EL PASO, Texas -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations is announcing a project to better segregate Ready Lane traffic at the El Paso port of entry. The project will be begin March 27 and will continue until April 12.
“Ready Lane processing is generally about 30 percent faster than non-Ready Lane traffic,” said Beverly Good, CBP El Paso Port Director. “We only achieve that benefit when Ready Lanes are only used by those possessing Ready Lane documents. This project will help maintain the integrity of the Ready Lanes.”
The project includes the installation of stationary lane segregation dividers and pipe gates to allow traffic patterns to be altered during peak operational periods to direct traffic into expanded Ready Lanes. Static directional Ready Lane signage is also included in the project. The cost of the project is $563,000.
The project is set to begin Monday March 27 at the Ysleta international crossing and Monday April 3, 2017 at the Paso Del Norte and Bridge of the Americas crossings. In order to minimize the impact on the traveling public construction will occur between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. daily.
The PDN project includes approximately 700 feet of flexible bollards starting at the international boundary and continuing to the base of the bridge. When complete 8 to 10 of the ports’ 12 passenger vehicle lanes will be designated for Ready Lane usage.
The BOTA project includes approximately 700 feet of flexible bollards starting at the international boundary and continuing to the base of the bridge. Signage and gates will also be installed. When complete 8 to 10 of the ports’14 passenger vehicle lanes will be designated for Ready Lane usage.
The Ysleta project includes approximately 1000 feet of flexible bollards starting at the international boundary and continuing to the base of the bridge. Signage and gates will also be installed. When complete 4 to 6 of the ports 10 non-SENTRI passenger vehicle lanes will be designated for Ready Lane usage.
A Ready Lane is defined as one in which all passengers age 16 and older have an RFID enabled document for rapid reading of the document. This feature allows traffic to move through the inspection process more quickly because traveler information is automatically read and queried before the vehicle arrives at the primary inspection station.
To use the Ready Lanes you will need a Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative compliant, RFID-enabled card. Ready Lane RFID enabled documents include: the U.S. Passport Card; Trusted Traveler Cards (NEXUS, SENTRI, Global Entry and FAST cards); the new Enhanced Legal Permanent Resident Card or new Border Crossing Card (B1/B2); the Enhanced Driver's License; and the Enhanced Tribal Card.
“When people enter Ready Lanes without an appropriate document it slows down the processing rate in those lanes,” said Good. “The Ready Lanes work best when only border crossers with proper documentation use those specified Ready Lanes. Those who do not have RFID documents need to avoid the Ready Lanes.”
Non RFID enabled documents CBP officers encounter include but are not limited to U.S. birth certificates, driver licenses, ID cards and social security cards which are not WHTI-approved entry documents.
To avoid travel delays, U.S. Customs and Border Protection encourages travelers to follow the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. For more information on how to obtain the appropriate card so that you can use the Ready Lane, go to www.GetYouHome.gov.