IISTPS Report 99-2 Norman Y. Mineta International Institute for Surface Transportation Policy Studies Created by Congress in 1991 Impacts of the North American Free Trade Agreement on Transportation in the Border Areas of the United States With Emphasis on the California-Mexico Border Mineta Transportation Institute San Jos é State University San Jose, CA 95192-0219 IISTPS Report 99-2 Impacts of the North American Free Trade Agreement on Transportation in the Border Areas of the United States With Emphasis on the California-Mexico Border August 1999 George E. Gray a publication of the Norman Y. Mineta International Institute for Surface Transportation Policy Studies IISTPS Created by Congress in 1991 Technical Report Documentation Page 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient’s Catalog No. 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date Impacts of the North American Free Trade Agreement on August 1999 Transportation in the Border Areas of the United States: With 6. Performing Organization Code Emphasis on the California-Mexico Border 7. Authors 8. Performing Organization Report No. George Gray 99-2 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. Norman Y. Mineta International Institute for Surface Transportation Policy Studies College of Business, San José State University 11. Contract or Grant No. San José , CA 95129-0219 65W136 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period Covered California Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Final Report Sacramento, CA 95819 Research & Special Programs Administration 14. Sponsoring Agency Code 400 7th Street, SW Washington, DC 20590-0001 15. Supplementary Notes This research project was financially sponsored by the U. S. Department of Transportation’s Research and Spe- cial Programs Administration and by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). 16. Abstract The Norman Y. Mineta International Institute for Surface Transportation Policy Studies (IISTPS) at San José State University conducted this study to identify impacts of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) on transpor- tation in the U.S. border areas, with emphasis on the California-Baja California border zone. Major focus was placed on the identification of recommendations to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to improve the ability of that organization to identify and accelerate short-term implementation of the needed infrastructure improvements. The subjects covered include a literature review, identification of issues in the form of questions, discussion of the questions, and categorization of the questions as: 1. Issues not appropriate for further consideration in this study, 2. Issues recommended for action at a later date, 3. Issues addressed by others, and 4 Issues recommended for short-term action. A summary of the categorization of all the questions appears in a matrix at the end of Chapter 4, with the details presented in the body of the report. Finally, Category 4 issues, those recommended for action, are further addressed with recommendations and a brief action plan, if appropriate. The appendices include a review of work in progress, and several reference documents. 17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement NAFTA, transportation planning, U.S.- Mexico border, binational planning, No restrictions. This document is available to the public international borders, international trade, through the National Technical Information Service, ports of entry policy, transportation policy, Springfield, VA 22161 privatization 19. Security Classif. (of this report) 20. Security Classif. (of this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price Unclassified Unclassified 284 $15.00 Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Copyright © 1999 by IISTPS All rights reserved Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 99-65849 To order this publication, please contact the following: IISTPS College of Business San José State University San José , CA 95192-0219 Tel (408) 924-7560 Fax (408) 924-7565 e-mail: [email protected] http://transweb.sjsu.edu ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This research project was funded by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The author wishes to thank the many people who contributed to this study not only for their substantial assistance but also for their patience. The study was done during a three-year period of dynamic changes in transportation along the U.S.-Mexico border. The changes were the result of NAFTA, the development and eventual approval of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), changes in political administrations on both sides of the border, several other transportation studies, and governmental actions such as U.S. southbound inspections and Mexican divestiture actions (especially in reference to railroads and airports). The resulting changes are not yet complete and Phase II will, therefore, not only address subsequent issues but also review and update the issues developed herein. The participation of the following organizations was particularly significant. • California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Headquarters and Districts 7, 11, and 12 • San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) • Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) • Imperial Valley Association of Governments (IVAG) • Secretario de Asentamientos, Humanos y Obras Públicas del Estado de Baja California (SAHOPE) • Metropolitan Transit Development Board (MTDB) • City of San Diego • City of Calexico • Municipalities of Tijuana and Mexicali • University of California, San Diego - San Diego Dialogue • IISTPS Staff • Research Associates Art Bauer, Norman Kelley, & John Vargo Impacts of NAFTA on Transportation in the Border Areas of U.S. and Mexico i TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................................................... 1 1. STUDY ORIGIN .................................................................................................................7 BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................... 7 PURPOSE.............................................................................................................................. 8 SCOPE ................................................................................................................................... 9 METHODOLOGY .............................................................................................................. 10 TEAM .................................................................................................................................. 10 2. CURRENT CONDITIONS............................................................................................... 13 TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE IN CALIFORNIA ....................................... 13 Designated Road Systems ............................................................................................... 13 Highways Described........................................................................................................ 15 Status of the Highways .................................................................................................... 15 Public Transportation ...................................................................................................... 20 Rail Service ..................................................................................................................... 21 Airports ............................................................................................................................ 22 Seaports ........................................................................................................................... 22 Goods Movement ............................................................................................................ 22 Ports of Entry (POEs) ...................................................................................................... 23 SANDAG Border Planning Study ................................................................................... 24 3. THE KEY AGENCIES INVOLVED............................................................................... 27 FEDERAL AGENCIES INVOLVED IN TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ................. 27 OTHER TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS .................................... 31 OTHER INVOLVED AGENCIES ..................................................................................... 36 4. ISSUE IDENTIFICATION AND CATEGORIZATION .............................................. 39 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 39 DISCUSSION OF GENERAL SUBJECTS ........................................................................ 39 ISTEA Reauthorization/TEA-21 ..................................................................................... 39 U.S.-Mexico Binational Bridges and Border Crossings Group and the Joint Working Committee .......................................................................................................................47 Assessment of Border Crossings and Transportation Corridors for North American Trade ................................................................................................................................ 47 The California Transportation Plan and the State’s