FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 20, 2018

For further information contact:
Kelsey Hanks
401.714.5981
khanks@martingroupmarketing.com

Construction Activity Set to Commence at Rainbow Bridge
Span will be reduced to two lanes between September 5^th and November 2^nd

 

LEWISTON, NY – Today the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission (NFBC) announced that it plans to begin maintenance and improvement efforts at the Rainbow Bridge early next month. The bridge crossing directly connects the popular tourist destinations of Niagara Falls, Ontario, and Niagara Falls, New York.

Construction activity will require the closure of two of the bridge’s traffic lanes, effectively reducing the standard four lanes down to two. This closure will take place between September 5^th and November 2^nd, 2018. Toll lanes and related Customs inspection booths will not be affected and will remain open 24 hours per day to cars and pedestrians during the construction. Bus and motor coach vehicles are strongly encouraged to schedule their crossings at the Rainbow Bridge via Border Planner, or use the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge or Peace Bridge as an alternative route.

“The Commission takes great pride in the care and maintenance of our bridges, and we’re excited for this next round of upgrades to the Rainbow Bridge, which is an international gateway that’s popular for both trade, tourism and views of iconic Niagara Falls,” said Kenneth Bieger, general manager of the NFBC. “We’re working closely with Customs agencies on both sides of the border as well as our many transportation partners, to stay coordinated during this construction period, in order to ensure that impacts on traffic flow are minimal. This construction work is being undertaken to keep the crossing structurally sound, modern, and efficient for its many users.”

The Commission successfully reduced the Rainbow Bridge traffic lanes in a comparable fashion during the 2009-2010 timeframe to complete similar structural improvements. The upgrades being completed during the 2018 fall season follow a number of recent improvements made to the Rainbow Bridge in order to more efficiently accommodate the passage of goods and travelers between Canada and the U.S.

In 2017, the Rainbow Bridge was outfitted with new LED overhead signage at both the tollbooths and Canada Customs primary inspection lanes to assist the public with plaza navigation and general wayfinding. Automated Border Wait Time technology was also installed, to provide wait time updates every five minutes for motorists, replacing a manual process that previously updated motorists only once an hour. In 2015, the NFBC also unveiled a $4.5 million to the Rainbow Bridge bus processing facility.

Only 1,000 feet downriver from the American Falls, the Rainbow Bridge opened in 1941. The bridge is positioned 202 feet above the Niagara River and stretches 1,450 feet between Canada and the U.S., and serves as a catalyst for tens of millions of dollars in economic activity as a result of tourism.

About the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission:
The Niagara Falls Bridge Commission is a unique, bi-national body. Canada and the U.S. are equally represented on the NFBC through the bi-national appointment of an eight-member Board of Commissioners. A Joint Resolution of the 1938 U.S. Congressional Third Session created the framework for the NFBC. In 1939, the Province of Ontario, Canada licensed the NFBC under The Extra Provincial Corporations Act and amended the Highway Improvement Act to authorize the appropriation of land in Ontario for transfer to the NFBC. Initially established to finance, construct and operate the Rainbow Bridge, the Commission proved efficient and effective at its mission. The NFBC’s powers and authority were thereafter expanded through amendments to the Joint Resolution in the U.S., and by the Rainbow Bridge Amendment Act of 1959 and the Queenston Bridge Act of 1959 in Canada. Together, these enactments empowered the NFBC to assume responsibilities for the Whirlpool Rapids (Lower) and Lewiston-Queenston Bridges. Today, in addition to owning and operating three international bridges, the NFBC builds and maintains facilities for Customs and Immigration functions on both sides of the international border. The NFBC is self-supportive, largely through user fees (tolls) and private-sector tenant leases. NFBC is authorized to conduct international commercial financial transactions and empowered to issue tax-exempt bonds in the United States.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 13, 2017

For further information contact:
Matt Davison, 716.604.7772
matt@martingroupmarketing.com

Niagara Falls Bridge Commission Announces Selection of
Kenneth N. Bieger as Incoming General Manager
Current Chief Financial Officer to assume post on May 1; will succeed Lew Holloway as
senior administrator overseeing Lewiston-Queenston, Rainbow, & Whirlpool Bridges

LEWISTON, NY/QUEENSTON, ON – Today the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission (NFBC) board officially announced the selection of Kenneth N. Bieger to succeed Lew Holloway as the organization’s next General Manager, effective May 1, 2017. Mr. Bieger currently serves as Chief Financial Officer for the NFBC and brings more than 35 years of professional management experience to the General Manager position.

“It is my pleasure to announce that after a very thorough selection process, Ken Bieger has been selected as the next General Manager of the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission,” said Russ Quarantello, NFBC Chairperson. “While we were fortunate to have many excellent candidates apply for the position, what really set Ken apart was his strong vision for the future and appreciation for our organization’s mission, coupled with extensive experience acquired through several previous executive management roles.”

