Written by Nicholas Vetrisek
In August, the Secretary of Tourism for Baja California, Oscar Escobedo, created a new proposal seeking to solve congestion at the U.S.-Mexico border. His plan features a cross-border trolley between the United States and Mexico.
According to Escobedo, much of the infrastructure is already built, and the proposal would not only reduce carbon emissions, but it also ease traffic. Not much else is known about the plan since Escobedo refused to give more information.
The proposal sounds terrific, in theory. It would reduce border congestion and potentially save money. The only problem is the fact that it is almost sure to become a bureaucratic mess.
With issues like high-speed rail and the rapid transit system, we have enough trouble getting our government to deliver on projects, and it would be difficult to get Mexico—a country with its own government and respective problems—to follow through as well. The level of coordination necessary is something that a government project can’t easily reach.
This is further evidenced by Tijuana’s failed rapid transit system and light rail system which, according to Maya Srikrishnan of the Voice of San Diego, “hasn’t gone much further than conceptual stages.” To add to this, SANDAG has also said that it has no one working on the project and the California Border Patrol has claimed that it has not heard of any discussion on the matter.
In short, this will not work. If this project gets started, it will be another broken promise to San Diegans with a very costly apology note.
Photo by Josh Esh
