EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – The mayor of Juarez says Mexico is sending a diplomatic note to the U.S. State Department relaying concerns from industry leaders about the proposed banning of commercial trucks at El Paso’s Bridge of the Americas port of entry.
“These are matters between national governments (but) they authorized us to inform (the public) about the note,” Mayor Cruz Perez Cuellar said at a Monday news conference. “We gave our formal opinion to the U.S. government like the (Maquiladora Association), like the Transportation Association did.“
The U.S. General Services Administration has been holding public stakeholder meetings in El Paso and is considering permanently banning commercial truck traffic from BOTA after it undergoes a multimillion-dollar remodeling in a near future.
Elected officials in El Paso support the plan due to pollution concerns in South-Central El Paso residential neighborhoods and because they believe other area ports of entry – Ysleta, Marcelino Serna and Santa Teresa (New Mexico) – can absorb truck traffic from BOTA.
Even before the drafting of a diplomatic note, Mexican officials had expressed opposition to the plan.
“We need more bridges, more operating hours and more (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) personnel,” Thor Salayandia, board member of the Mexican Chamber of Industry, told Border Report earlier. “Ysleta has too much traffic. If they close BOTA, we will have to find (other) ways to send our exports.”
In a statement late Monday, El Paso County reasserted its support for the proposed truck ban.
"The County of El Paso is aware of the opinions expressed by private sector groups regarding the proposed renovations and potential changes at the Bridge of the Americas," the county said in the statement. "While we respect these perspectives, the County’s position remains focused on option A1 while enhancing connectivity and efficiency for cross-border trade and diligently working on efforts that include collaborating with private sector groups established in Mexico’s interior and those warehousing on the east side of El Paso to maximize the use of the Tornillo Port of Entry."
County officials believe such approach will distribute commercial traffic with more efficiency and "ensure a seamless flow of goods, benefiting both sides of the border.."
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