SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — The idea to charge a toll on yet-to-be-built pedestrian lanes and get commuters across the San Ysidro Port of Entry faster is gaining momentum, says Kurt Honold Morales, Baja California’s Secretary of the Economy and Innovation.
The plan has progressed since it first surfaced more than a year ago, and according to Honold Morales, is now being negotiated with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
“We just walked the port of entry with CBP looking for areas where the lanes would be constructed,” he said. “We’re in the process of determining how the lanes will look and how they will connect to the port of entry on the U.S. side.”
The idea is patterned after the CBX in Otay Mesa, a bridge that gives access to and from the Tijuana airport to those who pay a fee and have customs documentation.
The pedestrian crossing is being called “CBX Pedestrian” for now.
Currently, border crossers can use PedWest and the eastern/main pedestrian lanes, but wait times can go up dramatically, especially during the morning commute.
“It’s a good idea,” said border commuter Adrian Diaz. “It’s ideal for people who have to cross quickly.”
Diaz says the lanes will make a difference, and he would pay the fee to save time on his daily commute from Tijuana to San Diego for work.
“It’s taking two hours every morning.”
As an added incentive, the toll paid would include transportation on the San Diego Trolley and other modes of mass transit north of the border.
There’s a trolley stop just outside the San Ysidro Port of Entry.
“It would be a plus,” said Diaz.
CBP has not discussed the plan and said it could not comment on it Monday because of the holiday.
But Baja officials, including Honold Morales, have said the new lanes will happen, although they have not offered a timeline for the project.
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