U.S. border authorities announced that a Ready Lane will open at the San Ysidro port of entry before the end of the year to speed up crossing.

In an announcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the agency is in the planning process for the lane at what is the world's busiest land border crossing, used by an estimated 50,000 cars daily.

A Ready Lane can only be used by drivers who have crossing documents enabled with radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology, such as the U.S. Passport Card, laser visas issued after 2008, Legal Permanent Resident card (known as the "green card", and the SENTRI card.

At the Ready Lane at Otay Mesa, waiting times to cross into the United States have been reduced an average of 30 percent.

U.S. border authorities are working with their counterparts in Mexico to make sure signage is in place to guide travelers quickly to this lane.

The first Ready Lane opened locally in May at the Otay Mesa border crossing. It quickly became so popular that border authorities designated up to four more lanes to be used in this program, depending on traffic.

Currently, 29 per cent of traffic at Otay Mesa uses the Ready Lane, while another 20 per cent use the SENTRI lanes, according to CBP.

The Ready Lane will be one more change at the San Ysidro border crossing, which is undergoing a $577 million expansion and modernization project. It's scheduled to be completed in 2016.

alexandra.mendoza@sandiegored.com