MONTREAL, (June 17, 2003) — U.S. Ambassador Paul Cellucci announced this week that the Lacolle-Champlain crossing at the Quebec/New York border will have dedicated Free and Secure Trade lanes implemented this fall.

FAST is a bilateral, electronic pre-clearance program between Canadian and U.S. customs agencies and immigration departments. The program offers pre-approved shippers, carriers, and drivers expedited clearance processes for commercial shipments crossing the border both north and south and provides a FAST lane for trucks wherever possible.

The rest of the $75 million border project, including improvements on Hwy. 15, which runs south from Montreal to the U.S. border at Champlain, N.Y., is not expected to be completed for a couple years. New York state is also committed to upgrading Interstate 87, which meets Highway 15 at the border and is the main corridor to New York City.