EL PASO, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection is reminding travelers that the El Paso Port of Entry has implemented Ready Lanes for those travelers that have a ready lane compliant document.
“As we move into the busy summer travel season it is a good idea for regular border crossers to obtain the documents required to use Ready Lanes,” said Beverly Good, CBP El Paso Port Director. “Ready Lanes are proven to provide a faster crossing and now that school is out many area residents should have the time needed to apply for these documents.”
CBP initiated a project in late March to segregate traffic which included the installation of stationary lane segregation dividers and pipe gates at the three primary international crossings in El Paso. The dividers separate Ready Lane traffic from those border crossers who are not equipped with RFID enabled documents. The pipe gates 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 project was completed in mid-April and has proven to be very popular,” said Good. “There is still a bit of a learning curve for those who do not cross the border regularly so our CBP officers are working to educate travelers who may inadvertently wind up in a Ready Lane without appropriate documents.”
Travelers who use the Ready Lane will have the benefit of a shorter wait time versus using the general lanes of vehicle traffic because of the RFID technology. While the wait time will not be as short as the lanes for pre-approved, low-risk SENTRI travelers, those using the Ready Lanes can generally expect to see wait times that are significantly shorter compared to using the general traffic lanes.
Another benefit is that unlike the SENTRI lane in which all individuals in the vehicle must have a SENTRI card, a group with any mixture of RFID-enabled travel cards can use the Ready Lane. For example, if the driver has a SENTRI card but the passengers all have other kinds of RFID-enabled documents, such as a U.S. Passport Card or a new Border Crossing Card, the vehicle may still have the benefit of using the Ready Lane.
"RFID-enabled cards allow CBP officers to screen travelers faster," said Good. "By having a lane designated just for travelers with these cards, we can reduce the time everyone spends waiting to enter the country, and encourage legitimate business and tourism for our communities on both sides of the border."
Since the implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, June 1, 2009, U.S. and Canadian citizens entering the United States by land or sea from Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean, are required to present a valid, WHTI-compliant document. Using a WHTI-compliant document that is an RFID-enabled travel card allows for more efficient processing of travelers at the border, since RFID technology allows CBP officers to receive information about travelers faster.