Passengers traveling northbound into San Diego through the Cross Border Xpress terminal can now make use of recently added technology aimed at streamlining the inspection process. For now, it is only available to U.S. citizens.
CBX is among a dozen airports nationwide that have introduced Enhanced Passenger Processing technology from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Although CBX is not an airport, it is a terminal that connects Otay Mesa with the Tijuana International Airport via an enclosed sky bridge for ticketed passengers.
The new processing system is now operational, ahead of the busy travel season, including the Fourth of July weekend. CBX CEO Jorge Goytortúa said that the system “makes the entry process much faster and more secure.”
Before walking across the border bridge from Tijuana to Otay Mesa, passengers can scan their U.S. passport, in book or card form, at the scanners where they usually check their boarding passes and CBX tickets. The system allows for a customs assessment, including biometric or eligibility confirmation, ahead of time.
Passengers will be provided with a card as proof that their documents have been scanned.
Once they reach the U.S. side, they can bypass the standard inspection booths. Instead, they will be directed to a dedicated line at the bottom of the escalator, where their photo will be taken to verify that it matches their passport, a CBP spokesperson explained.
Travelers can still opt to go through a standard inspection.
“Customs and Border Protection remains committed to securing our borders while facilitating lawful travel in the United States,” said CBP San Diego Director of Field Operations Sidney Aki in a statement shared by CBX.
“By continuing to collaborate with our partners at CBX, we are advancing innovative procedures and technologies that strengthen efficiency and security at this unique port of entry,” he added.
The result should be shorter border crossing wait times, said Goytortúa. Currently, the average wait time from when passengers pick up their luggage on the Tijuana side until they enter the United States is 20 minutes on non-peak travel days. He estimated that for U.S. citizens using the new system, the wait time could decrease to an average of 12 minutes.
Goytortúa said the new systems came online just ahead of one of the busiest travel weekends. He said CBX expects up to 16,000 passengers per day over the Fourth of July weekend, and about 430,000 passengers in total next month.
CBX projects 4.7 million passengers by the end of the year. Last month, while announcing upcoming expansion projects, Goytortúa said that it is estimated that more than 38% of California residents who visit Mexico cross the border through CBX.
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