A major step forward was taken this week for the Otay Mesa East Port of Entry, as federal and state agencies finalized agreements to begin construction on the state-of-the-art port of entry between Tijuana and San Diego.
The deal, signed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the General Services Administration (GSA), the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), and the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), has greenlit the strategic project aimed at revolutionizing cross-border travel and trade between Tijuana and San Diego.
With a total investment of $1.3 billion dollars, the new port of entry is designed to enhance border security, significantly reduce wait times, and streamline the flow of binational commerce. Under a unique collaborative model, Caltrans and SANDAG will construct the facility and then donate it to the US government through the GSA & CBP Donation Acceptance Authority.
“This agreement will strengthen our southern border while allowing for faster, safer trade. GSA is proud to work together with Caltrans, SANDAG and Customs and Border Protection on this innovative solution to deliver a new port of entry to the San Diego region with significant cost savings to American taxpayers,” Acting Commissioner of GSA’s Public Buildings Service in the Pacific Rim Region Amanda Sweeney said.
This week’s signing of the donation agreements executes the broader Federal Project Agreement established this past January.
“The donation agreements with GSA and CBP are a significant milestone that represent our shared commitment to begin construction of the Otay Mesa East Port of Entry. SANDAG is proud to be part of a binational effort rooted in binational collaboration. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners to deliver an innovative new land port of entry that will strengthen border security, bolster binational trade, fuel economic growth, and reduce wait times on both sides of the border,” SANDAG Chair and Solana Beach Mayor Lesa Heebner said.
Meanwhile, the state government said that these state-of-the-art facilities have the potential to significantly improve the legal movement of goods, while reducing congestion and wait times for businesses and workers.
Both CBP and GSA are authorized to accept donations of real estate, personal property (including monetary donations), and non-personal services from government and private sector entities, which can be used for the construction, alterations, operations, and maintenance of ports of entry.
The new Otay Mesa East Port of Entry is a decisive step in modernizing the border infrastructure between San Diego and Tijuana, strengthening security, facilitating binational trade, and promoting the economic development of the region.