As the current Chief Financial Officer of the NFBC, Mr. Bieger has direct hands-on expertise in the areas of strategic and budgetary planning, contract negotiations, and capital projects funding oversight. Prior to joining the Commission, he also held several executive level leadership positions in the Buffalo Niagara region, including the most recent role of Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and member of the Board of Directors for Karrena International in Williamsville, New York.

Mr. Bieger is a graduate of the University of Rochester Simon School of Business, where he received his MBA with a concentration in finance, and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in accounting from Canisius College. Mr. Bieger also completed the Executive Business Education Program at the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business.

“The mission of the Commission is to facilitate the movement of goods and people at our three border crossings, while investing in programs, technology, and infrastructure improvements that will allow us to effectively maintain the three bridge facilities well into the future,” said John A. Lopinski, NFBC Vice Chairperson. “We know that Mr. Bieger shares this same focus and he will operate in the best interests of the NFBC, our employees, and the travelling public.”
“On behalf of the Commissioners, I want to express our deep appreciation to all those who participated in our application and candidate review process,” said Kathleen Neville, NFBC Human Resources Committee Chairperson. “We were presented with exemplary candidates from both sides of the border. Ultimately, we were fortunate to find the person we believe is best suited to lead the NFBC forward within our organization.”

Mr. Bieger succeeds outgoing General Manager Lew Holloway, who has held the NFBC’s senior administrative position for the past eight years.

During his tenure, Mr. Holloway helped oversee more than $250M in construction and capital improvement projects, including: full reconstruction of the Queenston Plaza, completion of the new Rainbow Bridge Bus Processing Center, various capacity expansion upgrades and technology enhancements at the Whirlpool Bridge, advancement of the Lewiston U.S. Customs Plaza Improvement Project, introduction of various NEXUS promotional initiatives, positive cultural change resulting in successful  contract negotiations with both U.S and Canadian bargaining groups, installation of the E-ZPass program at all three crossings, and input into the U.S.-Canada Beyond the Border Accord. Mr. Holloway also served as a noted voice on U.S.-Canada border issues through his involvement with organizations such as the Public Border Operators Association, Can-Am Border Trade Alliance, the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, and IBTTA, among others. Mr. Holloway will retain a recent appointment as member of the Board of Directors for the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority.

“As we welcome Mr. Bieger to this new role, we also bid farewell to Lew Holloway and thank him for his extended service to the Commission and the people of Western New York and Southern Ontario over the last eight years,” concluded Quarantello.

About the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission:
A Joint Resolution of the 1938 U.S. Congressional Third Session created the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission The Extra Provincial Corporations Act of the Province of Ontario, Canada licenses the NFBC. Canada and the U.S. are equally represented on the NFBC by an eight-member Board of Commissioners. Initially established to finance, construct and operate the Rainbow Bridge, the Commission proved sufficiently efficient and effective to assume responsibilities for the Whirlpool Rapids (Lower) and Lewiston-Queenston Bridges. The NFBC builds and maintains all facilities for Customs and Immigration functions on both sides of the international border. The NFBC is self-supportive, largely through user fees (tolls) and private-sector tenant leases. NFBC is federally chartered to conduct international commercial financial transactions and issue federal (U.S.) tax-exempt bonds.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 30, 2017
Contact:
Lew Holloway
General Manager
716.285.6322, ext. 4151 or 905.354.5641, ext. 4151

NIAGARA FALLS BRIDGE COMMISSION ELECTS 2017 OFFICERS

Russell G. Quarantello is elected Chair

LEWISTON, NEW YORK – The Niagara Falls Bridge Commission (NFBC), the bi-national entity that owns and operates the Rainbow, Whirlpool Rapids and Lewiston-Queenston Bridges between Canada and the United States, elected its 2017 slate of officers during the Commission’s Annual General Meeting. Russell G. Quarantello of the State of New York was elected Chairperson and John A. Lopinski of the Province of Ontario was elected Vice-Chairperson. In addition, Harry R. Palladino of the State of New York was elected Secretary and Marcia T. Heit of the Province of Ontario was elected Treasurer. Francis A. Soda of the State of New York, Ernest K. Smith of the Province of Ontario, Kathleen L. Neville of the State of New York and Linda L. McAusland of the Province of Ontario comprise the other members of the NFBC Board.

U.S. Commissioners serve at the pleasure of the Governor of the State of New York, and Canadian Commissioners serve at the pleasure of the Premier of the Province of Ontario. All officers hold their respective office for one-year until the next Annual Meeting, unless the Commission deems a change is necessary.

Russell Quarantello was appointed to the Commission in March 2012 and resides in Lewiston, New York. He currently serves as the Business Manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local #237. Commissioner Quarantello is a master electrician who has worked for numerous electric contractors over the years, and has also held positions at the Carborundum Co., Viatran Corp., and the U.S. Small Business Administration. He was elected as the union local’s principal officer in 2007.

