B.C., state leaders agree to faster border crossings

KELOWNA, B.C. — British Columbia and Washington state signed an agreement Friday to streamline cross-border travel in advance of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

The deal came during a joint meeting of the provincial and state cabinets in Kelowna, attended by British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell and Washington Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond, who signed on behalf of Gov. Christine Gregoire.

It must be approved by the U.S. and Canadian governments.

Under the agreement, the province and state will work to speed border crossing times with extra staff, including an assurance there will be 10 inspection booths on the U.S. side of the border at the Peace Arch crossing in Blaine.

It also re-emphasizes new technology, including using enhanced driver's licenses embedded with computer chips. The state and province will also work to have the new licenses accepted by the federal governments as a valid document for Canada-U.S. air travel.

Other parts of the agreement call for efforts to reduce auto pollution — such as an "anti-idling" program and a communications system to inform drivers about waiting times at border crossings. It also calls for better cross-border communications between emergency crews.

Gregoire said in a statement she's pleased with the progress the state and province have made.

"But we have more work to do. We can't put this off any longer, and we need the cooperation of both federal governments to finish what we started," she said.

Campbell agreed.

"B.C. and Washington share a $9.5 billion trade relationship, close personal ties and strong cultural connections," he said. "As the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games approach, it is important that all levels of government continue to partner to ensure we have a safe, secure border that is able to move people and goods efficiently."

The four main ports of entry between British Columbia and Washington's Puget Sound area include the third-busiest passenger vehicle and fourth-busiest commercial crossing along the U.S.-Canada border, according to a statement from the governor's office.

Since 2005, Washington and British Columbia officials have signed 17 agreements to cooperate on various issues, ranging from the enhanced driver's licenses to global warming and Pacific Ocean preservation.