– Buffalo, New York Area Congressman Announces Completion of Phase I Pre-Inspection Pilot Project at U.S. / Canada Border – Phase II to Begin Soon at Peace Bridge
A Submission from the Office of Western New York Congressman Brian Higgins
Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) announced (this January 6th) the completion of the first phase of a pilot project to streamline traffic and the flow of goods across the border between the United States and Canada. Phase II will begin soon at the Peace Bridge.
Efforts continue to improve traffic flow over the Peace Bridge – one of the busiest Canada/U.S border crossings.
“The success of phase one provides evidence that through this coordinated bi-national partnership we can more efficiently move people and vehicles across our shared border,” said Congressman Higgins. “We look forward to the beginning of this process at the Peace Bridge and the significant value it will bring to the interconnected economies of our Country generally and the Western New York region specifically.”
The “Beyond the Border” agreement between the United States and Canada called for, among other things, better coordination at land border crossings between the two countries. Phase I of a pilot project to allow for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers to pre-inspect trucks coming into the United States in Canada began on June 17, 2013 at the Pacific Highway crossing between Blaine, Washington and Surry, British Columbia.
In a February 2012 committee hearing with U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Congressman Higgins pushed for the Peace Bridge to be included in the pilot project to study pre-inspection at the Northern Border.
CBP recently announced the completion of the first phase of the pilot project and found the concept to be “feasible.” They will soon begin Phase II which will take place at the Peace Bridge crossing between Buffalo, New York and Fort Erie, Ontario. The pre-inspection pilot at the Peace Bridge may be in effect for up to a year and according to CBP “will test the ability of the pre-inspection process to reduce wait times and border congestion – streamlining the flow of cross-border trade that is vital to both country’s economies.”
In Washington, DC, Higgins recently met with representatives from CBP where he learned wait times at the Peace Bridge have nearly doubled in the last year. Subsequently, Higgins and Rep. Chris Collins sent a letter to the CBP Acting Commissioner calling for staffing shortages at the bridges to be alleviated.
Congressman Higgins is a member of the House Committees on Homeland Security and Foreign Affairs serves on the US-Canada Interparliamentary Exchange and Northern Border Caucus. His district covers portions of the border between Western New York and Ontario including the Peace Bridge.
(Niagara At Large invites you to share your views on this post. A reminder that we only post comments by individuals who share their first and last name with them.)
Niagara At Large 
Will US customs and immigration authorities operating on this side of the border be armed? That was a MAJOR objection to pre inspection. Our customs officers wanted nothing to do with guns at the border PARTICULARLY in the hands of foreigners on OUR territory. So much for sovereignty.
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Kind of off topic but, it always amazes me that the US can make do with so much less than we can. Ever look at the US processing buildings at Queenston/Lewiston and compare them to the overstated monstrosities our tax dollars have paid for on our side of the border. Notice the difference? Yet does all of our fancy shmancy buildings improve service coming back into Canada. NOPE!
Doesn’t anyone think, considering the importance of these borders, that vehicles be inspected BEFORE they get on the bridge. I think you all know where I am going with this (terrorism).
Just sayin….
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Bloody well better not allow US government people to have guns in Canada!
To my way of thinking, the real problem at the border is the American paranoia since 9/11. Homeland Security, while a necessary evil, sometimes goes a bit overboard from what I have heard.
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Yes there are times when waiting is annoying but I, who travels across regularly find “most” custom officials American and Canadian to be polite and helpful while yes there are a few who are a little less than friendly they in general do a great job. The Buildings are built by the bridge authority Greg and Not ONTARIO and that they seem to be “fancy shmancy buildings” to you they are not paid for by your tax dollar. By the way if you are interested the American side wants the same fancy shmancy buildings. What is truly needed is a twinning of the bridge and that has been put off so often It might never happen so so!! get use to waiting.
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Wait a second…. so neither the Federal or Provincial government one way or another paid for, using tax dollars, those buildings at the Queenston/Lewiston crossing?
Yes I bet those 20 foot ceilings and ceiling to floor window systems just did wonders to the final cost to build and operate those monstrosities. I can see how the 50sq ft per desk space per attendant is practical. I see them all the time in private sector kiosk type work environments. Yes that bridge linking the so far unused island building with the main building, a great design architecturally, but definitely not taxpayer friendly. Sorry for the sarcasm,
Being a regular traveller, the bridge doesn’t need twinning. All the booths need to be opened when the traffic is busy and not allowed to back up. That’s where the bottleneck is and always will be.
Just sayin….
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And I do not always agree with Wil I certainly do NOW I do not want to see American or any foreign group authorized and wearing guns in CANADA and hopefully this Canadian Government will NOT allow it but who knows what Harper will do?????
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