City officials say length of time to cross border is hurting local economies
BY BRYON WELLS, SUN STAFF WRITER
Oct 15, 2006
Wait times to cross the border at the U.S. Port of Entry at San Luis, Ariz., are too long and it's hurting the local economy, community leaders near the border have stressed recently.
San Luis City Administrator Lee Maness said a week ago that the daily border report on 100.9 FM radio listed wait times at 1-1/2 to 2 hours by car and on occasion, the wait was two hours on foot.
Relief would help, he said.
Michael Freeman, a spokesman for the San Luis port of entry, said the facility is operating at full capacity, and it's the best that can be done to balance adequate traffic flow and tight security.
"We have all the lanes open," Freeman said. "The facility we have is 25 years old. This really shows we have a port of entry that can't handle all the traffic."
Freeman said average wait times are not more than two hours. While the port is looking to expand pedestrian checkpoints from two booths to six, nothing can be done about the vehicle lanes for now. An expansion from six to 12 lanes is planned, but work won't start until the new commercial port of entry at San Luis is completed in 2009, Freeman said.
Oct 15, 2006
Wait times to cross the border at the U.S. Port of Entry at San Luis, Ariz., are too long and it's hurting the local economy, community leaders near the border have stressed recently.
San Luis City Administrator Lee Maness said a week ago that the daily border report on 100.9 FM radio listed wait times at 1-1/2 to 2 hours by car and on occasion, the wait was two hours on foot.
Relief would help, he said.
Michael Freeman, a spokesman for the San Luis port of entry, said the facility is operating at full capacity, and it's the best that can be done to balance adequate traffic flow and tight security.
"We have all the lanes open," Freeman said. "The facility we have is 25 years old. This really shows we have a port of entry that can't handle all the traffic."
Freeman said average wait times are not more than two hours. While the port is looking to expand pedestrian checkpoints from two booths to six, nothing can be done about the vehicle lanes for now. An expansion from six to 12 lanes is planned, but work won't start until the new commercial port of entry at San Luis is completed in 2009, Freeman said.
posted by missionaryman | 10:09 AM
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