NEW YORK: In past years delays at the bridges have been a major headache for travelers crossing the border but customs officials on both sides say they are cooperating and staffing up to try and handle it better.
They obviously try to anticipate several summer month holidays and use Blue Tooth technology to track traffic volume. And they still push folks to consider signing up for pre-clearance programs like NEXUS to speed up the process.
But they say the simple economic fact of the exchange rate with the US dollar being worth more is also really having an effect on border crossings for the first time in years. Acting Customs Buffalo Port Director Mark MacVittie says “Right now we’re about ten percent lower this year than we were last year at this same time. And that’s directly tied in to the exchange rate. We see a lot less folks from Canada coming over to the factory outlet malls, and gas and groceries.”
Customs and Border Protection is also adding 60 new officers in the WNY region this year. About 25 to 30 will help staff bridge inspection booths this summer while the other half finish training to begin work early next year.
The Canadian Border Service Agency also has newer facilities in Lewiston and Fort Erie to speed up processing of bus passengers and handle truck inspections to reduce congestion issues and both sides are still working on pre-clearance plans for commercial traffic like primarily trucks to speed up the traffic flow at the bridge crossings.
