BajaNews
Super Moderator
Posts: 1439
Registered: 12-11-2005
Member Is Offline
|
|
Bridge planned to link San Diego with Tijuana airport
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/laplaza/2010/08/border-bridg...
Daniel Hernandez in Mexico City
August 5, 2010
Development is underway for a border-crossing pedestrian bridge linking San Diego and the Tijuana airport, a plan that could potentially alter the
landscape of travel options in the busy binational region.
Equity Group Investments, a major private company headed by billionaire investor Sam Zell (who took Tribune Company, the parent of the Los Angeles
Times, private), recently acquired key federal approval to develop the plan. With a U.S. State Department's Presidential Permit, the company has the
go-ahead to seek approvals for the project from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and from the city of San Diego.
Cost for the bridge is estimated at $77.9 million. The for-profit venture would include private Tijuana investors with ties to the Pacific regional
airport authority in Mexico, Equity executives said. "There's just been overwhelming support for the project," Terry Holt, a company official, told La
Plaza. "Usually you'd expect some kind of concerns."
The Rodriguez International Airport sits on the Tijuana side of Otay Mesa, just across the street from the U.S.-Mexico border fence in a flat and
sparsely developed area of southeast San Diego. The planned 525-foot pedestrian bridge would go over the border fence and into a U.S. customs building
on the San Diego side of Otay Mesa, about 1 mile from the 905 highway.
There probably would be a toll to use the bridge, but the fee has not been set, Holt said. The facility could open as soon as 2012.
U.S. travelers have been using the Tijuana airport for years for flights into Mexico and connections to other Latin American destinations, seeking
lower fares and the ease of access to Tijuana's terminal compared to the relatively congested San Diego airport, which is squeezed in by the city's
dense harbor and downtown. San Diego's airport also has restrictions on overnight departures for noise control.
Tijuana's airport, however, has room to grow. The Mexican airline AeroMexico has inaugurated direct flights from Tijuana to Tokyo and Shanghai,
building significant new links between Mexico and East Asia. U.S. travelers heading to or from Tijuana's airport currently cross the border with
regular traffic at either the San Ysidro or Otay Mesa international crossings.
San Diego's Regional Airport Authority has no direct relationship with the current cross-border terminal plan, but has long identified a growing
demand for access to the Tijuana airport among U.S. travelers, said spokesman Steve Schultz.
According a feasibility study on such a project, as many as 2 million U.S. travelers are expected to use the Tijuana airport annually by 2020, even
without a pedestrian bridge into San Diego. Such travelers are not limited to San Diegans, the study found. U.S. passengers head to Tijuana's airport
from as far away as Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange, and Imperial counties.
Reference, feasibility study:
http://www.san.org/documents/sdcraa/archives/Cross%20Border%...
--
Image: Rendering of the proposed pedestrian bridge and customs facility. Credit: Equity Group Investments.
[Edited on 8-7-2010 by BajaNews]
|
|
|
BajaNews
Super Moderator
Posts: 1439
Registered: 12-11-2005
Member Is Offline
|
|
State Department issues permit for cross-border pedestrian bridge
http://www.760kfmb.com/Global/story.asp?S=12927691
Aug 04, 2010
SAN DIEGO (CNS) - The State Department Wednesday issued a presidential permit authorizing the construction and operation of a cross-border pedestrian
bridge that would link Tijuana's Rodriguez International Airport to San Diego.
The for-profit project was proposed by the binational investment group Otay-Tijuana Venture LLC, which is backed by Equity Group Investments, a
company co-founded by billionaire Sam Zell.
It calls for a 525-foot-long elevated pedestrian bridge that would cross the U.S.-Mexico border, linking the Tijuana airport to facilities in Otay
Mesa that would house customs inspection, parking and ground transportation.
Greg Rose, with Equity Group Investments, called the permit an "important milestone."
"This is a highly complex project, and we still have a long way to go," Rose said. "We look forward to our continued work with local and federal
agencies, and we appreciate the tremendous support we've gotten from the business, civic and community leadership throughout the region."
San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders called the project a "key addition to our region's border infrastructure."
"This project will facilitate safe and secure travel for San Diegans and visitors, which is good for the economies of both San Diego and Baja
California," the mayor said.
Last week, the State Department announced a finding of "no significant impact on the environment" for the proposed project.
The idea of a cross-border terminal linking San Diego to the Tijuana airport has been floated for about a decade.
The developer hopes to begin construction sometime next year.
|
|
|
Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
|
|
The concept does make sense. One of my major concerns, however, is the involvement of Sam Zell, a high end flim- flam artist, historically. Just ask
the employees of Tribune co., or or the LA Times. You're looking at a major financial investment. Whose money? At the end of the day, given that this
project is "for profit", just what might it cost for parking NOB, and using this facility, round trip?
