U.S. senator fired up over border delays at Peace Bridge

BUFFALO, N.Y. (July 21, 2004) — Trucking companies frustrated with long border delays between Fort Erie, Ont. and Buffalo, N.Y. now have a vocal ally on the American side of the border.

On a recent visit to the Peace Bridge, New York Sen. Charles E. Schumer called the current delays experienced by truckers and U.S. residents returning home “unacceptable.” He blamed the problems on the bridge mainly on poor planning and lack of staffing at inspection booths on the U.S. side. He asked Peace Bridge Authority officials to join him in pressuring U.S. Customs to assign more inspectors.

Schumer said research conducted by his staff on July 1 showed only two out of 12 primary inspection booths were open at 6:30 a.m., resulting in severe backups later that morning. He said more backups developed over the July 4 weekend because full staffing was not in place until long after delays began.

At a news conference in Rochester, N.Y. Schumer is also expected to criticize Customs and Border Protection for not moving quickly enough in allowing commercial trucks on the new “high-speed” ferry travelling between the Port of Rochester at Toronto’s harbourfront.

As Today’s Trucking reported last week, the ferry’s operator Canadian American Transportation Systems is frustrated that U.S. Customs still hasn’t incorporated clearance systems and inspection areas to accommodate truck traffic in Rochester, while commercial vehicles are able to be cleared in Toronto.

— with files from the Buffalo News