BajaNews - 4-3-2011 at 02:01 PM
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/mar/31/tijuana-trans...
By Sandra Dibble
March 31, 2011
TIJUANA — Mayor Carlos Bustamante said Thursday that his administration is preparing a major overhaul of Tijuana’s costly and inefficient public
transportation system with the creation of two major bus corridors and a program to pave streets in the city’s poor neighborhoods.
“Governments come and go, but they have not confronted this problem with seriousness and efficiency,” Bustamante said before a gathering of government
officials, civic activists and business leaders, as he spoke of his intention to modernize transportation. “It’s time to take firm steps to reorganize
routes and all public transportation.”
The new transportation corridors and paving programs were among a range of topics highlighted during the presentation of the city’s Municipal
Development Plan, a blueprint for city government actions through the end of Bustamante’s term in December 2013.
Before the end of the year, the city plans to start work on the two routes, each about 12.5 miles long. One would originate at the San Ysidro border
and lead southeast to the eastern Tijuana community of El Florido. The other would start at Otay Mesa, and lead southwest to the community of Santa Fe
and eventually to Rosarito Beach.
The corridors are part of a $250 million plan by the city to modernize the city’s public transportation system, replacing the chaotic network of taxis
and buses that currently carry residents across Tijuana.
During his administration, which ends in December 2013, Bustamante said the city is prepared to spend $167 million to pave and fix roads in numerous
neighborhoods across the city.
“The idea is not to reinvent Tijuana, as they have tried to do every three years,” Bustamante said.
Though Tijuana population estimates have fluctuated wildly in recent years--some have suggested is is as high as 2.5 million--Bustamante said in his
presentation that the city’s population is 1.6 million, and the current population growth rate is two percent.