FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 11, 2014
For further information contact:
Matt Davison, 716.604.7772
md@amdgpublicaffairs.com
NEXUS Program Reaches One Million Member Milestone
BUFFALO, NY/FORT ERIE, ON – Today the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority (PBA) and Niagara Falls Bridge Commission (NFBC) announced that the NEXUS trusted travel program has officially enrolled its one millionth member.
“This is a huge milestone and it really demonstrates the interest in the program on both sides of the border, as well as the public’s appetite for the type of expedited border crossing experiences that NEXUS provides,” said PBA General Manager Ron Rienas.
In the Buffalo Niagara region, almost 150,000 NEXUS card holders were enrolled in the program through the region’s two processing centers, located at the Peace Bridge in Fort Erie, Ontario, and the Whirlpool Bridge in Niagara Falls, New York.
“Motorists want a reliable and efficient way to cross the border and that is what NEXUS offers,” said NFBC General Manager Lew Holloway. “Our region has been committed to growing the NEXUS program and it really is notable that the local enrollment centers have handled 15% of the total program membership across all of Canada and the U.S.”
NEXUS is a bi-national program jointly administered by Canada Border Services Agency and U.S. Customs and Border Protection for low-risk, pre-approved travelers into Canada and the U.S. The program was piloted fourteen years ago and reached widespread implementation just three years later. NEXUS lanes are currently available in the Buffalo Niagara region at the Peace Bridge, Whirlpool Bridge, and Lewiston-Queenston Bridge.
A separate announcement regarding the milestone was also issued by Canada Border Services Agency in Ottawa, Ontario, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Washington, D.C.
“Reaching, and going beyond, the one millionth member milestone is a significant achievement for the NEXUS program,” said The Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness for Canada. ”Through increased membership and by continually facilitating the flow of legitimate travel across the shared Canada–U.S. border, our Government can concentrate our efforts on continued economic growth and job creation.”
“CBP is proud of the success of trusted traveler programs like NEXUS,” said U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner and former City of Buffalo Police Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske. “Trusted Traveler programs, such as NEXUS, SENTRI, and Global Entry, allow our officers to concentrate their efforts on potentially higher-risk travelers and goods while speeding up legitimate travel and trade.”
In order to qualify for the NEXUS program, an applicant can first submit an online application using the Global Online Enrollment Systems (GOES), which can be accessed through the www.nexusniagara.com website.
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