March 14, 2019

Efficiency improvements inaugurated at Peace Bridge border crossing

The Canadian government officially inaugurated this week the new and improved Intelligent Transportation System technologies at the Peace Bridge border crossing between Fort Erie, Ontario and Buffalo, New York.

Transport Canada invested $362,482 under the National Trade Corridors Fund for two projects to improve the border infrastructure.

New radio-frequency identification readers and their corresponding electrical and IT infrastructure at auto primary inspection lanes are reducing vehicle inspection wait times. The radio-frequency identification readers are installed at the front of the inspection line, allowing travellers to scan their identification documents in advance of reaching the inspection booth for processing.

In addition, new cameras and IT infrastructure provide real-time data to travellers, border services officials, and the Buffalo-Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority which improves the accuracy of border wait time information and the flow of border traffic.

A third IT project is underway that will improve the toll system efficiency and is expected to be completed later this year.

Over the last five years, an average of 3274 trucks per day (or nearly 1.2 million per year) crossed the Peace Bridge.