Borders

SAN DIEGO – BAJA CALIFORNIA LAND PORTS OF ENTRY FACT SHEET

» The San Diego/Tijuana- The San Diego – Tijuana region is home to highway is scheduled to open in 2004, Tecate-Rosarito region is the the busiest border crossing in the western with subsequent phases scheduled from largest metropolitan region hemisphere. The San Ysidro – Puerta México 2004 – 2010. Environmental studies managed along the U.S.-Mexico border, port of entry handles over 90,000 passenger by SANDAG, are completed for SR 11, leading accounting for 34 percent of the entire border population. vehicles traveling north and south on a daily to the proposed East Otay Mesa Port of Entry, basis. The region’s commercial crossing at a new border crossing expected to be open » These communities are connected by three land Otay Mesa – Mesa de Otay, likewise, is one in 2010. The new port will help to relieve ports of entry at San of the busiest commercial crossings along traffic congestion at the two existing border Ysidro-Puerta México, Otay the U.S.– Mexico border. In 2002, it handled crossings at San Ysidro and Otay Mesa. Mesa-Mesa de Otay, and over $20 billion in freight. More than 700,000 Capacity at the San Ysidro-Puerta México Tecate-Tecate. trucks crossed from Mexico at the Otay Mesa crossing is completely saturated. The number » The San Ysidro-Puerta port of entry in 2002. These ports of entry, of trips is projected to increase to 120,000 México is the busiest port along with the region’s third port at Tecate, daily trips by 2010 and as high as 160,000 of entry in the western hemisphere, inspecting an support the burgeoning population and daily trips by 2020 as the regional population average of 62,792 vehicles dynamic economy of the San Diego / Tijuana- and economies continue to grow. and pedestrians crossing Tecate-Rosarito region. Increasingly, the Given the demand at the existing ports of daily from Mexico to San economies on both sides of the border are Diego. entry, improving current infrastructure is becoming intertwined and dependent upon vital for economic and social stability. The » The Otay Mesa Port of the efficient movement of people and goods Entry is the region’s main tragic events of September 11, 2001 have through the region. commercial port which made security a top priority at our ports of handles the second highest SANDAG Activities entry. SANDAG is preparing strategies to volume of trucks and the SANDAG works directly with transportation improve security at the border while still third highest dollar value of trade among all U.S.-Mexico and land use agencies on both sides of the facilitating the movement of goods and land border crossings. border to facilitate this movement of goods (Continued on reverse) and people. In order to provide a seamless and efficient border system, construction began on State Route 905 to connect Interstates 805 and 5 to the Otay Mesa Port of Entry. This connection provides a critical transportation l i n k t o e n h a n c e international trade 401 B Street, Suite 800 corridors and foster San Diego, CA 92101 (619) 699-1900 binational economies. Fax (619) 699-1905 The first phase of the www.sandag.org Three Ports of Entry in the San Diego – Baja region — FY 2002

San Ysidro – Puerta México Port of Entry: » The busiest port of entry in the western hemisphere » 42,265,083 persons inspected » 15,341,610 passenger people. SANDAG, on behalf of the California » Fully employ existing technological vehicles and buses inspected Department of Transportation (Caltrans), resources at our local ports of entry to » 42,032 vehicles every day conducted the Survey and Analysis of Trade reduce security threats and increase northbound through 24 gates, 24 hrs. per day and Goods Movement Between California operational efficiency at these facilities » (73 vehicles per hour per gate) and Baja California to better understand Dedicated Commuter Lane » Otay Mesa – Mesa de Otay how the current infrastructure is used by SANDAG advocates the use of technology, Port of Entry: the maquiladora and other industries in where appropriate, to improve functions » The third largest commercial the border region. SANDAG has partnered at the ports of entry. The SENTRI (Secure operation on the with Caltrans to conduct a Binational U.S.– Mexico Border Electronic Network for Traveler’s Rapid Border Transportation Infrastructure Needs » 11,364,297 persons inspected Inspection Program) is an example of the Assessment Study to identify deficiencies and » 4,671,075 passenger vehicles, effective use of technology at our ports. buses and trucks inspected make recommendations regarding border In 1995, the SENTRI pilot program began » 12,797 vehicles every day transportation infrastructure. SANDAG also at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry and was northbound through 11 has collaborated with Caltrans, the Secretaría extended to include the San Ysidro Port of gates, 6 am – 10 pm de Infraestructura y Desarrollo Urbano del » (73 vehicles per hour per gate) Entry in 2000. The program has been very Estado de Baja California, the Instituto » Tecate– Tecate Port of Entry: successful, enrolling over 38,000 users by Municipal de Planeación de Tijuana, and the » The eastern most port of entry May 2003. Because of its demonstrated City and County of San Diego to develop » 2,779,776 persons inspected success, SANDAG supports legislative » 1,199,646 passenger vehicles, a Cross Border Travel Forecasting Model to initiatives to federally enact the program as buses and trucks inspected assist in integrated border transportation well as the implementation of pre-inspection, 44 percent of people inspected infrastructure planning. This model is one of a low-risk traveler dedicated commuter lanes at the San Ysidro POE in August few developed for the U.S. – Mexico border. 2002 were U.S. citizens. for pedestrian land-border crossers. SANDAG Resolution 2002-15 continues to support innovative ideas to 18 percent of inspections at San Ysidro POE were pedestrians. In response to the increased congestion at the improve our ports of entry and to work with border, SANDAG passed a resolution that calls local and state entities to facilitate regional U.S. Exports to Mexico via Otay Mesa – Mesa de Otay Port of Entry upon the state and federal governments to consensus and communicate regional needs in 2002: $8,549,456,838 do the following: to the appropriate federal entities. » Help mitigate the economic impacts U.S. Imports from Mexico via Otay SOURCES FOR PORTS OF ENTRY STATISTICS: resulting from increased security Mesa – Mesa de Otay Port of Entry » U.S. Customs San Diego. Data represents in 2002: $11,818,167,825 measures along the U.S. – Mexico border federal fiscal year. Total U.S.– Mexico trade via Otay region » INS San Diego District, Traffic Report for Mesa – Mesa de Otay Port of » Provide sufficient resources to aide local August 2002. (Total vehicles inspected in SY Entry in 2002: $20,367,624,663 businesses hurt by the reduced flow of 1,653,128 in August 2002) » Idem (Total vehicles inspected in Otay Mesa As of May 2003, SENTRI goods and people across the border 398,748 in August 2002) has registered over 38,000 » Improve staffing and operational hours, » U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of commuters. and mitigate salary inequities among Transportation Statistics SENTRI operates two gates at federal and state policing agencies San Ysidro and two gates at Otay Mesa.

July 2003