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GAO-02-595R 1 (2002-04-22)

handle is hein.gao/gaobaalyr0001 and id is 1 raw text is: I ~GAO Accountability * Integrity * Reliability United States General Accounting Office Washington, DC 20548 April 22, 2002 The Honorable John C. Conyers The Honorable Carolyn C. Kilpatrick House of Representatives Subject: Customs and INS: Information on Inspection, Infrastructure, Traffic Flow, and Security Matters at the Detroit Port of Entry In your November 6, 2001, letter, you expressed concern about the post- September 11 environment of heightened security along our nation's borders, particularly regarding passenger and cargo delays at the two Detroit Port of Entry land-border crossings. As agreed with your offices, we obtained information on U.S. Customs Service and Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) inspection resources, traffic flow patterns, inspection infrastructure issues, security issues, and potential long-term solutions and options to increase traffic flow and enhance security at the bridge and tunnel. On February 20, 2002, we briefed your offices on the results of our review. This report transmits the material from that briefing. Background Summary The Detroit area has two land-border crossings: the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel between Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario. Daily, thousands of cars and trucks cross over the bridge or use the tunnel. Fiscal year 2001 traffic volumes over the bridge averaged approximately 10,800 passenger vehicles and 4,300 trucks each day, and the tunnel averaged about 11,600 passenger vehicles and 240 trucks each day. Trade values between the United States and Canada total about $1.2 billion per day, 27 percent of which is accounted for by merchandise crossing the Ambassador Bridge alone. Both the bridge and tunnel are operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Immediately after September 11, Customs and INS increased the number and thoroughness of inspections and questioned all bridge and tunnel travelers. This effort resulted in truck wait times of over 10 hours in the GAO-02-595R Review of Detroit Port of Entry Page I

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