Transportation Studies Conflict With Plans for Whirlpool Rapids Bridge

Chapter 2

The Commission Has Experienced

Difficulties in Implementing Its Capital

Program

For the period prior to the year 2000, the study recommended only

changes to the Whirlpool Rapids Bridge plazas and approaches in contrast

to the Commission's plans to construct roadways, truck inspection

stations, and warehouse facilities by 1996. For the period after 2000, the

study recommended upgrading the bridge's upper level as one alternative

to be explored for relieving anticipated congestion. However, in contrast

to the Commission's plans, this study did not envision the use of the upper

level by large commercial trucks. The study recommended that use of the

bridge be restricted, as it currently is, to open bed and single commodity

trucks, and the plan specified that provision for commercial vehicle

warehouse inspection facilities, planned by the Commission, not be made.

While the bridge study was under way, another study was started that

drew into question the major highway linkages that were needed to make

this project feasible. The Commission's Thirty-Year Plan called for it to

acquire land and construct roadways from the bridge out to major local

streets by 1996. In the longer term, connection would be made by U.S. and

Canadian agencies to major highways in each country. The second study,

TransFocus 2021, was issued in draft for comment by the Province of

Ontario in April 1994 and finalized in April 1995. The study called for an

environmental assessment as well as a study of the feasibility and timing

of linking the Whirlpool Rapids Bridge with highway 420 in Canada, rather

than the linkage with Canadian highway 405 which the Commission had

planned. This change would impact the land required by the Commission

in Canada. Canadian officials expect resolution of the question concerning

highway routes by mid-1996, at which time an environmental assessment

could be initiated to determine the impact of expansion of the bridge

corridor.

Agreements would also be required in New York before the Whirlpool

Rapids corridor could be upgraded. New York State's area transportation

planning organization approved the project for its long-range plan in

December 1993. This process recognizes plans for road connections to the

interstate highway system sometime after 1999 but does not identify any

funding for these connections. State transportation officials told us the

Commission began coordinating with them when they initiated the

environmental impact study on this project; this study would have

identified all needed agreements and clearances. However, that effort was

halted in January 1994.

In light of the recommendations of these two transportation studies, a

downturn in the volume of bridge traffic, and other issues, the

Page 27

GAO/RCED-95-92