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Border officials: Pilot program trims wait times

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The Associated Press Updated 3:46 PM Friday, February 10, 2012

EL PASO, Texas — Federal officials say a pilot program designed to make it quicker for pedestrians to enter the U.S. from Mexico has reduced wait times by 26 percent at a West Texas crossing.

Customs and Borders Protection spokesman Roger Maier said Friday that studies will determine whether the project at the Paso del Norte bridge expands in the U.S.

The program allows frequent border crossers to apply for radio frequency cards that send information to agents while they wait. The process can trim up to 6 seconds per person.

The system is used by about a third of up to 14,000 people who walk daily across the bridge that connects downtown El Paso and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

Radio transmitters that broadcast traveler information at El Paso and Laredo bridges went live Friday.

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February 10, 2012 08:40 PM EST

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