SAN YSIDRO: A new smartphone app unveiled by US Customs and Border Protection that provides estimated wait times for drivers and pedestrians entering the United States at San Ysidro, Otay Mesa and other US land ports of entry was.
“There’s nothing more frustrating, I know, for people than to be in those lines,” said R. Gil Kerlikowske, the agency’s commissioner. “We want to do everything we can to uphold our border security mission, but to make sure that we’re getting people, particularly trusted travelers, through as quickly as possible.”
The app comes as the number of northbound vehicle crossings has increased significantly at San Ysidro since the expansion of inspection booths in mid-September. CBP’s figures show that northbound passenger vehicle crossings have risen by close to 20 percent in recent weeks when compared with the same time last year.
At the same time, the agency is reporting that overall wait times for passenger vehicles at the port have dropped by more than 50 percent, though pedestrian wait times have remained long.