• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • TTI Home
  • CIITR Home
  • Contact
Texas A&M Transportation Institute logo
Center for International Intelligent Transportation Research
  • Home / About
  • People & Partners
  • Projects
  • Publications
  • Videos
  • Blog

Making Pedestrians, Bicyclists a Priority at the Border

November 18, 2016

by Alfredo Sanchez

Like motorists, pedestrians crossing the border at all four El Paso international bridges are experiencing longer crossing times. For example, 550,000 people crossed the border by foot just in the first quarter of 2014.

Alfredo Sanchez.

Alfredo Sanchez.

This high volume of pedestrians means longer lines for security checks as U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel process documents to allow entrance into El Paso. To make matters worse, indoor facilities can’t house all the pedestrians, meaning people are often lined up outside waiting to be processed, exposed to the heat, cold, or other bad weather.

I and other researchers with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) Center for International Intelligent Transportation Research (CIITR) would like to make things easier and faster for pedestrians and bicyclists.

We are just in the concept stage of the project right now, but we are making some progress following a comprehensive literature review that examined the entrance procedures at international inspection check points for pedestrians, bicyclists, passenger cars, and cargo vehicles.

Ideally, a phone application could be tied into information supplied by the CBP to tell travelers current information like processing times, how many people are waiting, and perhaps historical data related to the best times to cross. We envision similar data for pedestrians that’s already available for motorists.

border_pedestrians

CIITR researchers hope to expedite pedestrians and bicyclists crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.

Perhaps the information could be used in conjunction with current CBP Trusted Traveler Programs designed to expedite travel for pre-approved, low-risk travelers through dedicated lanes and kiosks.

The technology exists that could make this happen. But security is a major issue. We’ve already reached out to the CBP and other stakeholders for meetings on this subject. Our goal in making pedestrian travel safer, more efficient and faster requires we first understand the concerns of CBP. We will certainly let you know of our progress.

Filed Under: Blog, Featured News, News Tagged With: app, bicyclist, border, CBP, El Paso, Mexico, pedestrian, security, smartphone, traveler information, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S.-Mexico Border, United States, wait time

  • The State of Texas
  • Texas Homeland Security
  • Texas Veterans Portal
  • State Expenditure Database
  • Statewide Search
  • State Auditor’s Office Hotline
  • TAMUS Risk, Fraud & Misconduct Hotline
  • Site Policies
  • Open Records Policy
  • Statutorily Required Reports
  • TTI Rules
  • Veterans
  • Equal Opportunity
  • COVID-19 Info
  • Jobs
Member of the Texas A&M University System

© 2023 Copyright Statement / Legal Notices and Policies

Comments, suggestions, or queries? Contact us!

Texas A&M Transportation Institute · 3135 TAMU · College Station, Texas 77843-3135

(979) 317-2000