Gypsy Jan
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Wait times reduced significantly at San Ysidro port
From the San Diego Union Tribune
By Sandra Dibble
"For tens of thousands of northbound border crossers each day, an expanded San Ysidro Port of Entry brings the promise of reduced wait times through
added lanes and inspection booths. A new, informal trial at the port that involved staffing 41 inspection booths has shown this to be true — and the
results were so positive that even high-level border officials were taken by surprise.
But a central question remains: Once the additional lanes are built, will there be enough staffing to keep them open?
For 2½ days last weekend, U.S. Customs and Border Protection took advantage of a pause in construction at the port, the busiest on any U.S. border, to
open 21 vehicle lanes and 41 inspection booths during peak crossing times.
“The reduction in wait times was so dramatic, actually more dramatic than we thought it was going to be,” said Chris Maston, the agency’s director of
field operations in San Diego. “People were surprised, elated and relieved, and asking, ‘What’s so different?’ ”
During one peak period, 6 to 7 p.m. Sunday, the wait dipped by more than two-thirds — from more than 200 minutes to fewer than 60 minutes, Maston
said.
The trial run was not announced, but it did not go unnoticed.
On Saturday, Tijuana resident Norma Cortés braced for a two-hour wait as she and her husband, Humberto Ramos, prepared to cross in the regular vehicle
lanes about 8 p.m. The couple made it through within 20 minutes.
“It was marvelous, like old times many years back,” said Cortés, a business consultant in Tijuana who routinely shops in San Diego.
The aim of last weekend’s experiment was to give Customs and Border Protection an idea of what could happen once the reconstruction of all primary
inspection booths is completed and there is adequate staffing.
The test began at 7 p.m. Friday and ended at 8 a.m. Monday. The opportunity came as construction contractors took a break from rebuilding the port’s
primary northbound lanes and inspection booths.
“What this showed us is that the infrastructure is important to speed up the border crossing, but even more important is the political will,” said
Mario Escobedo Carignan, president of the Tijuana Business Council.
The group estimates that $100 million is lost annually due to lengthy border waits, and “this justifies dedicating more human resources to the San
Ysidro crossing,” Escobedo said. “This would greatly spur development of the region.”
The U.S. General Services Administration, which is supervising a $583 million expansion and modernization of the port, estimates that by the time the
project’s first phase is completed in mid-2014, there will be 25 lanes with 46 inspection booths, including one lane set aside for buses. In a future
phase, still unfunded, planners expect to increase the overall number to 34 northbound lanes with 63 inspection booths.
Because the port has remained open during reconstruction, the rebuilding of lanes has been conducted in phases, with some lanes closed as they are
being upgraded while others remain operational. Last weekend’s pause came after contractors finished eight lanes and were preparing to upgrade four
more.
On average, Customs and Border Protection officers process nearly 33,000 northbound vehicles at San Ysidro each day. Port staffing has been a
longstanding issue, said Rudy Camacho, a former director of field operations in San Diego for the agency who now runs a consulting firm.
Last weekend’s test shows that “when and if sufficient and appropriate staffing is provided, CBP can do the work of successfully processing legitimate
traffic and trade,” he said.
There is no guarantee of sufficient federal funding to hire enough customs officers for the crossing’s expanded capacity. Customs and Border
Protection officials do not discuss staffing issues, saying they are “law enforcement sensitive.”
On Thursday, the agency did not disclose how much more money would be needed for optimal staffing. Starting pay for a customs officer ranges from
$31,315 to $38,790 annually, while an experienced officer working in the front-line inspection booths can earn up to $78,355 annually, according to
the agency.
The Smart Border Coalition, a binational group that lobbies for more-efficient border crossings, said it costs $180,000 to pay the annual salary and
benefits of a border-crossing officer. There are currently 300 new officers in the academy pipeline, said James Clark, the coalition’s director.
“Staffing is always going to be a real concern for CBP, and particularly in these very difficult budget years,” the agency’s Maston said. “I will tell
you that the Port of San Ysidro is one of the top priorities for CBP in terms of getting additional staff, not only to staff the additional inspection
booths that are coming with the new port, but also a much larger secondary inspection facility.”
Launched in February 2011, the reconstruction of the San Ysidro crossing is intended to remedy congestion that has become especially severe with
stepped-up inspections following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The overhaul, scheduled in three phases, includes adding lanes, booths and
high-tech inspection equipment."
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness.”
—Mark Twain
\"La vida es dura, el corazon es puro, y cantamos hasta la madrugada.” (Life is hard, the heart is pure and we sing until dawn.)
—Kirsty MacColl, Mambo de la Luna
\"Alea iacta est.\"
—Julius Caesar
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Bajaboy
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Our priorities are backwards....we're hiring more border agents but laying off police, fire, and teachers. Why should US taxpayers fork over more
money to build up TJ business?
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willardguy
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yup! thats it. all about building up TJ's business. NOW I get it!wtf was I thinking? down here under the bridge its always fuzzy!
