A pilot program that added a second SENTRI lane at the San Ysidro Port of Entry is approaching the end of its 120-day trial, and US Customs and Border Protection will soon decide whether to make the change permanent. The pilot converted the general “All Traffic” lane on Calle Segunda in Tijuana into an exclusive SENTRI access lane, giving trusted travelers two entry points into the crossing instead of one.
CBP launched the San Ysidro SENTRI lane pilot in late October 2025 with support from the Mexican government. The goal was to reduce wait times for SENTRI and Global Entry cardholders while maintaining security standards at the busiest land border crossing in the Western Hemisphere, where more than 70,000 vehicles cross daily.
Early data suggests moderate uptake. Officials from Tijuana’s Secretariat of Economic Development reported that 12% to 18% of total SENTRI crossings used the new Calle Segunda lane during its first two months, according to the Gringo Gazette. The existing SENTRI access lane on Padre Kino Avenue continues to operate normally, as do the general medical pass lanes on Paseo de los Héroes.
For cross-border commuters with SENTRI or Global Entry cards, the practical change is straightforward: drivers heading north on Calle Segunda now enter a dedicated SENTRI lane rather than merging into general traffic. CBP said the pilot would be evaluated on its impact on traffic flow, efficiency, and security before any permanent decision.
The 120-day window puts the decision point in late February or March 2026. CBP has not yet announced results or next steps. For the thousands of Americans and Mexican residents who hold SENTRI cards and cross regularly between Tijuana and San Diego, the outcome will determine whether their commute gets a lasting improvement or reverts to the old single-lane setup.