Section 31460 Of Chapter 7. Otay Mesa East Toll Facility Act From California Streets And Highways Code >> Division 17. >> Chapter 7.
31460
. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) It is essential for the economic well-being of San Diego
County and for the maintenance of a high quality of life that the
people of the State of California receive the full benefits of
international trade with Mexico.
(b) Trade is the fastest expanding component of the San Diego
regional economy. Mexico is the United States' third largest trading
partner, after Canada and China, and California's number one export
market.
(c) Trade passing through San Diego County's portion of the United
States-Mexico border region benefits every state in the union and
contributes heavily to the nation's trade with the countries of the
Pacific Rim.
(d) Commercial traffic between the United States and Mexico using
California's ports of entry is placing extreme demands on the state's
border transportation assets which were not designed for these
purposes.
(e) Congestion at the border causes increased wait times, which in
turn increases commercial and noncommercial vehicle emissions.
(f) Inadequate infrastructure capacity at the existing border
crossings between San Diego County and Baja California currently
creates traffic congestion and delays for crossborder personal trips
and freight movements that cost the United States and Mexican
economies an estimated $7.2 billion in foregone gross output and more
than 62,000 jobs in 2007.
(g) Public revenues to provide for an efficient border region
transportation system have not kept pace with the growth of traffic
and goods crossing the international border with Mexico.
(h) The state must seek all reasonable alternatives to address
unmet border transportation needs and to improve existing
transportation facilities.
(i) Public toll transportation facilities should be encouraged to
supplement limited public resources and to support the development of
new transportation system capacity.