From The Buffalo and Fort Erie Peace Bridge Authority
This October, the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority (Peace Bridge Authority) greets the official start of the National Hockey League season by reminding game-day travelers of a few important international border crossing tips, including the expansion of NEXUS program service lane hours by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
Tips on avoiding long line-ups at the Peace Bridge on days when the Buffalo Sabres and Bills are in town.
The current hours of operation for NEXUS are: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m., and Saturday through Sunday, 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Following all Buffalo Sabres home games (beginning October 9, 2010), NEXUS will now remain open until approximately 12:00 a.m. each evening.
“We wish the Sabres good luck in the 2010-2011 season and look forward to another division championship campaign and beyond,” said PBA Chairman Ken Schoetz.
“As roughly 20 percent of Sabres ticket holders reside in Southern Ontario, it is extremely important that we educate hockey fans on the benefits of NEXUS and how to properly cross the border in the most efficient manner.”
“Nobody wants to miss the puck drop or get home late because of border congestion,” said PBA Vice Chairman Anthony Annunziata. “That is why the Authority is pleased to once again partner with the Buffalo Sabres and CBSA to promote expedited NEXUS processing and extended hours for these services.”
Information on enrolling in the NEXUS program is available at http://www.cbsa-asfa.gc.ca or by calling 1-866-639-8726. NEXUS membership currently satisfies all travel document requirements of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), which was instituted in June 2009, and imposes travel document restrictions on U.S. and Canadian citizens seeking entry or re-entry into the U.S. by land.
In addition to NEXUS program enrollment, the following tips have a noted track-record of making border crossing a more efficient and therefore enjoyable experience for regular and infrequent travelers alike: § Enroll in E-ZPass to help significantly expedite your border crossing.
To learn more, visit http://www.pbaezpass.com/. § Visit mobile.peacebridge.com on your web-enabled mobile device or call 1-800- 715-6722 to obtain wait times for Buffalo/Niagara Region international crossings, including the Peace Bridge. These updates are revised hourly. § Prior to arriving at the U.S. border have proper identification ready to present to Customs officers.
Such documents include: Enhanced Driver’s licenses, Enhanced Non-Driver Identification, FAST Cards, NEXUS Cards, Permanent Resident Cards, Passports, and U.S. Passport Cards for travelers 16 years of age and older, and birth certificates, naturalization certificates, or Canadian citizenship cards which are acceptable forms of identification for most children 15 years of age and younger. For more information regarding entering the United States visit http://www.peacebridge.com/identification.php; or for identification requirements for entering Canada visit http://cbsa.gc.ca/security-securite/admiss-eng.html.
§ If traveling with children who are not part of your immediate family, obtain and carry a parental note of permission regarding cross-border travel. The note should include each child’s parental contact information and telephone numbers.
§ Other than essential luggage, empty your trunk before the trip. Additional belongings in your car may add time to your crossing, as Customs officers may perform a visual inspection of the belongings in your car.
§ Turn off radios and cell phones when approaching Customs inspection booths and speaking with officers.
§ Remember to roll down the window, remove sunglasses, and make eye contact with Customs officers.
§ Be sure to declare all fruits, vegetables, plants and plant products, animals, birds, eggs, meat and meat products, as well as items acquired for personal use.
§ Avoid horseplay and do not fool around. Customs officers on both sides of the border are law enforcement officials who take their duties very seriously. Approach inspection booths slowly and follow signage instructions.
§ Be patient. Customs officers are responsible for protecting our nations’ borders and public safety.
§ Do not drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. For more detailed questions, travelers can contact the Canada Border Services Agency at (905) 994-6330 or http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection at 1-877-227-5511 or www.cbp.gov.
The Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority, a binational bridge authority, has owned and operated the Peace Bridge since 1933. The bridge, which was opened to traffic in 1927, spans the Niagara River between Fort Erie, Ontario, and Buffalo, New York, and is a key international border crossing. Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority 1 Peace Bridge Plaza, Buffalo, NY 14213-2494 100 Queen Street, Fort Erie, ON L2A 3S6 Phone: 905-871-1608 or 716-884-6744 Fax: 716-884-2089 or 905-871-9940 http://www.peacebridge.com Peace Bridge Border Crossing Tips for Buffalo Bills Fans Authority encourages travelers to follow simple steps for more-efficient game-day transit.
BUFFALO, NY/FORT ERIE, ON – This September the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority (Peace Bridge Authority) greets the official start of the National Football League season by reminding game-day travelers of a few important international border crossing tips. “We wish the Bills well in 2010 and want the 12th Man at the game, on time, to cheer them on,” said PBA Chairman Ken Schoetz. “Educating Bills fans on how to properly cross the border is an important factor in reducing congestion on busy Sunday mornings at the Peace Bridge. Nobody wants to arrive to the stadium late, which is why we encourage all travelers to make their trek to the game as easy as possible, by showing up to the border fully prepared to cross through Customs.” The following tips have a noted track-record of making border crossing a more efficient and therefore enjoyable experience for regular and infrequent travelers alike: Enroll in NEXUS and E-ZPass to help significantly expedite your border crossing. To learn more, visit http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/trusted_traveler/nexus_prog/ and http://www.pbaezpass.com/
Niagara At Large 