MEXICO – U.S. BORDER INFRASTRUCTURE
Future of North American Infrastructure North American Summit & National Conference
October 22, 2011
Sean Carlos Cázares Ahearne Deputy Director General for Border Affairs
Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE)
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Mexico carries out decisive actions to increase its competitiveness, looking to
successfully engage the challenges imposed by the international conditions.
Our geographical proximity is the only advantage that we permanently share; hence the
development of a world class infrastructure with a binational scope– highways, railways,
land ports and seaports– is essential to enable timely and efficient supply to producers
and consumers.
However, the increasing saturation of our common border represents a challenge we
must overcome through the modernization and expansion of the existing infrastructure
and the construction of modern ones with an intensive use of technology.
If the current capacity of ports of entry (POE s) were not increased and the projected
demand would continue to grow, 85% of the POE s would reach complete saturation by
2014.
In this regard, proper US and Mexico agencies work closely to develop coordinated
plans and actions to increase the capacity of our border crossings and roads to
efficiently address traffic flows.
INTRODUCTION
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CARGO FLOWS DISTRIBUTION BY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION
Scale
Load distribution by mode of transport
Highway Railroad Sea
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BORDER CROSSING HIGHLIGHTS
Since the signing of NAFTA , trade exchange between Mexico and the United States
has grown exponentially and today it accounts for nearly 400 billion USD.
The efficient and secure movement of passengers and freight between Mexico and
the United States is fundamental for the development of both nations:
Mexico is the 3rd most important source of imports for the U.S.
(12% / $230 billion USD)
Mexico is the 2nd most important destination of U.S. exports
(12.8% / $164 billion USD).
Approximately 70% of the value of that trade exchange is done by truck and 8.4% by
rail, meanwhile only 16.4% is done by ship and the remaining 3.9% by other means
of transportation.
98% of the trans-border passenger movement is done by land.
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BORDER CROSSING HIGHLIGHTS
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In 2010, nearly 170 million passengers, 4.8 million trucks and close to
64 million passenger vehicles crossed the border from Mexico to the
US through 54 border crossings.
Trade between Mexico and the U.S. has grown exponentially, but our
border facilities have not grown accordingly.
BORDER FLOWS BETWEEN MEXICO – UNITED STATES
In 2010, nearly 170 million passengers, 4.8 million trucks and close to 64 million vehicles crossed the border
from Mexico to the US.
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Projected truck flows for 2020
(Total number of trucks per year)
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• In recent years, Mexico and the United States have reached remarkable
levels of understanding and coordination on the development of border
infrastructure, hence strengthening North America´s competitiveness.
• Our governments agree on the importance of the border as a region of
opportunity and bi-national cooperation. We carry out efforts in order to
strengthen security and encourage commercial trade.
• The development of new infrastructure at the US-Mexico border suffered
a historical impasse. However, in 2007 we achieved the simultaneous
construction of three new ports of entry for the first time in history:
– Reynosa – McAllen “Anzaldúas” (Tamaulipas-Texas) *Inaugurated
January 2010.
– San Luis Río Colorado – San Luis II, (Sonora-Arizona)
*Inaugurated November 2010.
– Río Bravo – Donna (Tamaulipas–Texas). *Inaugurated December
2010.
US – Mexico Border Infrastructure Recent Achievements
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MODERNIZATION OF THE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE
Reconfiguration and expansion of the facilities to its maximum
capacity.
Implementation of technology (SENTRI, FAST, SIAVE).
BUILDING NEW INFRASTRUCTURE
New international bridges and border crossings.
Construction of bypasses and road accesses.
INTERMODAL INTEGRATION
Creation of intermodal facilities.
Construction of Rail bridges and bypasses.
Implementation of massive passenger transport systems and BRT’s in
the border cities.
STRATEGIC GOALS
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MAIN FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION NETWORK IN MEXICO
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MAIN HIGHWAY PROJECTS 2007 - 2012
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NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM (NIP)
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Tijuana – San Ysidro Expansion Project
• Busiest border crossing in the world. Every day, it serves over 50,000 northbound vehicles and 25,000 northbound pedestrians.
• This POE is undergoing a major expansion and modernization in both sides of the border to increase its efficiency and reduce wait times.
• Mexico could begin operations of the new facilities at the end of 2012.
• Agencies from both countries carry out regular technical meetings to ensure proper and permanent coordination regarding this project.
