The planned Otay Mesa II Port of Entry would charge users a toll depending on the traffic at nearby border crossings.
California and San Diego authorities expect to begin work by the end of 2013 on what could be the region’s first toll-funded border crossing between
Mexico and the United States.
Authorities hope the new port of entry will help alleviate long border waits, boost the regional economy, and perhaps most importantly, pay for
itself.
“We’re aiming to add enough value to the border crossing that people would be willing to pay for it,” said Marney Cox, Chief Economist at the San
Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG). “It would be sufficient to pay for the capital…as well as the people required to operate it and maintain
it,” he said.
Under the initial plan, the port of entry would have 10 lanes for commercial vehicles and 10 lanes for passenger vehicles.
SANDAG and Caltrans, co-leaders on the project, are finishing up a traffic and revenue study that will help determine whether these are realistic
goals.
The new border crossing would be located several miles to the east of the Otay Mesa Port of Entry. It would connect with major highways in California
and Baja California.
The toll charge for crossing into the U.S. would fluctuate depending on the amount of traffic at all of San Diego’s other ports of entry. And it would
be managed to keep the wait time at the new crossing down to 20 minutes.
“Pricing will allow us to determine the length of the line,” Cox said. As the theory goes, when the toll increases fewer people would want to pay,
opting instead to wait in a longer line at one the free border crossings.
That level of coordination would require reliable information on border wait times at all San Diego-Tijuana area ports of entry, Cox says, something
that’s currently lacking.
The California Transportation Commission approved the three phases of the project last year. Currently, funding is only secured for the first phase:
construction on a segment of road that would connect the future port of entry with California state routes 905 and 125.
Caltrans Corridor Director Mario Orso said the contract for this first phase would go out to bid later this year, with construction expected to begin
between December and January.torch - 6-19-2013 at 08:21 PM
I personally would pay a $100.00 no problem and just pass the hat through the truck. With me probably paying 80% with a smile.DENNIS - 6-19-2013 at 08:35 PM
This could put an end to SENTRI if done right.
Don't get me wrong......SENTRI is a good thing, but if a few bucks overrides a trusted traveler program,.....who needs trusted travelers?
Get in line.BornFisher - 6-19-2013 at 08:50 PM
I think Mexico should charge for special lanes. And why they don`t is beyond me, but I do know that charges of discrimination will be all over this!!Frank - 6-19-2013 at 09:14 PM
We use to cross 2-3 times a month. The border wait is what killed it for us.BajaNomad - 6-19-2013 at 09:58 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by BornFisher
I think Mexico should charge for special lanes. And why they don`t is beyond me,
As I read it, it's not that the Toll lanes would achieve the speed of crossing at the expense of less-security (which is the essence of the
Sentri "Trusted Traveler" concept), BUT with sufficient revenue-generating lanes to dramatically decrease the wait-time before arriving at
the kiosk and going through whatever security is deemed appropriate.
It's not a matter of Bucks=Trust.
Sounds like a GREAT idea.
All should wish it success.
[Edited on 6-20-2013 by MrBillM]DavidE - 6-20-2013 at 09:06 AM
Just like forty cents per mile 2-lane cuotas in Mexico, like some of the Maxipistas, they become under-repaired, and the free roads become impossible.
Unlike the toll-scam rises in California bridge tolls, a constitutional amendment is needed FORCING audits of project revenues, laws forcing every
cent of revenues (like the highway fuel tax) to be used for that particular expense, and to make such revenue profits public knowledge. About EIGHT
PERCENT of highway taxes are used for that purpose.durrelllrobert - 6-20-2013 at 09:14 AM
I've seen the map but can't copy it to post. Basically Blvd 2000 will become a toll road on the MX side and instead of taking the cutoff just before
the Tecate toll road it will continue north over the toll road to the new POE. On the US side a new route 11 toll road will connect highway 125/ 905
to the new POE.DENNIS - 6-20-2013 at 09:20 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by durrelllrobert
I've seen the map but can't copy it to post.
Can you give a link to it?durrelllrobert - 6-20-2013 at 09:38 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Quote:
Originally posted by durrelllrobert
I've seen the map but can't copy it to post.
