U.S. Division of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy introduced Tuesday {that a} $150 million federal grant had been finalized to assemble a brand new port of entry facility and highway for the San Diego-Baja California border.
As a part of the settlement for the grant, Inexperienced New Deal necessities from the Biden administration, together with a zero-emission automobile charging provision, shall be eliminated.
The DOT known as the necessities a waste of taxpayer funds, taking away from the U.S. Customs and Border Safety’s (CBP) mission towards nationwide safety.
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The Otay Mesa East Port of Entry undertaking was awarded a grant from the Nationally Vital Multimodal Freight and Freeway Initiatives program in September 2022, although the undertaking by no means moved ahead.
The Otay Mesa, Calif., business port of entry is one in every of three ports of entry within the San Diego-Tijuana metropolitan area. (Google Maps)
“Thanks to the prior administration’s lack of focus, this critical project sat in limbo for two years. No more. We moved to finalize this deal so we can help protect our Southern border and crack down on drug trafficking while preventing tax dollars subsidizing pointless Green New Deal priorities,” Duffy mentioned. “This department will continue to clear the previous administration’s unprecedented grants backlog and deliver results.”
The $150 million funding will give the CBP new state-of-the-art inspection services, in addition to a business automobile enforcement facility.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy speaks throughout a information convention. (AP Picture/Jacquelyn Martin)
The deployment of clever transportation applied sciences to assist handle site visitors demand by dynamic tolling will even be included, which the DOT mentioned will improve inspection effectivity and bolster cross-border commerce.
DOT added that the undertaking will scale back congestion, carry financial advantages and spur job creation throughout Southern California.
The almost 3,600 vans that cross the border at Otay Mesa and Tecate Ports of Entry, that are at the moment working at full capability, could have another crossing as soon as the undertaking is full.
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The undertaking comes after the Trump administration inherited over 3,200 grants which had been promoted by the Biden administration however by no means adopted by on, based on the DOT.
“This unprecedented backlog of unobligated grants delayed critical investments in communities across the country,” the DOT mentioned in a information launch. “Under Secretary Duffy’s leadership, the Department is working diligently to accelerate the distribution of these long-overdue funds and address core infrastructure projects.”
