The Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority

The Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority ("The Authority") is an international compact entity created pursuant to a compact entered into by the State of New York, with the consent of the United States Congress, and by the Government of Canada. The Authority is governed by a ten member Board consisting of five members from New York State and five members from Canada. The mission of the Authority is to be known as the premier Canada/U.S. international border crossing, an effective steward for trade and tourism, and excellence in customer care.

The Peace Bridge

The Authority's principal asset and source of revenue is the Peace Bridge, a major international toll crossing spanning the Niagara River between Fort Erie, Ontario, and Buffalo, New York.  The Authority also derives significant revenues in the form of rental and fee income from the United States Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, Public Works and Government Services Canada, United States and Canadian duty-free shops, and commercial brokers operating on the property owned by the Authority and from leases of communication conduits spanning the Peace Bridge.  In addition to being a principal artery in the Niagara Frontier for travel and commerce between the United States and Canada, the Peace Bridge is a vital link to long distance, interstate travel and international trade.

Powers

The Authority is authorized under its legislation to establish and collect such tolls and charges as are necessary to produce at all times sufficient revenues to meet its expenses of maintenance and operation, to pay, as the same shall become due, the principal of and interest on bonds of the Authority, and to fulfill the terms of any agreement made with the holders of the bonds until such bonds and the interest thereon are fully met and discharged.

Title to the property and assets of the Authority is vested in the Authority until July 1, 2020, or until all of the bonds issued by the Authority have been paid or discharged, whichever is later.  Thereafter, the powers, jurisdiction, and duties of the Authority within the State of New York or within Canada shall be under the jurisdiction of the State of New York and Canada, respectively.

Since 1923, the Authority and its predecessor, the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Company, have held pursuant to Canadian law an exclusive franchise under Canadian law to construct and operate a bridge across the Niagara River.  The law provides that "no other bridge for a like purpose shall be constructed or located at any point nearer than six miles from the location of the bridge of [the Authority], except with the consent of [the Authority] or of the Governor in Council."  By letter to the Authority dated November 30, 2004, Transport Canada confirmed the Authority's exclusive six-mile franchise.

Fraud Hotline

The Authority is committed to the highest standards of business ethics and integrity. Directors, officers, and employees must represent the Authority accurately and honestly, refraining from any activity intended to defraud anyone of money, property or services, and act in good faith and in the best interest of the Authority. Conduct not specifically addressed by these standards must be consistent with this principle.

To report a concern call the Authority’s independent reporting service at 1-877-472-2110. All calls will be treated confidential and your anonymity will be protected to the extent possible by law.