The City of Surrey and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Transport Canada to support a new project intended to speed up border crossing times at the Pacific Highway crossing.
The MOU outlines the establishment of a pre-clearance area on the Canadian side of the border for trucks going through this crossing, located between Surrey and Blaine, Washington.
This pre-clearance area will be designated under the Preclearance Act as an area where U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency staff will work.
After going through this are, pre-cleared trucks will then be fast-tracked through a designated lane at the actual border.
"Cross-border traffic is so vital to a robust B.C. economy," said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Mary Polak.
"We will monitor this project closely because it is another way we can continue our work with Washington State and the Canadian and U.S. federal governments and the BC Trucking Association to increase trade and reduce congestion at the Canada/U.S. border."
Louise Yako, president and CEO of the BC Trucking Association, said improving border efficiency is essential for trucking companies to function competitively.
"We welcome this and other initiatives aimed at streamlining customs and border procedures and will be watching carefully to ensure it contributes to those goals," she said.
