Border to Border Transportation Conference 2007 Texas Department of Transportation International Cross - Border Coordination Efforts

Assist Commission, Administration, Districts, Divisions and Offices achieve the TxDOT mission through support on international issues International Relations Office Mission

Agustin De La Rosa Director Leo Matías Program Specialist Manuela Ortiz Program Specialist Esther Hitzfelder Program Specialist Sasha Russell Program Specialist Letty von Rossum Executive Assistant International Relations Office Organizational Chart

International Relations Office Major Areas of Responsibility  Border Governor’s Conference  Border Interagency Work Group  Border Technology Exchange Program  Border Trade Advisory Committee  International Visitors  US-Mexico Bi-national Bridges & Border Crossing Grp.  US-Mexico Joint Working Committee  Meetings with our Mexican Counterparts

 10 Governors – US & Mexican Border States  Last BGC in Austin, TX (August 2006)  Next BGC in Sonora, Mexico (September 2007) Border Governors’ Conference TxDOT sits on the Border Crossings Worktable CA AZNM TXBC SON CHIH COAH NL TAM

Border Governors’ Conference Work Tables  Agriculture  Border Crossings  Economic Development  Education  Environment  Energy  Health  Tourism  Security  Science & Technology  Water  Wildlife  Discuss topics of mutual interest and concern

Border Interagency Work Group  Composed of 17 state agencies that deal with border issues.  Establish an ongoing dialogue relating to border affairs.  Discuss and monitor major issues.  Identify interagency coordination & collaboration.  Develop a profile of border and cross-border activities, initiatives and policies.  Offer short courses to assist state employees in their work with Mexico and the border.

Border Technology Exchange Program  Created in 1994 by the US-Mexico Joint Working Committee  Programs between US & Mexican Border States  Texas works with Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon, Coahuila, and Chihuahua  Work with Mexican state transportation agencies, state universities & SCT Centers  Technology Transfer Centers  Funding  Conferences & Activities

Border Trade Advisory Committee  Senate Bill 183, 79th Legislature  Define & develop strategies & make recommendations  Address the highest priority border trade transportation challenges  Meetings in July and September of 2006  Border Trade Advisory Committee Report (11/16/2006)  Identified Trade Transportation Corridors, Coordination with Mexico, Safety & Security Measures, and Economic Benefits of International Trade  Chaired by Deputy Secretary of State (Border Commerce Coordinator)  29 members (Bridge Owners, Mayors, Universities, Federal Agencies, RMA’s)

International Visitors  IRO is the coordinating office  Most delegations from Mexico & China.  1,676 visitors from over 40 countries since 1994  Usually day visits  IRO prepares cultural briefings for TxDOT staff before visits  Short and long-term visits for exchange of expertise – currently planning various long-term visits from China  International inquiries on a wide range of issues Mexican Visitors - 08/29/2006

US-Mexico Binational Bridges & Border Crossings Group  Group was formed in  The IRO represents TxDOT in this group.  Group consists of representatives from the various U.S. and Mexican federal and state government agencies who have interests at the border.  Group meets twice a year to discuss:  Proposed border crossings  Status / needs of current border crossing facilities  Presentations by Bridge Sponsors  Border Walks to view bridge operations.

US-Mexico Joint Working Committee  Created in ’94 by a MOU between the US & MX  Forum for the coordination of border transportation planning and programming activities along the US-Mexico border.  Medium for discussing other binational border area transportation issues.  Composed of representatives of FHWA, SCT, SRE, DOS, DHS, Aduana, GSA, INDAABIN, Border State Departments of Transportation.

 BGIS/BINSII  Border Information Flow Architecture  Regional Border Master Plan  Regional Operations Model US Mexico Joint Working Committee Current Work Plan Includes:  Bi-national Safety Conscious Planning Seminar  Border Wizard Pilot  Innovative Finance  Bottleneck Study  Border wait-time measurement

Meetings with Mexican Counterparts  TxDOT Border Districts  Trans Texas Corridor  Senate Bill 569  Cross - Border Transportation and Infrastructure Reports

Agustin “Gus” De La Rosa Director International Relations Office Texas Department of Transportation Phone: Fax: E mail: