along the I-5 corridor within the context of OVERALL trade between the US and its neighbors, Canada and Mexico.
Issues with Efficacy of FAST at the Cascade Gateway
This article (Figure 1, p. 3) provides information about the origins/destinations of trucks that cross the border at the north end of the I-5 corridor. About 65 percent are engaged in trips that would require crossing the Skagit River bridge.
The Year-Over-Year Decline in Southbound Freight at the Canada - US Border
This article also provides context regarding how the I-5 corridor relates to overall flows of Canada - US trade. See Exhibit 2 and the discussion of Blaine on page 3.
Cross-Border Travel Through the Cascade Gateway
This article describes patterns of automobile travel at the Cascade Gateway crossings that serve I-5. Figures 3 and 4 give some idea of what proportion of cross-border travelers pass through Burlington (site of the collapsed bridge).
Mission
Housed at Western Washington University, the Border Policy Research Institute (BPRI) is a multi-disciplinary institute that undertakes research that informs policy-makers on matters related to the Canada - U.S. border. Priority focus areas are trade and transportation, economics, environment, immigration, and border security. The University established the BPRI to further a mission of promoting research, academic programs, and public programming on critical policy issues affecting the Pacific Northwest. The BPRI works closely with cognate programs at the University and collaborates with many public and private entities within the Pacific Northwest.
Events
PNWER Conference
July 14-19, 2013The PNWER (Pacific Northwest Economic Region) Conference will take place in Anchorage. Don Alper will co-chair the Border Issues session on the morning of July 16.
Opportunities
Thesis Fellowship
The BPRI sponsors one or more Thesis Fellows each year. A Fellow receives a full graduate stipend and tuition support for one quarter, as well as $500 to be used toward research supplies or travel. Graduate students enrolled at Western and pursuing thesis research related to the BPRI's mission are eligible to apply. Applications for a fellowship may be submitted at any time.
