A second vehicle access point for SENTRI and Global Entry travelers crossing the border through the San Ysidro Port of Entry is set to open Wednesday as part of a four-month pilot program recently announced by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Starting Nov. 19, people enrolled in such trusted traveler programs will be able to line up through designated lanes on Calle Segunda in Tijuana, in addition to the existing access point on Boulevard Padre Kino, Tijuana officials said.
The upcoming move is expected to ease traffic on some of Tijuana’s busiest streets. Border crossers have noticed that, during peak hours, the SENTRI line sometimes backs up for a couple of miles, idling next to hospitals, schools and businesses.
The plan is to convert the former all-traffic route on Calle Segunda, also known as Benito Juárez, previously used by those with non-chipped travel documents, into an access point exclusively for SENTRI and Global Entry cardholders.
Tijuana Mayor Ismael Burgueño provided more details about the plan following a meeting with San Ysidro Port Director Mariza Marin earlier this week.
“This strategy is an important step toward alleviating traffic congestion and improving the experience of people who cross our border daily,” Burgueño said in a statement in Spanish. “We continue to work closely with CBP officials to provide real solutions for the public.”
Unlike the existing Boulevard Padre Kino access, which operates 24 hours a day, the Calle Segunda access will be open from 4 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week, with two lanes available, according to officials.
Burgueño urged the border community to follow the signage and instructions of the traffic officers in the area while the changes are being implemented. He said that traffic officers will be on site within the first days to alert drivers of the change.
Those with the required Ready Lane documents, such as U.S. passport cards or RFID-enabled visa cards, will continue to use Tijuana’s Vía Rápida Oriente. Paseo de los Héroes will now be the only access for regular all-traffic lanes, as well as for those using the medical lane.
For months, U.S. and Tijuana officials have been working on the plan in response to shifting cross-border habits.
Kenia Zamarripa, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce’s vice president of international and public affairs, who was familiar with those conversations, said the move was prompted by the growing number of people enrolling in trusted traveler programs or those with the necessary documents to use the Ready Lane.
CBP data show that, from October 2024 through August 2025, 5.7 million passenger vehicles were processed through SENTRI lanes at the port of entry, representing 42% of all San Ysidro border traffic.
“Whether you’re crossing to go to school or work, this will help reduce waiting times and promote growth and innovation in the border region,” Zamarripa said.
CBP said that the pilot program will be evaluated during its implementation to decide whether the change will stick.
