Car-Pool Lanes Curb Traffic Load : Solutions still needed to ease San Ysidro’s crunch of returning weekend tourists

The new car-pool lanes at San Ysidro are welcome additions to the world’s busiest border crossing.

Monday through Friday, vehicles crossing into the United States with four or more people now have an option to avoid delays of an hour or more during peak traffic hours.

Few cars used the lanes on Monday, the first day, but by Wednesday, 5,002 cars, 12.6%, used the seven diamond lanes. U.S. Customs Service officials hope that eventually 25% of the cars crossing the border during the week will have four riders, compared to an average of about 10% now and a high of 23%.

Such figures would make state transportation officials swoon, since the California average is a measly 1.1 riders per car.

But the longest border delays are typically on the weekends and holidays. As any Tijuana shopper or bullfight fan can attest, it’s not uncommon to spend up to two or three fume-filled hours waiting to enter San Diego.

Why aren’t the car-pool lanes going to be used on Saturdays and Sundays?

Apparently, most weekend travelers are already car-pooling. More than 50% of weekend cars already have four or more riders during peak hours, and up to 75% have three or more, so car-pool lanes would be fruitless, say officials of the Customs Service and Commuter Computer.

Customs officials promise to be flexible and to make refinements in the new car-pool system as needed. So perhaps a way will be found to have the lanes open at least part of the weekend.

But a significant solution to the weekend traffic jams probably will come only with funds for additional inspectors. And, given the federal deficit, that is unlikely.

This is the time to study other ideas of reducing congestion. Pay express lanes are being tried at the international crossing at Blaine, Wash. But questions of feasibility and fairness should be answered before any such plans could move forward here.

Still, the car-pool lanes are a promising step in lessening the horrendous waits at the border. Compliments to the U.S. Customs Service.