U.S.-Canadian border crossings to tighten security.

The bridges and border control stations on the U.S.-Canada border are undergoing strategic overhauls, not only to increase security but also to ensure rapid throughput of commercial traffic, leaders from both nations recently announced.

Then-U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge and Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan released a status report of border control efforts, including strategies for moving screening operations onto the land from which travelers leave to avoid bottlenecks on bridges. Pilot programs involving these operations, called pre-clearance, are being set up, although the exact look is under negotiation, DHS officials said.

Plans include the re-location of all U.S. border operations for both commercial and passenger traffic from Buffalo to Fort Erie. At another location, yet to be decided, all Canadian operations will move to the U.S. side of the border. Possible sites include the Thousand Islands Bridge or the crossing between Queenston and Lewiston, near Niagara Falls.

The two governments are exploring the feasibility of creating integrated border enforcement teams to support pre-clearance activities.

Officials also announced the decision to expand U.S. pre-clearance facilities at Halifax International Airport in Nova Scotia, as soon as the construction of the necessary infrastructure is completed.

Canadian officials also pledged to improve operations at the WindsorDetroit Tunnel that was used by more than 13.4 million cars and 1.8 million commercial vehicles in 2003 and 2004. McLellan said bridge, tunnel and ferry operators committed to the Canadian government's pledge to reduce transit times at the border stations on the bridgeheads by 25 percent over the course of the year by adding staff. "Hiring more officers demonstrates the government of Canada's commitment to reducing border wait times," McLellan said.

The two officials also announced an expansion of the Free and Secure Trade program to seven new high volume commercial crossings along the land border, which aims to streamline and integrate efforts across the U.S.-Canadian border. FAST participants are pre-authorized and can take advantage of dedicated lanes at crossings.