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bajadock
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Like most government projects, minor successes obfuscate the 99% snafus.
TJ/SY border wait on Wednesday, July 25, approached 5 hours and Otay wait approached 3 hours. Tecate CBP "clerk with a gun" quoted me 3 hour wait on
Wednesday.
Hope everyone feels safer for these brave men and women protecting us from evil people bringing apples across the border.
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mtgoat666
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajaboy
Why should US taxpayers fork over more money to build up TJ business? |
numbnuts:
cross-border trade benefits both side of the border.
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Kalypso
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I crossed last Saturday and again today, both times on foot. Traffic and parking was horrible last Saturday on US side of the border. But as I was
walking towards the revolving gate into Mexico, there were almost NO cars waiting to cross North. When I came back at 6:30 pm to cross North still no
cars in line, but the pedestrian line was 35-40 mins. High ranking officials surprised at how effective additional lanes were in reducing congestion.
Well...duh...what did they expect. It was surreal that there was no line of cars snaking around waiting to cross. Throwbacks to the 70s and 80s when a
line to cross was almost an oddity.
Fast forward to today...normal traffic and parking on US side, lots and lots of cars waiting to cross, pedestrian line at 4:15 pm longer than I've
seen in a long, long time. Back to normal...sigh
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BornFisher
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Hope those contractors get it on and get it open. Bonus to complete the job ahead of time I hope!
BTW I was checking or monitoring the border wait last Sat. and Sun. and was wondering what was wrong! All Sat morning it was below 15 minutes! And
Sunday the wait was tolerable! I was tossing many theories around and saw the article yesterday and mystery solved!!
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Bajaboy
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| Quote: | Originally posted by mtgoat666
| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajaboy
Why should US taxpayers fork over more money to build up TJ business? |
numbnuts:
cross-border trade benefits both side of the border. |
I didn't go for a bike ride today? But anyways, I'm guessing a safe and educated population would benefit cross-border trade more than quicker wait
times.....
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woody with a view
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a border agent laughed when i asked him when the lines would get shorter, after the construction. he said that even with double kiosks in each lane
they would need to DOUBLE the number of agents assigned to the kiosks.....
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BornFisher
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| Quote: | [ [/quote
I didn't go for a bike ride today? But anyways, I'm guessing a safe and educated population would benefit cross-border trade more than quicker wait
times..... |
Well I place myself in the safe and educated population category. And I want quicker wait times!!
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Ateo
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San Ysidro today at 12PM......2 1/2 hours in the Ready Lane.
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Pescador
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| Quote: | Originally posted by mtgoat666
| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajaboy
Why should US taxpayers fork over more money to build up TJ business? |
numbnuts:
cross-border trade benefits both side of the border. |
And this is the most intelligent response from a "marooon" that you can come up with?
[Edited on 7-29-2012 by Pescador]
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SDRonni
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Someone told me that the "medical fast pass" lane is now merging w/the ready lane, and that the passport card is needed to go thru. Anyone know if
this is true? Also, noticed Thursday that the "medical fast pass" lane was backed up nearly to the kiosk! What's up w/that? We have visitors coming
next week, no Sentri. They're elderly and can't stand in line long...trying to figure out best way to get them back northbound....San Ysidro fast
pass? Or Otay pedestrian??
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jeans
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajadock
TJ/SY border wait on Wednesday, July 25, approached 5 hours and Otay wait approached 3 hours. Tecate CBP "clerk with a gun" quoted me 3 hour wait on
Wednesday. |
I crossed at SY, on Wednesday the 25th about 11:30 in under two hours.
Mom always told me to be different - Now she says...Not THAT different
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DENNIS
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From the San Diego Union Tribune
By Sandra Dibble
---------------------------------
This pretty much says it all. She gathers news over the telephone.
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tehag
Super Nomad
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Wait time
Sunday, 7/22, 9PM, 20 minutes. There were 2 agents and 2 booths, but the way they are arranged a delay at either stalls them both.
Certainty is the child of ignorance, knowledge is the mother of doubt. Question everything!
http://bcsbirds.com |
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David K
Honored Nomad
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47 minutes to get into the US at Tecate yesterday (Saturday), starting at 3:39pm.
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Mexitron
Ultra Nomad
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How can they not have enough money to fully staff the most important border crossing yet staff all those pain-in-the-arse secondary checkpoints in San
Diego County?
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by SDRonni
Someone told me that the "medical fast pass" lane is now merging w/the ready lane, and that the passport card is needed to go thru. Anyone know if
this is true? Also, noticed Thursday that the "medical fast pass" lane was backed up nearly to the kiosk! What's up w/that? We have visitors coming
next week, no Sentri. They're elderly and can't stand in line long...trying to figure out best way to get them back northbound....San Ysidro fast
pass? Or Otay pedestrian?? |
Otay pedestrisn Fast Pass. They let seniors (over 60) go to the front of the line......as I have been told.......YMMV
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