Border Access Improvement Projects: Southbound FAST and NEXUS Lanes
In 2002, IMTC participants agreed to allocate $462,500 (US) from the U.S. Federal Highway Administration's Corridors and Borders Program to match Canadian Provincial and Federal funds to improve southbound access to the region's two busiest border crossings.
The FAST Program is a joint U.S. - Canadian program run by U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) for pre-approved commercial drivers, carriers, and importers that expedites their travel through the border by allowing access to a dedicated lane and inspection booth. It is in operation at the Pacific Highway port-of-entry.
The NEXUS Program is also jointly administered by CBP and CBSA and allows pre-approved passenger vehicle travelers to use an expedited lane and inspection booth to bypass often-lengthy queues at the border. NEXUS is in operation at Peace Arch/Douglas and Pacific Highway ports-of-entry.
Both programs are designed to allow low-risk travelers access to a dedicated lane, decrease wait times for all travelers, and allow inspection agencies to focus on higher-risk traffic.
To provide improved border access for expedited commercial and passenger travelers, several projects were constructed to provide access to these specialized lanes, and better streamline southbound traffic.
Hwy 15 Southbound FAST Lane
The Pacific Highway border crossing is the fourth busiest commercial crossing along the U.S. - Canadian border, and processes over 2,000 trucks each day.
Prior to the completion of this project, tucks which were empty, had ITS transponders, or were enrolled in the FAST program has to wait in lengthy lines along with all of the other trucks that have not pre-processed their cargo.
This project constructed a southbound commercial lane specifically designated for low-risk commercial vehicles, including empty and FAST trucks. The project also re-aligned all other commercial traffic at 4th Avenue to provide a safer and more direct route to a new truck staging area, as well as signalization to provide for better queuing at the border.
The project was completed in 2005.
Funding Partners
- Transport Canada & B.C. Ministry of Transportation: Approximately $1,201,500 (USD)
- U.S. Federal Highway Administration: $67,500 (USD)
Hwy 15 Southbound NEXUS Lane
The Pacific Highway border crossing processes both commercial and passenger vehicles. In addition to regular passenger vehicle booths, a NEXUS booth was dedicated in June, 2002.
This project completed an extended NEXUS lane from 8th Avenue in Surrey to allow NEXUS travelers to bypass the queues of non-NEXUS vehicles. Construction was completed in 2005, and signage improvements were installed in 2006 and 2007.
Funding Partners
- Transport Canada & B.C. Ministry of Transportation: Approximately $349,000 (USD)
- U.S. Federal Highway Administration: $160,000 (USD)
Hwy 99 Southbound NEXUS Lane
B.C. Highway 99 has had a NEXUS lane for many years, but this project extended that lane futher into Canada to provide for those days when lineups at the border take over two hours and block access to the original lane.
The project was constructed by B.C. Ministry of Transportation and completed in 2005.
Funding Partners
- Transport Canada & B.C. Ministry of Transportation: Approximately $676,000 (USD)
- U.S. Federal Highway Administration: $235,000 (USD)