Anyone who lives in Tijuana but works or studies in the United States knows the daily border crossing can take hours. That routine may soon get faster.
Tijuana officials say a new FastLane program for cross-border workers is scheduled to begin Feb. 16, offering access to dedicated lanes intended to reduce long waits at local ports of entry.
According to Pedro Montejo Peterson, Tijuana’s Secretary of Economic Development, the FastLane program is aimed at people who cross the border daily for work or school and is designed to ease congestion and improve mobility. City officials say workers often arrive at the border several hours early to make it to their jobs on time, a challenge the program seeks to address.
The FastLane program will launch with a limited number of participants. While officials initially projected 500 workers for the first phase, Montejo said that number could increase based on the results of the ongoing application review process. So far, authorities have approved about 10% of submitted applications, with new registrations still being received. Officials expect to confirm how many workers will participate in the first rollout during the week of Jan. 26.
To qualify, applicants must be residents of Baja California and hold a valid U.S. work visa, along with proof of employment in the United States. Interested workers can complete an online pre-registration, which officials say will help streamline enrollment once the program formally begins.
FastLane operates on a monthly membership model, rather than charging per vehicle or per individual. Each membership can include up to four people and register up to two vehicles, even if members do not cross together. Officials say the structure is intended to make the program more affordable and encourage shared transportation.
There are two pricing options. A FastLane membership limited to the Otay Mesa Port of Entry will cost 10,748 pesos, or roughly $600 per month. A second option, which allows access to three crossings (two at San Ysidro and one at Otay) will cost 15,839 pesos, or about $900 per month.
City officials say the cost can drop significantly when workers share a membership. If four people split one membership, each would pay about 2,500 pesos per month, which is less than what students currently pay under a similar express-lane program. Officials also say the shared model could help reduce congestion by lowering the number of vehicles lining up to cross.
