www.sdchamber.org

Market Demand Study Shows Interest in Proposed San Diego-Tijuana Cross-Border Facility 

By Angelika Villagrana, Public Policy Director

On June 5, 2008, the San Diego County Airport Authority Board of Directors accepted an Airport Authority-commissioned Cross Border Facility Market Demand Study that gauged passenger and airline interest in a proposed cross-border passenger facility.  The facility, located on the U.S. side of the U.S./Mexico border (west of the existing Otay Mesa Port of Entry), would allow U.S.-based air passengers to expeditiously cross the border to fly in and out of Tijuana’s General Abelardo L. Rodríguez International Airport by means of a secure, dedicated cross-border facility.

U.S.-based passengers would either use a shuttle, drive to or be dropped off at the facility.  After passengers have checked in, they will proceed across the border via a dedicated walk-way or another, yet to be determined, conveyance method for their flights from Tijuana’s airport. Passengers from Mexican cities, Asia or other international destinations will land at the Tijuana Airport, proceed to the Cross-Border Facility, clear immigration and customs and either continue to the San Diego International Airport to fly to their final destinations or remain in the San Diego region. 

The Chamber was encouraged by the study’s findings:

If an easy cross-border connection is not built, it is estimated that 2.1 million annual passengers (MAP) to and from the United States will use Tijuana Airport in 2020 and 3.7 MAP in 2030.

With an easy cross-border facility, a TOTAL of 3.2 MAP to and from the United States would use Tijuana Airport in 2020; and in 2030 that number could rise to 6.4 MAP.

Chamber president Ruben Barrales testified that the Chamber has been a long-time supporter of the concept to provide San Diegans easy access to Tijuana’s airport by means of a secure, dedicated cross-border facility and giving Southern Californians, and especially the business community, new options to fly to Mexican cities as well as to Asia in a more direct fashion. The Chamber sees this project as one of the mechanisms to make our border crossings “smarter” by reducing the long border crossing lines and ensuing air pollution.  The Chamber also sees this project as an economic stimulus for the region, because it would attract new hotels, restaurants, car rentals, parking facilities and retail shops, thereby creating new jobs for our region.

The new cross-border facility and parking facilities would be built with private funds. The Chamber and the South County Economic Development Council have formed a working group that is developing an action plan to move this important project forward.  

For an executive summary of Cross Border Facility Market Demand Study, visit: www.san.org/documents/cross_border_study/ExecutiveSummary.pdf

To access the complete report, visit www.san.org/airport_authority/archives/index.asp and scroll to “Cross Border Facility Market Demand Study.”