BajaNomad - Survey shows support for $3 toll crossing at Mexican border

Survey shows support for $3 toll crossing at Mexican border

Anonymous - 4-13-2005 at 12:26 AM

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20050412-1710-wst-b...

By Elliot Spagat
April 12, 2005

SAN DIEGO ? Nearly 60 percent of people who enter the United States in the San Diego area would pay $3 for a speedier trip from Mexico, according a survey released Tuesday.

The poll by the San Diego Association of Governments and California Transportation Department found that 59.4 percent of border crossers would pay $3 at a proposed port of entry in San Diego's Otay Mesa district. Another 14.2 percent would pay occasionally, while 26.5 percent would avoid the toll.

The findings are part of broader survey to measure the impact of lines at San Ysidro, the nation's busiest border crossing, and two other ports of entry in San Diego County. It comes as heightened security measures are stirring fears among local government officials and businesses that the economy will suffer if waits become intolerable.

A full report that assesses passenger and cargo traffic isn't expected until late summer but preliminary results offer an unusually detailed portrait of who is crossing the border. Surveyors interviewed 3,603 northbound travelers from November through February as they waited to enter the United States. Among the findings:

?Americans spent an average of $144.32 while visiting Mexico, $215.62 on holidays. Mexicans expected to spend an average of $142.01 on their trips to the United States, $168.28 on holidays.

?More than 63 percent of Mexicans were visiting the United States to shop or run errands, 17.1 percent for work or business and 12.4 percent to see family or friends.

?Nearly 56 percent of Americans went to Mexico to see family or friends, 12.7 percent to shop or run errands and 9.1 percent for work or business.

?All but 5.6 percent of Mexicans stayed in San Diego County during their visit. About 70 percent planned to stay in the city of Chula Vista and other parts of south San Diego County.

?Americans expected to wait 53 minutes to return home, while Mexicans figured it would take 48 minutes to cross.

The survey is the first to ask whether people would pay to cross the border in San Diego, said Marney Cox, chief economist at the San Diego Association of Governments. The survey questioned passengers in cars and buses, as well as pedestrians and those crossing on bicycle.

Texas has eight toll crossings at the Mexican border, operated by city and county governments. California has none.

El Jefe - 4-14-2005 at 03:41 PM

I would gladly pay $20 if I knew that there would only be one or two cars ahead of me at the San Yaskidrow crossing. Just think how much that would ease the tension at the end of a very long drive home.

Maybe they could have big signs up with the going rate to cross in various lanes. The shorter the wait, the higher the price. Prices could be adjusted by the minute. It would be interesting to see how market forces would come into play.

It will never fly though, because the "rich" would skate while the poor working stiff would suck hind teat as usual.

Bruce R Leech - 4-14-2005 at 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by El Jefe
I would gladly pay $20 if I knew that there would only be one or two cars ahead of me at the San Yaskidrow crossing. Just think how much that would ease the tension at the end of a very long drive home.

Maybe they could have big signs up with the going rate to cross in various lanes. The shorter the wait, the higher the price. Prices could be adjusted by the minute. It would be interesting to see how market forces would come into play.

It will never fly though, because the "rich" would skate while the poor working stiff would suck hind teat as usual.

that is not a bad idea I like it.

The Gull - 4-16-2005 at 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Anonymous

?Americans spent an average of $144.32 while visiting Mexico, $215.62 on holidays. Mexicans expected to spend an average of $142.01 on their trips to the United States, $168.28 on holidays.

?More than 63 percent of Mexicans were visiting the United States to shop or run errands, 17.1 percent for work or business and 12.4 percent to see family or friends.

?Nearly 56 percent of Americans went to Mexico to see family or friends, 12.7 percent to shop or run errands and 9.1 percent for work or business.

Where did they pick these nearly 78% of Americans who did NOT visit Baja for a weekend stay or vacation? Over half crossed to see friends or family. B.S. statistics :no:

aldosalato - 4-16-2005 at 08:17 PM

Why do not call this by its name:
NEW TAX............
and by the year after everybody will still be in the line waiting to cross the border.

mulege marv - 4-17-2005 at 06:40 AM

with the taxes already recieved why cant they fix it ? why is it when a problem develops it always requires a "NEW TAX" i think i pay enough.

[Edited on 4-18-2005 by BajaNomad]

Border Wait Goes Under Sandag?s Microscope

Anonymous - 4-17-2005 at 08:41 PM

http://www.sdbj.com/industry_article.asp?aID=67441065.641440...

4/12/2005

The San Diego Association of Governments, the region?s planning agency, recently completed a survey assessing the impacts of delays at San Diego?s three ports of entry on the economy of the San Diego-northern Baja California region.

The study will be used as part of the association?s project to develop an economic model to be used as an analysis tool.

The association, commonly known as Sandag, surveyed more than 3,600 northbound border crossers between November and February.

According to the study, nearly 95 percent of the border crossers were traveling into San Diego County, with two-thirds of the crossers traveling into the South Bay.

The study also found that the majority of those who cross into San Diego do so to shop, work or visit family and friends.

Each day more than 355,000 individuals travel between the United States and Mexico via the San Ysidro, Otay Mesa, and Tecate ports of entry, with current wait times ranging from 15 minutes to nearly two hours, according to Sandag.

One of the most notable revelations from the study was border crossers? willingness to pay $3 to cross the border, with nearly 60 percent of respondents agreeing to the fee.

Many within the region have opposed the concept of a fee.

?Even with two hour wait times at the border, people are willing to pay $3 at the border because of the higher paying wages,? said Marney Cox, chief economist for Sandag. ?That shows the significant need for us to do something at the border.?

San Diego has a $140 billion economy, 10 percent of which is related to commerce from those crossing the border, Cox said.

Sandag released initial study results Tuesday.

Anonymous - 4-17-2005 at 09:41 PM

" Why do not call this by its name:
NEW TAX............
and by the year after everybody will still be in the line waiting to cross the border."

That will probably be about the size of it.

Packoderm

David K - 4-17-2005 at 09:48 PM

A tax is a cost forced upon us, isn't it?

The new crossing is an optional port of entry to perhaps make life better, and for three bucks... The gas savings alone is probably worth that. How much gas is burned ideling for 1-2 hrs.?

You might argue that there should be more free border crossings anyway, and you would be right. One by Playas de Tijuana would sure make sense so the Tijuana mess could be avoided.