The International Mobility and Trade Corridor Program (IMTC) is a bi-national coalition of government, business interests, and non-governmental entities that supports improvements to the five land border ports-of-entry connecting Western Washington State and Lower Mainland British Columbia.
The IMTC Program is administered by the Whatcom Council of Governments (WCOG). Being largely comprised of government agency representatives, the IMTC coalition does not advocate for regulatory or legislative changes. Rather, through the IMTC Program, participants coordinate planning, identify shared system needs, and optimize investments and operations through collaboration, innovation, and partnership.
The goals of the IMTC program are to:
Coordinate planning
Improve regional, cross-border trade and transportation data
Support border infrastructure improvements
Support coordinated implementation of U.S. and Canadian border policy
Improve operations
View our complete Purpose, Goals, and Strategies document
Since 1997, IMTC has served as a model of regional coordination on border issues and has helped assemble over $41 million (USD) from U.S. and Canadian partners to pursue the shared goals listed above.
Over thirty organizations participate regularly in IMTC. IMTC is led by the Whatcom Council of Governments.
IMTC's Steering Committee includes agencies and organizations directly involved in the five land ports-of-entry and meets monthly to work through issues at a detailed level.
IMTC's Assembly includes public agency and private sector interests with an interest in the border crossings.
Organizations that regularly participate in IMTC include:
Transportation Agencies
BC Ministry of Transportation & Transit
TransLink
Transport Canada
U.S. Federal Highway Administration
WA State Department of Transportation
Inspection Agencies
Canada Border Services Agency
U.S. Border Patrol
U.S. Customs & Border Protection
Border Municipalities
Abbotsford, BC
Blaine, WA
Lynden, WA
Sumas, WA
Surrey, BC
Township of Langley, BC
Whatcom County, WA
White Rock, BC
Other Governmental Agencies
Consulate General of Canada, Seattle
Port Metro Vancouver
Port of Bellingham
U.S. Consulate, Vancouver
U.S. General Services Administration
Whatcom Council of Governments
Non-Government Organizations & Academia
Border Policy Research Institute (Western WA Univ.)
Cascadia Center/Discovery Institute
Pacific Corridor Enterprise Council (PACE)
Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER)
Private Industry
A&A Contract Customs Brokers
Airporter Shuttle/Bellair Charters
Amtrak Cascades
BC Chamber of Commerce
BC Trucking Association
Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF)
Lynden Chamber of Commerce
Surrey Board of Trade
Vancouver Board of Trade
Vancouver International Airport Authority (YVR)
West Coast Duty Free
White Rock/South Surrey Chamber of Commerce
Since 1999, IMTC participants have together funded projects totaling nearly $42 million (USD) for Cascade Gateway initiatives. Funding partners include:
BC Province
The Cascadia Center
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundaiton
Port of Bellingham
Regional Municipalities (Abbotsford, Langley, Surrey, and White Rock in BC, and Blaine, Lynden, and Sumas in WA State)
TransLink
Transport Canada
U.S. Department of Transportation
U.S. Federal Highway Administration
Washington State
Western Washington University
Whatcom Council of Governments