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Project at a glance: Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative

  • Oct 12, 2009

GCN Awards Organization: Homeland Security Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Information Technology; State Department, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Consular Systems and Technology Office.

Project: Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative

Challenge: Increase security at border checkpoints without adding to travel delays.

More on this 2009 GCN Award

Consolidated ID cards and automated checkpoint systems streamline the flow at border crossings

How it works: CBP's border system tests include a drive-through sandbox 

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See the full list of 2009 GCN Award agency winners

See the GCN Executives of the Year

Solution: Use license plate readers and radio frequency identification-enabled travel documents to assemble data for the CBP officers.

Impact: More than 1.7 million vehicles and 2.5 million travelers’ identities validated in the first week of operation without any increase in wait time.

Duration: Eighteen months from award of contract (some actions started earlier).

Cost: $352 million, including previously completed air travel portion.

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