2018 Pacific NorthWest Economic Region Annual Summit

The  full-day Transportation and Infrastructure Session will focus on “Reform, Market Access and Public/Private Innovative Finance” in three segments.

Bridging Cascadia: Cascadia Innovation Corridor and Ultra-High Speed Rail Study

BC Government update 

• Rick Glumac,  Parliamentary Secretary for Technology, MLA, Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

                                                                                                                                         
Washington State update 

• Charles Knutson, Adivsor, Office of Gov. Jay Inslee, Washington

Part A: Reforming the Permit Process
Rebuilding Northwest infrastructure requires a new permitting system. Permit delays dramatically adds to infrastructure project costs, prolongs bottlenecks for inland commodity access to international markets and delays project enhancements to reduce carbon. According to Common Ground, “America’s antiquated power grid, for example, wastes the equivalent of 200 coal-burning power plants.” Canada and the US could modernize their infrastructure while enhancing environmental benefits with a two-year approval process by consolidating decisions within a simplified framework. This framework would set deadlines and clear lines of accountability between federal, state/provincial, local, Tribal/First Nations and private sector partners.

Are the stars aligned in Washington DC for federal permit reform?

• Moderated by Leslie Blakey, President, Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors.
• Speakers: TBD

Permit Reform at Local and State Level 

• Zak Andersen, Vice President Corporate Relations, BNSF Railway

Part B: International Market Access 
For several years at PNWER sessions in Anchorage, Banff and Portland the Government of Alberta and Canpotex sponsored a series of interactive industry government workshops on enhancing international market access for PNWER jurisdictions. The PNWER Transportation Group adopted the policy recommendations and continues to support market access as a critical reason for infrastructure and technology-based supply chain investments.

Market Access Situation in Saskatchewan

• Glen Hart, MLA, Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly

Recapturimg our mojo in Western Canada for gateways and trade 

•  Kleo Landucci, Managing Director, Ashcroft Terminal

Idaho’s gateway to world markets by River, Road, Rail and Air 
 

•  David Doeringsfeld, General Manager, Port of Lewiston

Infrastructure and Market Access

• James Thompson, Deputy Director, Washington Public Ports Association 

Truck Size and Weight Harmonization and Importance to Trade and Market Access

• Jeff Marker, Freight Program Manager, Idaho Transportation Department 

More information about PNWER's Transportation Working Group:
The Transportation and Infrastructure Working Groups focuses on the infrastructure of our major corridors and gateways, with a special interest on border infrastructure. Traditional funding mechanisms for large-scale infrastructure and transportation projects are challenged by the absence of resources to explore innovative procurement methods.

The PNWER Innovative Infrastructure Finance Taskforce promotes best practices for public-private infrastructure financing.  Public-private partnerships, or P3s, are innovative financing models between governments and the private sector to build public infrastructure like roads, hospitals or schools, or to deliver services. Unlike traditional procurement arrangements, the public sector integrates all parts of a P3 project into one contract. The public sector owns the infrastructure and risk is spread between the private and public entities.
http://www.pnwer.org/infrastructure-finance.html

Click here for the TVW broadcast of the event