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U.S.-Canada Nexus Usage is on the Rise

Monday, August 29, 2011

James Fink

 The number of cross-border travelers using Nexus-only lanes at the Peace Bridge and Whirlpool Bridge is on the rise.

Officials said the upward spike is clearly the result of more Canadians heading into the U.S. -- and particularly Western New York -- to shop or visit local attractions.

At the Peace Bridge, the number of passenger cars going through Nexus-only lanes increased slightly more than seven percent in the January-to-June period. In hard numbers, more than 314,000 passenger cars used one of the Nexus lanes on the Peace Bridge during that period, an increase of more than 21,000, according to the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority.

Anthony Annunziata, the authority's chairman, attributes the rise in Nexus traffic to the opening of a second Canada-bound Nexus lane in Fort Erie, extended hours when the Buffalo Sabres have home games, and general economic conditions.

Nexus passes, which were introduced in 2000 and went into widespread use in 2003, allow travelers to cross between the United States and Canada through a pre-screened process. Nexus is one of several options in the U.S.-Canada “Trusted Traveler” program.

“Nexus remains the best form of identification for residents and business travelers in Upstate New York and Southern Ontario,” said Arlene White, Binational Economic & Tourism Alliance executive director. “It directly contributes to the longterm growth of our independent economies.”

Nexus users account for approximately 15 percent of the 2,125,456 passenger vehicles the Peace Bridge handled between January and June.

The Whirlpool Bridge in Niagara Falls -- the lone Nexus-only U.S.-Canada crossing in Niagara County -- has witnessed a 30 percent increase in traffic during June and July. Only passenger cars can use the bridge.

In the past two months, the number of cars crossing the bridge rose from 38,033 during the same period in 2010 to 49,443 this past June and July.