In order to accomplish the commitment assumed by Mexico related to the 8^th Priority Action Area of the Statement launched during the Ministerial Meeting of the Western Hemisphere Transportation Initiative (WHTI), held on New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, on December, 1998, the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation carried out the Conference on the Y2K in the Region’s Transportation Systems in Cancun, Mexico, on May 13^th and 14^th, 1999.

The main topics discussed in this Conference included an overview of the Y2K effect in all modes of transport, contingency plans to improve safety and to minimize its impact particularly in air transport and air navigation; solutions and supports developed by the manufacturers of communication and transport equipment; control mechanisms, auditing and compliance developed by consulting firms; testing and simulation of operations prior to critical dates; support systems; financial schemes available for updating of the systems; and strategy for releasing information to the public due to Y2K.

These lectures were performed by 22 specialists from different national and international entities such as Comisión Nacional para la Conversión Informática (Mexico), the U.S. Coast Guard, Transport Canada, MITRE, Fuerza Aérea Argentina, Conversión Informatica Año 2000 (Chile), Jamaica Port Authority, CANAC (Canada), Grupo FEMSA (Mexico), FAA, Alenia Marconi, Airbus, Boeing, Comisión Federal de Electricidad (Mexico), Price Waterhouse Coopers, IATA, the World Bank, BID, Coordinación General de Puertos y Marina Mercante (Mexico) and Servicios a la Navegación en el Espacio Aéreo Mexicano.

Near 220 transportation professionals from 20 countries and 2 multilateral organisms (CEPAL and CARICOM), that belong to the whole sectors involved, including authorities, private sector and consultants, attended to this Conference.

The main conclusions achieved in the Conference were twofold the Y2K was a topic already under analysis and the availability of contingency plans and safety were of outmost importance for both customers and transport responsibles. Finally, a suggestion was made to those countries that were not able to allocate budget nor time to cope with this Y2K so they could focus in contingency plans and be in contact with other countries to take advantage of their experience.

The comments given from speakers and attendees were that the goals set forth in the Conference were widely achieved as well as it was possible to make a contribution for a smooth year 2000 transition.