US-Canad toll traffic down again - Jan 2009 16% below Jan 2008

US-Canadian toll crossing traffic was 16.2% lower in January than the previous corresponding period (pcp) or Jan 2008 - 2.31m vs 2.76m. This follows December numbers 11% down. Truck traffic, the highest yielding category, is down the most - 443k trucks Jan 09 vs 636k Jan 08, 30.4% down. 

The December drop in truck numbers was 12.6% and for the year 2008 vs 2007 9.2% down.

Biggest drop in the January 09 numbers compiled by the Public Border Operators Association was at the Ambassador Bridge (privately held) where Jan 09 traffic was 461k vs 649k last year, a 29% drop. Truck traffic at the Ambassador was 158k Jan 09 vs 257k Jan 08, a drop of 39%.

Blue Water Bridge upriver of the Ambassador also reports major declines in traffic - down 19.4% in January overall and 30.1% in trucks from 133k to 93k this Jan.

Other Jan 09/Jan08 percentage drops in total traffic are:

- Detroit-Windsor Tunnel 4%

- Lewiston-Queenston 18.7%

- Ogdensburg 16%

- Peace 12.6%

- Rainbow 12.2%

- Sault St Marie 14.1%

- Seaway 4.5%

- Thousand Is 13.3%

- Whirlpool Rapids 1.5%

Declines in traffic are attributed to the sharply reduced activity in automobile manufacturing, a major driver of truck trips, reduced tourism and commuting, and increased border crossing hassles especially into the US - a delayed implementation of more intrusive measures following the 9/11/2001 attacks.

TOLLROADSnews 2009-02-11