Eastern Alberta Trade Corridor - Local to Global Forum – Port of Wild Horse Business Plan - Status Report - PROLOG Canada Inc. The Van Horne Institute Medicine Hat, Alberta March 10, 2016

Port of Wild Horse Business Plan PROLOG Canada Inc. & The Van Horne Institute - have been retained by - The Palliser Economic Partnership & Bearpaw Development Corporation To investigate the potential to stimulate economic activity in Southeast Alberta and Northern Montana through extended operating hours and/or enhanced services at the Port of Wild Horse

Port of Wild Horse Business Plan Study objectives: To prepare a business case for service improvements at the Port of Wild Horse: Hours of operation Commercial port facilities Highway approaches To thereby stimulate economic activity in both Southeast Alberta and Northern Montana.

Port of Wild Horse Business Plan Study tasks: 1.Research relevant studies and reports. 2.Visit existing facilities, contiguous regions and supporting highway systems. 3.Conduct user group surveys, i.e. truckers, agricultural sector. 4.Conduct stakeholder interviews. 5.Prepare a case for service improvements. 6.Specify proposed improvements and staging thereof.

Port of Wild Horse Business Plan Existing Wild Horse operation: Restricted hours: –May-Sept: 8:00AM to 9:00PM –Oct-May: 8:00AM to 5:00PM –vs 24/7 year-round at Coutts/Sweetgrass Permit (pre-approved) port – no inspection facilities 2-lane approaches at W.H. vs 4-lane + Interstate at Coutts/Sweetgrass 2-way truck traffic: ±3,000/year

Port of Wild Horse Business Plan Desired improvements: Extended hours, e.g. Summer hours (8:00AM-9:00PM) year- round. Commercial port facilities. Joint Canada/U.S. facility à la Coutts/Sweetgrass for cost savings. Improved highway approaches. Planned CBSA improvements – timing unknown: $114 million targeted to Prairie Ports. New modular operations building. Staff housing to overcome commuting.

Port of Wild Horse Business Plan Proposed CBSA improvements: $114 million targeted for 77 Prairie ports. New modular operations building at Wild Horse. New staff housing at Wild Horse to minimize commuting. Timing of improvements unknown.

Port of Wild Horse Business Plan Traffic by the numbers (2012): 94.5% of all trade by truck over the Canada-Montana border was handled at Coutts/Sweetgrass. 28% of the trade destined for Alberta originated in Texas. 12% of the trade originating in Alberta was destined for Texas.

Port of Wild Horse Business Plan COMPARATIVE ROAD DISTANCES: Duluth-Wild Horse1,530 km Duluth-Coutts/Sweetgrass1,680 Houston-Wild Horse2,980 Houston-Coutts/Sweetgrass3,060 Denver-Wild Horse1,360 Denver-Coutts/Sweetgrass1,440 Salt Lake City – Wild Horse1,170 Salt Lake City-Coutts/Sweetgrass1,110

Port of Wild Horse Business Plan Preliminary truck survey findings: Extended hours at W.H. is expected to attract more truck traffic Expected traffic diversion rates to W.H. with extended hours varies by carrier from 5% to 50% One carrier alone would divert 1,250 annual crossings Each W.H. crossing from points east of Havre would result in $750 truck trip savings vs Coutts Greater use of W.H. should seek harmonized truck size and weight regulations as over Coutts to Shelby

Port of Wild Horse Business Plan A Billings based trucker hauling fertilizer for CF would divert 50% of its traffic to W.H. if hours extended A propane carrier in Malta, MT, uses 232/41 for all its business, 200 loads/yr. Shortest route to Medicine Hat. Supports extended hours. Carriers more inclined to use Hwys 41 and 232 if road improved between Havre and TransCanada Hwy, i.e. shoulders and ditches Carriers also identified need for more pull-outs and better winter road maintenance Several carriers expressed concern about Hwy 41 at Elkwater, particularly in winter 2,500 additional diverted trips over W.H. would generate $1.5 million in trucking cost savings

HIGHWAY 41- SOUTH OF TCH HIGHWAY 41 – SOUTH OF TCH NEAR PORT OF WILD HORSE

CANADIAN PORT OF ENTRY – WILD HORSE

U.S. PORT OF ENTRY – WILD HORSE

HIGHWAY 41 – NORTH OF TCH

SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN BRIDGE – HWY 41

Port of Wild Horse Business Plan Conclusions: We will build a business case for service upgrades at the Port of Wild Horse that: Will be based on the findings of our research, surveys and interviews; Will be designed to attract more traffic to the Wild Horse crossing; Will be based on fiscal realities; and May be phased in over time.