SAN DIEGO - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials will open a pilot pedestrian Ready Lane at the Otay Mesa port of entry on February 23. Similar to the existing vehicle Ready Lanes, any traveler with an approved document that has Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology can use the lane for a faster border crossing.
The pedestrian Ready Lane will operate from 4 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Documents that may be used in the Ready Lane are: the U.S. passport card, Trusted Traveler cards (SENTRI/ FAST/Global Entry) and the newer versions of the legal permanent resident and laser visa/border crossing cards issued after 2008. All travelers over 16 years of age must possess an RFID-enabled card to use the lane.
"This pilot will allow us to test the best ways to leverage existing technology to shorten processing times for travelers crossing the border on foot," said Chris Maston, director of Field Operations in San Diego. "At CBP, we are committed to continuing to find ways to make our border safer and more efficient."
CBP is installing three new kiosks at the Otay Mesa border crossing for the pedestrian Ready Lane. Travelers eligible to use the pedestrian Ready Lane will approach the facility from the left, in a separate line from general travelers with non-Ready Lane documents.
When a traveler approaches the kiosk they will scan their document, allowing it to be read electronically before they approach the inspection booth. This allows the CBP officer to receive the traveler's information in advance, allowing for faster processing while enhancing overall security.
CBP officers need real-time access to a traveler's information to make a rapid and thorough admissibility decision. By receiving the information in advance after the traveler scans their own document at the kiosk, the CBP officer can focus on the individual instead, improving officer safety and allowing for faster processing.
A slightly different expedited pedestrian processing system using approved Western Hemisphere Initiative travel documents is already in place and being tested in El Paso, Texas at the Paso del Norte pedestrian crossing. The results from the pilot in El Paso and the pilot at Otay Mesa will help CBP determine if the systems merit widespread and national usage.
Vehicle Ready Lanes have proven effective at improving throughput by 20-25 percent which translates into shorter overall crossing times, benefiting travelers.
Construction for the pedestrian Ready Lane kiosks at Otay Mesa will begin February 5, but will be limited to overnight hours only to limit the impact on travelers.
CBP continues to strongly encourage travelers to obtain RFID-enabled travel documents to expedite their entry to the U.S. and to help make the border crossing process more efficient. Travelers who have one of the RFID-enabled secure travel documents may use both the new pedestrian and the existing vehicle Ready Lanes.
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