US – Mexico Border Infrastructure Projects
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Tijuana Airport – San Diego Cross Border Facility
• New border crossing that will enable ticketed airline passengers to travel between Tijuana International Airport and San Diego, through an enclosed, elevated pedestrian bridge.
• It will provide a direct, fast an secure alternative to and from Tijuana Airport. It will help to reduce border wait times and traffic congestion.
• Its construction is planned to begin in November 2011.
US – Mexico Border Infrastructure Projects
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Nogales III – Mariposa
• It is the main border crossing of fresh produce from Mexico to the US (40% of US import of fresh produce during winter).
• Major reconfiguration and expansion binational project that includes a complete renovation of US facilities and lane additions in Mexico.
• Mexico just started construction and will be ready to open new lanes at the end of November.
Guadalupe – Tornillo
• New bridge for passenger/commercial traffic and pedestrians just outside the major urban area of Ciudad Juárez-El Paso.
• USA started construction on July 2011 and will finish on April 2013.
• Mexico will start construction next December and finish on April 2013.
US – Mexico Border Infrastructure Projects
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Matamoros – Brownsville West Rail Bypass and Bridge
• First railway crossing built in the Mexico-USA border in over a century.
• USA started construction on December 2010 and Mexico on May 2011. Construction will end on both countries during the 3rd trimester of 2012.
US – Mexico Border Infrastructure Projects
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Ongoing construction work for the new Matamoros – Brownsville West Rail Bridge
Twenty-first Century Border Management
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21st Century Border Management
• Mexico and the United States have a shared interest in
creating a border that promotes economic competitiveness for
the whole of North America, enhancing regional security
through safe, efficient, rapid, and lawful movement of goods
and people.
• President Obama and President Calderón have recognized
the potential value of a collaborative administration of their
common border through the Declaration by The
Government of The United States Of America and The
Government of Mexico Concerning Twenty-First Century
Border Management on May, 2010.
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• Both Governments carry out coordinated efforts to strenghten cooperation by:
– Enhancing economic competitiveness by expediting lawful trade, while preventing the transit of illegal merchandise.
– Facilitating lawful travel and enhancing secure flows of goods and people.
– Disrupting and dismantling transnational criminal organizations and punishing their members and supporters , and
– Making the communities in border states partners in efforts to protect public safety by integrating law enforcement efforts with social assistance, community outreach, and responsiveness to citizen concerns.
21st Century Border Management
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• Both governments agreed and established a binational framework and structure to work on the implementation of a Bilateral Action Plan which comprises the main initiatives regarding the modernization of our common border.
• Throughout this year, agencies from both countries have held five bilateral meetings.
• Internal coordination and work between the Federal agencies in both countries is continuous.
21st Century Border Management
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Action items in the Bilateral Action Plan include:
• Improvement of bi-national coordination in planning, financing,
permitting, designing, building, and operating ports of entry.
• Use of shared programs, enhanced information sharing,
improved technology, and other risk management strategies.
• Creation of protocols to ensure full binational coordination
before, during, and after emergency shutdowns.
21st Century Border Management
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• Test concepts for pre-clearance, pre-screening, and pre-
inspection of people, goods, and products.
• Reduce congestion and delays in cross-border traffic entering
both Mexico and the United States.
• Enhance law enforcement cooperation including the
collection, analysis, and sharing of information.
• Implement coordinated binational stakeholder interaction
mechanisms.
21st Century Border Management
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21st Century Border Management Action items regarding infrastructure and transportation
Actions Subject
3 Border Master Planning processes along the border
6 Construction or expansion of Ports of Entry
3 Expansion of secure and efficient trusted traveler and trusted shipper programs (Global Entry, SENTRI and FAST).
3 Reducing border wait times and improving Intelligent Transportation Systems at the border.
21st Century Border Management
• As of today, nearly 30% of the action items have been completed.
• Ongoing work and current progress on the remaining action items will allow us to complete nearly 60% of the Action Plan by next December.
Final Remarks • Accomplishing a comprehensive modernization of the border
is the stepping-stone for the enhancement of North America´s regional competitiveness.
• Our ultimate goal is to secure flows of goods and people between our countries while expediting legitimate commerce and travel and reducing the duration and variability of wait times.
• Our geographical proximity is the only advantage that we share permanently, hence the importance of developing development a world class infrastructure with a binational and regional scope.
• The support and involvement of the United States Congress has and will continue to be a key element for the success of these efforts. Coordinated work between the Legislative and Executive Branches of both countries is critical to achieve our goals.