A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed in relation to the proposed construction and operation of the so-called Otay II or Otay Mesa East port of entry, which will further enable commercial trade between Mexico and California. The memo was signed by Infrastructure Sub-Secretary, Raul Murrieta, and Secretary of the California Department of Transportation, and Brian Kelly.

During the signing, Murrieta highlighted that this agreement is in line with instructions received from Mexico’s Secretary of Transportation, Gerardo Ruiz Esparza, to further cooperation with the government of California, and support commercial relationships in this binational region by improving the border crossing experience.

The project, which is part of the 2014-2018 National Infrastructure Program, was devised as a high tech border crossing for light vehicles and commercial transportation, that will reduce the wait times in the region, have the added benefit of improving health and environmental concerns.

The development of this project anticipates an expenditure of two billion pesos to build 35 lanes (27 in the North, and 8 in the South), which can initiate operations by the end of 2017.

The Memorandum of Understanding establishes the formation of a binational high level committee that will guarantee correct, efficient, and timely execution of this project.

In this document, transportation planning departments on both sides of the border will internationally collaborate and work on the planning, technological cooperation, and operational efficiency of border crossing in the Tijuana-San Diego region.

It also considers Mexico and California as strategic partners that are aware of the vast importance of improving border infrastructure as a way to drive development and competitivity in the entire region primarily by making border crossings faster and more efficient.

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