Press Releases 08
Transportation Secretaries Meet in Mexico to Discuss Cooperation
Statement by Ambassador Antonio O. Garza
Mexico City, October 7, 2008 - “U.S. Transportation Secretary
Mary Peters is in Mexico for two days of discussions with
Mexican Secretary of Communications and Transportation Luis
Tellez. No one whose business runs across our mutual border
or who regularly crosses from one side to the other could
doubt the importance of improving and easing transportation
over our shared frontier.
“Among other issues, Secretary Peters is discussing with
Secretary Tellez the Transportation Border Congestion Relief
Program, an initiative to encourage creative, public-private
solutions to the delays travelers and cargo carriers encounter
at the border. Although Customs and Border Protection has
made strides in reducing border crossing wait times without
compromising security, the Congestion Relief Program seeks
to create the 21st century infrastructure to help trade carry
both our countries into a prosperous future. Two projects
have been identified on our border; the Otay Mesa East Port
of Entry at the San Diego/Tijuana crossing, and the East Loop
Bypass rail project in Laredo, Texas. These projects will
enjoy extra technical support from the U.S. government and
enhanced financing options to ensure they move quickly forward.
“Secretary Peters has also voiced Transportation’s strong
commitment to the Cross Border Demonstration Project for Mexican
and U.S. truckers. Although this program to improve freight
transportation and cut costs between our two countries still
faces stiff opposition in our congress, on August 4 Federal
Motor Carrier Safety Administrator John Hill announced the
demonstration project would be extended for two years. This
announcement reassured trucking companies on both sides of
the border that their participation in the project will pay
off, through their competitive advantage of bringing freight
door-to-door in Mexico and the United States.
“An underlying theme in the talks will be Secretary Peter’s
commitment to public-private partnerships as a way to speed
delivery of new transportation infrastructure projects, at
lower cost and with less public funding compared to traditional
financing. She will seek Secretary Tellez’ and Mexico’s proven
experience in these innovative schemes to help inform and
propel joint projects under consideration as well as those
on the U.S. side of the border.”
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