Juan Manuel Gastélum, former Mexican congressman and now running to be Tijuana’s next mayor, and San Diego Councilmember Diego Alvarez, sat down yesterday to talk about, and announce, they're working on eight strategic projects that aim to speed up the border crossing process. Among them, a special border transit program for individuals holding dual nationality that, they claim, can boost the binational region’s economy.

Councilman David Alvarez joined the special crossing program as a project that would create an additional four exclusive lanes in a four hour period, from 4 to 8 a.m., as similarly done by the SENTRI system, which could benefit some 60,000 Mexican-Americans crossing from Tijuana’s entry point.

The rest of the eight binational projects being developed:

A shared Tijuana – San Diego agenda Continuing with improvements to the commercial entry point, Improving in Tijuana the Bellas Artes Boulevard street network, Investing in the freight train system on both sides of the border, Guaranteeing the third entry point construction project, Fostering several joint environmental care programs with Imperial Beach’s Mayor and, Creating better strategies regarding deportation.

San Diego’s councilmember pointed that these neighboring cities share everything, including issues stemming from decisions made by each of their respective country’s federal government.

Alvarez stated that several binational projects, like those regarding binational environmental monitoring, must be continued, for nature sees no political division, he says. Likewise Gastélum, the National Action Party’s candidate in Tijuana, talked about a project that would turn Tijuana into the first metropolis in Mexico’s northwestern region, together with San Diego County.

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reportero@ernestoeslava.com

Translated and edited by: axel.alcala@sandiegored.com and jose.sanchez@sandiegored.com