BUFFALO, N.Y. Is it possible the opening of the National Football League season is as important as cross-border security?

Twice during the past four years, the Ontario Motor Coach Association has tried to convince the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency and the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission to come up with a plan to speed the processing of U.S.-bound buses at Niagara River border crossings. For a variety of reasons, both attempts failed.

Now, the association has been approached by U.S. Customs and Border Protection to give it another try. And that will happen Sunday, Sept. 9, at the Peace Bridge between Buffalo and Fort Erie, Ont.

And Sunday, Sept. 9, just happens to be the regular season opening game of the Buffalo Bills NFL team.

OMCA says the one-day trial, at one crossing the Peace Bridge, will allow U.S. Customs and Border Protection to prepare its officers and staff for the pilot event.

Peace Bridge staff also will assist by identifying participating motorcoaches and direct them to a special staging area in the Customs and Border Protection compound where the priority processing will take place.

CPB officers will board the coaches and verify information on passenger manifests. All passengers will still be required to carry and present proper documentation.

U.S. Customs officials have told OMCA the one-day trial is restricted to charter coaches only, entering the U.S. at the Peace Bridge.

A red alert undoubtedly will be sounded if a Greyhound coach happens to stray into the wrong lane.

Passenger manifests must be faxed 24 hours in advance of arrival at the bridge. The driver must carry a copy of the manifest as well.

For more information, contact Dave Carroll of OMCA at (416) 229-6622 Ext. 230, or e-mail Dave@OMCA.com.