The City of Douglas is still pushing for expansion of the current port but it is coming down to a matter of money and politics.
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Federal funding for the project was to occur in 2011, but now has been pushed back to 2012.
“We have $1.2 million now allocated for the project, but need about $2 million for the port expansion,” Gomez said. The cost includes an environmental assessment of Chino Road, extension and reconstruction of that road and the purchase of additional land near the port.
Part of the problem is in Mexico where there is political fighting over where the new port should be – at the existing port site on Pan American or moved over closer to Kings Highway.
“Until a final decision comes from Mexico on its location, it is going to be difficult to get a funding commitment. Right now we are waiting for a letter of support from Mexico City,”
Gomez said he has already written a letter asking for support for the project from state leaders and has received a favorable response.
The city would prefer expansion at the port’s current location, especially in light of the economic impact it could have on Douglas.
Gomez will present a resolution to the 2010 Resolutions Subcommittee he was just appointed to for support of the commercial port of entry, including funding for the Chino Road Extension project.
He gathered more sponsors – 18 cities and four counties – than any other resolution to be presented. Support came as far away as Flagstaff.
In his letter, he says, “While there have been advances in the way in which our nation’s ports of entry process the millions of cargo trucks that pass through our southern port of entry each year, infrastructural deficiencies must address enhanced security and promote economic development.
“As such the General Services Administration has completed the Douglas Port of Entry Feasibility Study identifying deficiencies inhibiting port operations that contribute to procession inefficiency and safety hazards.
“Although the federal government named improving border infrastructure a top priority to maintain national security, the nation’s land ports of entry are faced with approximately $5 billion in deficiencies. The current funding levels could take up to 40 years to address these deficiencies. Douglas is in dire need of improvement cannot wait any longer.”
Douglas has still not been fully funded even though it is the second busiest port in Arizona, with a per year import value of $910 million.
“It has been 30 years since the last port improvement project,” Gomez said.
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