No doubt that the San Diego folks want their piece of the pie. Given that SDI is among the worst facilities in the county by many measurements, and
that prior attempts to either relocate or another facility, such as at the Miramar area have failed, one has to think that San Diego is looking for a
big cut from this operation. So, how much of the savings by flying TJ will be devoured by the fees imposed?
|
|
|
El Jefe
Super Nomad
Posts: 1027
Registered: 10-27-2003
Location: South East Cape
Member Is Offline
|
|
This would be great! And it makes so much sense. For both of these reasons I doubt it will happen soon.
But seriously folks, we fly into TJ a couple or three times a year from Cabo on Volaris, and this project, if done right, would really make our
travels a breeze. As it is now, a taxi to and from the Otay crossing is not too hard to take. But I would gladly pay a small toll to use the foot
bridge.
On another note, I've always thought an instant-crossing toll line for occasional crossers in cars would be a great money maker. Not like the Sentri
lane where you need to go through a process to get a permit. Just a regular line that posts a fluctuating price dependent on the traffic flow. Hell,
I'd gladly shell out 20 bucks to not have to wait.
No b-tchin\' in the Baja.
|
|
|
mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18397
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Given that SDI is among the worst facilities in the county by many measurements, |
huh?? I think SAN is great. I can deplane and be at my office/car in under 15 minutes, home in under 30 minutes from deplaning. SAN is great
central location, short lines, short walks, in a word "GREAT." Lack of intl flights in SAN is unimportant. I find it easy to use LAX, and LAX has
lots of competition, so low prices.
and i like forward to a bridge to TJ airport -- will really help TJ airport grow, and give us san diegans a few more air options.
don't worry about parking cost near bridge, savvy shuttle operators will pick you up at trollley and deposit you at bridge, and vice versa. and all
sorts of people will open parking lots near bridge if passenger volume is sufficient.
|
|
|
capt. mike
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8085
Registered: 11-26-2002
Location: Bat Cave
Member Is Offline
Mood: Sling time!
|
|
don't hold your breath on this one.
they have to get past ICE, CBP, and DHS sub rules clearances to get this deal done.
but i like the TJ airport. i can clear in and out of there to and from USA faster and cheaper by private air than i can on foot or ground pounding
auto at San Ysidro.
formerly Ordained in Rev. Ewing\'s Church by Mail - busted on tax fraud.......
Now joined L. Ron Hoover\'s church of Appliantology
\"Remember there is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over....\"
www.facebook.com/michael.l.goering |
|
|
MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Out and About
Member Is Offline
Mood: It's a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Day
|
|
What'll it Cost ?
In Fees for those using it ?
WHO CARES !
Whatever they'd charge, Usage would be voluntary. If people should decide it wasn't worth it, they wouldn't use it.
No problem.
|
|
|
BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13197
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
Member Is Offline
|
|
I think it is a great idea - sure will offer more options for those of us wanting to travel abroad yet return to States afterwards - the competition
should drive the price of tickets down. Yeah, it will be lightyears before it becomes reality, but I think it is long overdue.
|
|
|
Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Full Time Residents
|
|
it won't become a reality...
it's just a way to funnel (invest) "extra" money into
someones business legally
some people actually have "money to burn"
the govt's focus right now is to keep
the american "vacation" dollar in the USA
and spur the economy
not to promote foreign airports
ie: all the bad press
the ONLY reason we get lower prices on airlines
is to fill empty seats
the govt pays the gas bill for those big airlines
the real money comes for them
a little extra profit is better than nothing
they have to keep a route going anyway
to keep the govt money flowing
feed the machine...
|
|
|
mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18397
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by Bob and Susan
it won't become a reality...
it's just a way to funnel (invest) "extra" money into
someones business legally
some people actually have "money to burn"
the govt's focus right now is to keep
the american "vacation" dollar in the USA
and spur the economy
not to promote foreign airports
ie: all the bad press
the ONLY reason we get lower prices on airlines
is to fill empty seats
the govt pays the gas bill for those big airlines
the real money comes for them
a little extra profit is better than nothing
they have to keep a route going anyway
to keep the govt money flowing
feed the machine... |
susan (or is it bob? (never understand why couples share email and screen IDs)):
good post. that was neither right wing nor left wing, was just weird wing. of course, your conspiracy theory is ridiculous.
|
|
|
Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Full Time Residents
|
|
of course it is...
|
|
|
surfer jim
Super Nomad
Posts: 1891
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: high desert
Member Is Offline
|
|
Well....if it doesn't work out for tourists/airport issues it can always be used to transport drugs.....beats digging tunnels.
|
|
|
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
