Obama's Budget Includes Funds for San Ysidro Border Crossing Project

The San Ysidro Port of Entry project costs an estimated $577 million

When President Barack Obama sent Congress his proposed $3.8 trillion spending blueprint, he included the money needed to fully fund the next phase of the San Ysidro Port Expansion Project.

The president’s budget plan includes $226 million dollars for the massive renovation of the world’s busiest border crossing, according to the Otay Mesa Chamber of Commerce.

The General Services Administration (GSA) would have money for Phase 3 construction costs and could fund site acquisition for both Phase 2 and 3 according to the chamber’s leadership.

An estimated 50,000 cars move northbound through the port of entry from Tijuana into San Ysidro every day.

In Phase 1, a pedestrian bridge and a southbound pedestrian crossing are complete.

California-bound lanes will grow to 30 from 24, and each lane will have two inspection booths instead of one. That should be completed by September 2014.

Phase 3 would expand southbound lanes and improve a western pedestrian crossing. Phase 2 involves northbound pedestrian crossings on the eastern end of the port.

Local lawmakers Juan Vargas, Susan Davis and Scott Peters sent a joint statement applauding the president's plan.

"This project is critical to the economic security of our region,” said Davis.  “Doubling the number of lanes at the border will shorten wait times, increase cross-border commerce and create jobs."

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