Appointed to the Commission in June 2015 and a resident of Port Colborne for over 40 years, John A. Lopinski is a Chartered Professional Accountant and retired in April 2015 as Partner at Crawford Smith and Swallow.  He has been very active in many professional, charitable, educational and health related organizations including the Niagara Health System Foundation, Rotary Club of Port Colborne, Port Colborne General Hospital, and Niagara South Board of Education.  Having served for fourteen years on the Peace Bridge Authority, including terms as Chairperson and Vice Chairperson, Commissioner Lopinski has considerable knowledge in the fields of transportation, tourism, governance and other cross-border issues.

Appointed to the Commission in March of 2014, Harry R. Palladino, a resident of Gasport, New York, currently serves as the Business Manager of Laborers’ Local 91, and has served in various positions throughout his extensive career with the organization. He is also the owner/operator of Palladino Paving and Construction.

Appointed to the Commission in December 2015, Marcia Heit retired as Operations Manager with Community Care St. Catharines & Thorold in 2015.  Commissioner Heit’s community involvement includes serving as a member of the Advisory Board of Niagara Nutrition Partners, of the Niagara Poverty Reduction Network and the May Court Club of St. Catharines.  She has also served as a former public trustee of the District School Board of Niagara and as former Chair of the Credit Counseling of Regional Niagara.

Appointed to the Commission in March 2012, Frank Soda retired in 2010 after a 41-year teaching career. He resides in Niagara Falls, New York, and holds a BA and MA from Niagara University and an MS from Buffalo State College. He taught at Niagara Falls High School for 23 years and is also an adjunct at Erie Community College and Niagara University. A former Niagara Falls City Council member, twice, he also served on the Love Canal Area Revitalization Agency.

Ernest Smith was appointed to the Commission in November 2009.  He is a resident of Niagara Falls, Ontario, and is retired from Canada Immigration after more than 31 years of service with experience in such areas as enforcement, operations and intelligence. Since retiring, Commissioner Smith has been contracted by the International Region of Citizenship & Immigration Canada to work as a visa officer in England, Hong Kong, Trinidad, Saudi Arabia and the United States.  Commissioner Smith, a graduate of Stamford C.I., holds a B.A. from Waterloo Lutheran University (now Wilfrid Laurier University) in Ontario, and a Master’s degree from Niagara University in New York State.

Appointed to the Commission in March 2012, Kathleen Neville, a resident of Wilson, New York, is a public relations and brand management professional. Commissioner Neville previously served as senior vice president at Hill and Knowlton Public Relations International in New York City and as a senior consultant at Ketchum Public Relations in Washington, D.C. She is a former managing director of Shea’s Performing Arts Center in Buffalo and the author of non-fiction books and articles on gender issues and conduct in today’s workplaces, schools and sports. She also serves on Niagara University‘s Board of Trustees, the Board of Directors of the New York Council for the Humanities and the Board of Selectors for the National Jefferson Awards Foundation. She is also a Commissioner of the New York State Women’s Suffrage Commission. A past television and radio broadcaster, Commissioner Neville obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from the Rochester Institute of Technology and a Master of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Niagara University.

Linda McAusland, a resident of Welland, Ontario, was appointed to the Commission in February of 2014. Commissioner McAusland is currently the Assistant Deputy Minister, Provincial Highways Management Division, for the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. Commissioner McAusland currently sits as a member of the Board for the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) and is a Director with the Ring of Fire Development Corporation   She has previously served on the Board of Directors for the McMaster Institute of Transportation Logistics, Canadian Transportation Research Forum and the North American Strategy for Competitiveness. She has her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Waterloo and has attended the Public Executive Program at Queen’s University and the Executive Leadership Program at the Niagara Institute.

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About the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission:
A Joint Resolution of the 1938 U.S. Congressional Third Session created the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission. The Extra Provincial Corporations Act of the Province of Ontario, Canada licenses the NFBC. Canada and the U.S. are equally represented on the NFBC by an eight-member Board of Commissioners.  Initially established to finance, construct and operate the Rainbow Bridge, the Commission proved sufficiently efficient and effective to assume responsibilities for the Whirlpool Rapids (Lower) and Lewiston-Queenston Bridges.  The NFBC builds and maintains all facilities for Customs and Immigration functions on both sides of the international border. The NFBC is self-supportive, largely through user fees (tolls) and private-sector tenant leases. NFBC is federally chartered to conduct international commercial financial transactions and issue federal (U.S.) tax-exempt bonds.

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

January 30, 2017

 

Contact: 

 

Lew Holloway

 

General Manager

 

716.285.6322, ext. 4151 or 905.354.5641, ext. 4151