New pedestrian entry to Mexico opens at PedWest

Mexican authorities for the first time on Monday began processing foot traffic entering Tijuana through the city’s new PedWest entrance.

The launching of the southbound pedestrian inspection facility by Mexico’s federal government opens a new option for crossing into Mexico from San Ysidro. Travelers already have been able to cross in both directions east of the vehicle inspection lanes, by the terminus of the San Diego trolley. And now they can choose to cross both north and south near the Las Americas outlet mall.

Monday’s 6 a.m. opening took place without incident — despite fears that yellow taxi owners would block the passage of pedestrians following a weekend protest aimed at asserting their claim over a passenger pickup area.

Tijuana officials vowed to use force to remove them if necessary — but in the end it that didn’t happen: Yellow taxi owners and their family members left of their own volition.

“We will be mindful of maintaining order in this area,” said Raúl Felipe Luévano, Tijuana’s secretary-general, during a weekend news conference. “This is an important entryway for the city, and we want to offer a much better image than the one we had.”

Marco Antonio Sotomayor, the city’s police chief said his officers will ensure that “all daily pedestrian crossers can cross safely through this facility, and choose whatever form of transportation is convenient.”

While the U.S. inspections at PedWest are open 24 hours, Mexico’s inspections of southbound crossers here will only take place from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

One of the first to try out Mexico’s new inspection facilities was Jason Wells, executive director of the San Ysidro Chamber of Commerce. “It was very quick,” he said. “Anytime you can get our visitors direct routes, it’s a benefit.”

An estimated 14 million pedestrians cross in both directions between Tijuana and San Diego each year. The next upgrades for pedestrians at the port are expected in 2019, with the opening of a new 20-lane U.S. inspection facility on the port’s eastern side.

sandra.dibble@sduniontribune.com

@sandradibble