Congress must approve the request through the appropriations processBy R. Stickney | Thursday, Mar 6, 2014
An expansion described as the single most important construction project in our region was included in President Barack Obama’s budget this week.
On Wednesday, the budget for fiscal year 2015 included $216 million to fund Phase II of the San Ysidro Port of Entry expansion.
Now, the money is in the hands of Congress whose members must approve the request through the appropriations process.
Members of the San Diego Congressional delegation – Rep. Scott Peters, Rep. Susan Davis and Rep. Juan Vargas – along with Sen. Barbara Boxer and Sen. Dianne Feinstein have pledged to work with others on Capitol Hill to get the funding approved.
An estimated 50,000 cars move northbound through the port of entry from Tijuana into San Ysidro every day. The project involving construction on both the U.S. and Mexico sides of the border crossing will help ease traffic between San Diego County and Tijuana.
Mexico completed its side of the border project in 2012.