MexicoTed
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Border pedestrian bridge project delays are feared over Mexico's lack of funding
By Sandra Dibble
U.S. and Mexican authorities said that they are working to address concerns over a possible delay in the opening of a much-needed new pedestrian
border entrance in San Ysidro known as PedWest.
The entrance’s 12 new lanes are part of a $741 million reconfiguration of the San Ysidro Port of Entry, which is scheduled for completion in 2019. The
U.S. General Services Administration, which is overseeing its construction, has announced that PedWest remains on schedule, and will be operational
this June.
Fears of a delay have mounted in recent weeks after Mexican authorities said they lacked funds to complete their end of the project. Oscar Escobedo,
Baja California’s tourism secretary, said early this week that Mexican federal officials had told their U.S. counterparts “that we have to wait
because we don’t have the resources.”
Escobedo said Friday through a spokeswoman that he had since met with “the appropriate authorities” in Mexico City. “They’re going to look for
funding, but there is nothing yet.”
The lanes will be a critical piece of infrastructure for an average of 24,000 pedestrians who cross daily into the United States at the San Ysidro
Port of Entry. At peak crossing times, many people now endure lengthy waits at the outdated existing 13-lane pedestrian entrance located east of the
port’s vehicle lanes.
“We cannot permit progress on the port to be delayed,” Escobedo said.
See the most-read stories this hour >>
“Pedestrians are still waiting two and three hours to get across the border,” said Jason Wells, executive director of the San Ysidro Chamber of
Commerce, whose members rely heavily on the cross-border pedestrian traffic.
The opening of PedWest not only would expand the number of available lanes for pedestrians, it also would allow the GSA to launch the replacement of
the eastern entrance with an expanded new facility designed to include 20 inspection booths. That project is expected to open in 2019.
While there have been private reassurances that Mexico’s funding snag will be solved, the Mexican Consulate in San Diego maintained this week that “we
will not make any statement until we have a bilateral understanding.”
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-border-pedestrian-bridge-delays-feared-mexico-20160321-story.html
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MrBillM
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No Mucho Dinero ?
A paucity of Pesos ?
Does this mean that they won't have the money for the Wall ?
Somebody better call Donald.
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gsbotanico
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Any American citizen returning to the US using the pedestrian lanes knows the urgency of this expansion. I don't always drive back across the border.
I use my Sentri card to walk to the head of the line, show it at the control door, and breeze through. I've done this when the line is a 2-3 hour
wait.
The LA Times article reminds of an expression I often hear in Mexico: "No hay dinero."
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SFandH
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Oil prices going from 100 to 40 dollars per barrel in the past 2 years has put the squeeze on the Mexican budget. Last I read oil revenue accounts for
20% of the gov's income.
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MitchMan
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Trump doesn't take calls from anyone with actual information.
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laventana
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they must have found the money....
So my question is where does this leave us. EI how far from the trolley... If I remember this is a huge difference in distance. I fly to TJ a lot
and still head to the SY to take the trolley. My flight from LaPaz gets in afternoon, and I can generally make the coaster during peak time. But
if I have to take a bus to the trolley now no way.
Anyone care to speculate?
Source: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Pedestrian-Bridge-to-O...
Follow us: @nbcsandiego on Twitter | NBCSanDiego on Facebook
A pedestrian bridge in San Ysidro will open in July at the El Chaparral port of
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A pedestrian bridge in San Ysidro will open in July at the El Chaparral port of entry, the Governments of Mexico and United States announced Thursday.
The Pedrestrian West Facility (PedWest) will begin processing travelers heading into the U.S. beginning on July 15. Pedestrians can cross through the
west side of the El Chaparral port of entry and reach the PedWest entry building as well as the new multimodal transit facility on Virginia Avenue.
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Source: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Pedestrian-Bridge-to-O...
Follow us: @nbcsandiego on Twitter | NBCSanDiego on Facebook
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sancho
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Where exactly is this new ped crossing? The new vehicle crossing into TJ is mentioned, but that seems a bit of distance to the west.
Can't imagine it would not be very near the existing northbound vehicle crossing. I have a fair amount of patience, but standing
in the current ped line coming back, for 2 1/2 + hrs., prevents me from a casual TJ trip
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akshadow
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So charge everyone a fee
If there are so many people using the pedestrian access, a small charge per user should be able to pay the cost of development. Let Mexico issue a
permit/lease/toll facility to allow a private group to fund the crossing.
Ron San Felipe Oct, Nov. Feb. Mar. April. remainder in Juneau Ak
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laventana
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AKS they already have the funding.... it is to open in July.
I looked at google maps and Virginia avenue is far west of the trolley. Virginia ave is next to the outlet mall. It looks to be a kilometer
walk, so they will have busses but that adds to the transit time.
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bajadock
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[img]http://cdn.sandiegouniontrib.com/img/photos/2016/05/12/sd-me-san-ysidro-border-FIX-01_t837.png?5df2a6e0ac564ff4ddc2702f3c8561935b88c24b[/img]
My Google Earth guesstimate is a tad over 1/2 mile from crossing north at PedWest to trolley station.
