Talking Together

Making a determination to re-imaging the region: By focusing on different images of the region - for example, as a region of organic and specialty agricultural produstion - we can begin to enlarge the possibilities for the future. Cultural, heritage, and natural assets are all part of this process of re-imagination.

Trade and Transportation

Participants in two sessions outlined a range of strategies for fulfilling the region's pooortunities in trade and transportation. Attention was drawn to the need to use technology more effectively to speed the transit of people and goods across the border. The use of databases, computers, identification tech-niques, telecommunications, etc. to "pre-clear" or otherwise speed up the crossing, was suggested. Participatnts also identified the need to study the "border business," drawing onthe lesosns of other regions where borders play a major role in the move-ment of goods and people. How do they do it? How can they teach us to do it better?

The need to coordinate planning for development of a number of transportation corridors was also emphasized. Participants identified a need to work on them as multi-modal facilities, including pedestrian, air, andrail, as well as truck and auto, and to make sure the planning is bi-national and multi-agency. It was also proposed that planners conduct a comprehensive invnetory of visitor attractions that need to be linked as preamble to new investments in transport facilities.

Other specific proposals included:

Building a people mover that will span the river, connecting visitor attractions with visitor acommodations and travel hubs like the Niagara Falls International Airport, Greater Buffalo International Airport or downtown Buffalo. Similar strategies for non-auto, non-truck transportation were outlined in both sessions.

Promoting "green alternatives:" The second grouop offered a range of ideas for reusing old bridges ("Ponte Vecchio" on the old Peace Bridge; pedestriand on the CP Rail bridge); new bridges (pedestrian or bike crossings from Grand Island to Ontario); and reconfigring existing connections (such as the Robert Moses Parkway) for environmentally friendlier uses.

Creating a lake port in Niagara County, NY to receive ferry traffic carrying trucks to and from the Greater Toronto Area: One participant suggested this as a way to make the trip faster, and to take the load off existing corridors. The business valus of this idea remains to be shown, and U.S. highway links to the port would need to be upgraded.

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