9 replies to this topic

[HK70]

20% using new Ready Lane at San Ysidro
Goal is to cut average wait time to an hour or less

Por: Alexandra Mendoza 19 Enero 2012 @ 6:08 am

SAN YSIDRO – Travelers at the world’s busiest border crossing are embracing a new program to cut wait times. About 20 per cent of them are now using the Ready Lane launched a month ago, U.S. authorities said Wednesday.

Since Dec. 20, the lanes used in this program, located on the right side of the port, have processed nearly 183,000 people, said Chris Maston, Customs and Border Protection port director.

These figures were cited during the official inauguration of the Ready Lane in San Ysidro attended by authorities from both sides of the border.

“I am convinced that San Ysidro is the key to the future economy of this region,” said U.S. Consul in Tijuana Steve Kashkett.

For her part, Mexico’s Consul-General in San Diego, Remedios Gómez Arnau, applauded U.S. authorities for implementing this program.

“The Mexican government will support whatever measures are needed to speed up cross-border traffic,” she said.

To be able to use the special lanes, border crosses must have any of the U.S.-issued travel documents that have high-tech chip, such as newer passports, “green cards” and laser visas.

These documents allow CBP officers to identify travelers moments before they arrive at the inspection booth, shortening their processing time.

CBP officials estimate that up to 40 per cent of the people who cross at San Ysidro have the required documents to use the Ready Lane.

Their goal is that travelers using this program wait an average of one hour or less to cross at San Ysidro although they acknowledge that on busy days the wait time would be longer.

They estimate that the use of the Ready Lane saves 20 seconds per vehicle, time that quickly adds up given the tens of thousands of travelers who cross daily.

As many as 12 inspection booths can be used for this purpose at San Ysidro when double-stacked per lane.

Wait times can be notoriously long at San Ysidro, commonly stretching two or more hours.

The program arrived in the region in April, when the first Ready Lane opened at the Otay Mesa port of entry.

Travelers embraced the program, which was expanded to five lanes. About one-third of the border crossers there now use the Ready Lane.

For his part, David Navarro, Tijuana’s secretary of urban development, said that signage has been erected on the Mexican side to direct travelers to the Ready Lane.

These lanes are located on the right-hand side of the border crossing, next to those used by travelers with the fast-pass SENTRI card.

Motorists can reach these lanes from Avenida Padre Kino or through the Vía Rápida Oriente.

The Ready Lane program in San Ysidro is the only one that operates 24 hours a day in the country.

Partial closure

The first six lanes on the port’s right side, normally used by SENTRI travelers, have been closed since Jan. 8 for the expansion project.

CBP officials said that the temporary closure will not lead to longer wait times for travelers because remaining lanes are double-stacked.

“The capacity to inspect vehicles remains the same,” said agency spokeswoman Jackie Wasiluk.

She said the date the lanes will reopen will be determined by the pace of the remodeling project.

alexandra.mendoza@sandiegored.com

http://www.sandiegor...-at-San-Ysidro/

[Cyanide41]

I thought I read somewhere that only 1 person in the vehicle needs to have an RF tagged identification. Anyone know if that is true? I wish they had written this last week as I was trying to direct someone to this lane and couldn't quite remember how to get in it.

[HK70]

That does not sound right. How could that speed up the crossing if only the driver had the chip and the other people in the car did not. I think it works more like Sentri that everyone in the car would need the chip in their ID. If you are correct they might as well make every lane a ready lane.

On a side note. If you are crossing on foot using Sentri during the morning rush it has become a real pain. They now let the bus people off before you get in the turnstyle instead of along the building. So if there is a lot of bus people they clog up the line way before you reach the point that splits the bus people and sentri people to get to an agent booth. This morning was terrible, I had to barrel through a few hundred people to get to the empty Sentri lane.

[Cyanide41]

Those six lanes on the right hand side are back open again.

[Miggiesmallz- TEXMEX]

I had to wait 4 and a half hours in line last sunday crossing from Calle 2nda (from Mexitlan)... It was HORRIBLE, that line just would not move.

I will try out the ready lane next weekend.

[bigloudj]

Now that the ready lanes are in place I can't imagine waiting in that line on 2nd St.
I also might add that Borderinfo.com aka Lalineenvivo.com have up to date info via camera's located at various points of the line including and from 2nd St., to the Loop and the Ready Lane's, etc etc.
I dont even attempt to head towards the border without checking that site and the cameras first....
The longest I have waited in the Ready Lanes since they have been implemented is an hour and that was because they had the "Fast" lane vehicles diverted into 1 of the 3 Ready Lanes delaying the Ready Lane drivers....
Shortest time in the ready lanes is 2 minutes when I drove right on up to the booth and was still pulling ID out of wallet....of course it was during the double booth period and I had to wait for the car in front of me thus the 2 minutes.....
Bottom line, I love the Ready Lanes...

[Buen Amigo]

Border crossing right now at any lane sucks. (Except for sentry)

I tried crossing the border one morning in my dads truck who does not have sentry. I got in the ready lane, because I had my sentry card. I got in line at 3am, and did not cross till 5am. I really missed my car that morning.

But it may be a while before we see more than 12 ready lane open because there are currently only 11 gates open, with all this contruction going on. I just know that crossing in the normal lanes suck no matter what time you get in line. That border is so busy with only the 11 gates. I'm glad I have my Sentry....

[Miggiesmallz- TEXMEX]

Crossed yesterday at 5:30 PM using READY lane at San Ysidro, and it took me 1 hour precisely to get across. One hour flew by compared to the 2 - 4 hour waits I was averaging crossing from 2nd street or Paseo de Los Heroes on many prior weekends. The very far right Ready Lane (closest to the SENTRI lane baricades) turns into 3 double booths which allows it to move faster.

Thanks for the tips guys.

Buen Amigo, you're lucky to have SENTRI.

I will report back next weekend.

[Buen Amigo]

I am greatful for it. Every morning when I leave my house, funny that instead of checking my wallet to see if I have money, I check to see that my Sentry card is in there.

[Miggiesmallz- TEXMEX]

10 Minute wait today at 4:30 PM in Ready Lane at SY. Feels good to cross so fast on a Sunday afternoon, feels like I have SENTRI.