18-02-2025
OBPA adjusting bridge traffic measurements in response to international uncertainty
Feb. 17—OGDENSBURG — Uncertainty over how tariffs and federal immigration actions may affect Ogdensburg-Prescott International Bridge traffic have Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority officials reconsidering how they'll measure bridge traffic at least in the short term.
OBPA Executive Director Steven J. Lawrence shared his thoughts on the developing situations with the OBPA Board on Thursday night.
Last month, Lawrence said monthly bridge reports would eventually stop showing a comparison to 2019, the last "normal" year before the COVID-19 pandemic caused a drop in bridge traffic that will almost certainly never rebound. A similar permanent decrease happened after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Now, because of the looming spectre of a trade war caused by the Trump administration's considering reciprocal tariffs worldwide, Lawrence wants to keep the 2019 comparison "in this case just to get a feel for what's really happening."
He feels keeping the 2019 comparison is necessary "given the current situation with what's happening on the border with tariffs and immigration."
Despite the international uncertainty, Lawrence said he's "pleased with the (latest) numbers, let's put it that way."
Bridge crossings totaled 39,476 last month, up 11.44% from January 2024 and down 5.79% from January 2019.
That breaks down to 33,841 auto crossings, up 12.91% from the same month last year and down 5.12% from the same month in 2019.
Truck crossings for January were 5,635, up 3.32% from January 2024 and down 9.61% from January 2019.
The bridge drew $89,304 in revenue last month, up from $88,059 a year ago and $104,184 in January 2019.
