The "Ports-to-Plains" initiative, a plan that would create a four-lane highway corridor stretching between Laredo, Texas, and Denver, Colo., appears to be moving forward. The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (better known as TEA-21) called for studies on the benefits of creating high-traffic highway corridors. The states of Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Colorado last year identified existing roads that could be included in the Ports-to-Plains route. In late June, the Senate passed S.1646, which finalizes the routes to be included. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, where it remained at press time. According to a July 1 report in Transport Topics, the American Trucking Associations' weekly magazine, the Senate is likely to authorize a full-scale feasibility study of the agreed routes soon.

The Quebec-New York border will be a hot spot of cross-border development, thanks to new funding by the governments of Canada, Quebec, the United States and New York. Last month, Canada and Quebec announced a C$75.2 million cost-sharing project to further develop the Champlain-Lacolle border crossing, which handles more than 2,000 trucks a day. That project will include improvements in safety and road conditions, construction of a motor carrier inspection area and dedicated truck lanes to improve access to U.S. customs inspection booths, and implementation of intelligent transportation systems for commercial vehicles. On the U.S. side, New York Gov. George Pataki committed in May to $6 million for the Port of Excellence infrastructure project at Champlain-Lacolle, and two New York congressmen were able to add $5 million for the project in the federal FY '03 budget.

The Canadian Institute of Traffic and Transportation (CITT), a non-profit educational organization with more than 2,000 members, is a busy place these days as the group launches its upgraded Web site and prepares for its annual conference. The site (www.citt.ca) includes more information about the organization, which offers certification programs in logistics and distribution. Other new features include a discussion board, information about local area councils, online registration for conferences and membership, and a members-only job referral service. The annual conference, meanwhile, will be held in Halifax, N.S., Nov. 3 to 5. Topics on the agenda include international trade, reverse logistics and developing leadership capabilities. For more information, visit CITT's Web site or call (416) 363-5696.

NAFTA Notes: Air Canada Cargo has joined with Unisys Corp., Northwest Airlines Cargo and United Airlines Cargo to create Cargo Portal Service. This electronic gateway will provide online access for bookings, shipment management and communications among the three carriers and their customers. The system reduces transaction costs by integrating data and synchronizing shipment information. Canadian National Railway is examining ways to increase capacity on its fast-growing Superior corridor, which includes traffic moving between the Canadian border at Ranier, Minn., and Chicago. Under review are additional sidings, a centralized traffic control system, track and signal upgrades to permit faster train speeds, and hiring of more conductors and engineers.