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BAJA.DESERT.RAT
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the last time i crossed going north at the pedestrian crossing, i stood in line for around 3 hours. upon getting to the crossing, i noticed they had a
handicap sign.
is there really an allowance for handicapped people to get to the front of the line ?
as i parked my car in the lot on the U.S. side and hung my placard on my mirror, is it possible to just take my paperwork sent to me by the dmv and
cross at the handicap area and just cut in front of everybody ?
i thank you in advance.
BIEN SALUD, DA RAT
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SFandH
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Quote: Originally posted by BAJA.DESERT.RAT  | is it possible to just take my paperwork sent to me by the dmv and cross at the handicap area and just cut in front of everybody ?
i thank you in advance.
BIEN SALUD, DA RAT |
Mr. Rat,
I think you'll be able to walk to the front of the line. Take your paperwork, show it the guards at the revolving gate before you enter the building.
Make sure you have a heavy limp when you walk past everyone in line. 
[Edited on 5-14-2016 by SFandH]
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laventana
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If I remember there was/is an issue with people hiring some people in wheelchairs that are a business to get people across. I think they are allowed
an attendant.
but here is what i found as someones answer from yahoo answers...
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Best Answer: As far as I know, the DHS does not issue such a thing. They rely on certifications by doctors and the DMV. If you don't have a
government-issued certificate, have your doctor write you a note explaining why you need to admitted without delay. It sounds like you are planning on
crossing as a pedestrian, since there are no handicapped car lanes. (There is a "medical pass" or "fast pass" lane for cars, however, which anyone can
use so long as they get their pass from their doctor or dentist -- or upscale restaurant or hotel! It's not a handicapped pass, it's meant to
facilitate high-ticket tourism.) The guards at the pedestrian border tell stories about able-bodied young men who borrow wheelchairs in order to jump
the line, which means they're suspicious of folks who are acting handicapped. But eighty-year-olds with walkers are let through routinely. As are
able-bodied people who just had eye surgery so long as they also have a note from their doctor mentioning that standing in the sun is not good for
their patient. So equip yourself with a doctor's note or your DMV certification. If the pedestrian line is long, you will first encounter guards at
the outer barrier just in front of the old Customs building. The regular line passes through the turnstile on the left while special cases
(wheelchairs, I-94 visas, etc.) pass through the gate on the right. Present yourself to the guard at the gate on the right and convince her or him
that you deserve to be admitted. Then proceed to enter the building by the revolving door on the left-hand side. It's marked "SENTRI". You will need
to present your medical certificate to any guard in that lane and to the CBP officer in the booth at its end. P.S. Yesterday I asked one of guards at
San Ysidro. She said it's just like that. Permanent disability is established by the DMV in San Diego or by the DIF in Tijuana and temporary
disability is a note on doctor's letterhead explaining why and for how long. "A prescription isn't enough," she said.
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[Edited on 5-14-2016 by laventana]
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willardguy
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| Quote: Originally posted by BAJA.DESERT.RAT | the last time i crossed going north at the pedestrian crossing, i stood in line for around 3 hours. upon getting to the crossing, i noticed they had a
handicap sign.
is there really an allowance for handicapped people to get to the front of the line ?
as i parked my car in the lot on the U.S. side and hung my placard on my mirror, is it possible to just take my paperwork sent to me by the dmv and
cross at the handicap area and just cut in front of everybody ?
i thank you in advance.
BIEN SALUD, DA RAT |
wow THREE hours!!!! and people lose their mind if they have to sit in their air conditioned cars and listen to music for an hour!!!
don't know about handicap access but I have heard if you arrive by taxi you go to the front of the line???anyone?
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SFandH
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Three hours is close to the maximum wait. I think the morning commuters make it across in less than an hour. I just checked a couple of websites.
Looks like the wait now is less than an hour.
Taxis drop you off where you join the normal pedestrian line.
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laventana
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| Quote: Originally posted by willardguy | | Quote: Originally posted by BAJA.DESERT.RAT | the last time i crossed going north at the pedestrian crossing, i stood in line for around 3 hours. upon getting to the crossing, i noticed they had a
handicap sign.
is there really an allowance for handicapped people to get to the front of the line ?
as i parked my car in the lot on the U.S. side and hung my placard on my mirror, is it possible to just take my paperwork sent to me by the dmv and
cross at the handicap area and just cut in front of everybody ?
i thank you in advance.
BIEN SALUD, DA RAT |
wow THREE hours!!!! and people lose their mind if they have to sit in their air conditioned cars and listen to music for an hour!!!
don't know about handicap access but I have heard if you arrive by taxi you go to the front of the line???anyone? |
the taxi thing is not good, the best is the bus/vans but those are not great anymore.
I did that on the worst weekend ever, that gazillion dollar lottery night. It was a zillion hour wait. I noticed the sentry driving lanes were
backed up past the walking line. and asked and it was everyone going to become a billionaire. The line by estimation would have been 6 hours,
ready pass 3 hours, i hired the van at the border line even though I had taken the taxi and that was only an hour walk in ready lane.
It will be interesting as the new west operation kicks in, as we all start from ground zero again. but my bet is the Bus/van could go to the old
building which would not have a line anymore. The west new crossing gets the people away from the cars entering the USA section.
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