(Spanish begins on page 18) Tuesday, June 26, Caltrans District Taylor Street, San Diego, CA :15 5 p.m.

Transcription

1 (Spanish begins on page 18) Tuesday, June 26, 2012 Caltrans District Taylor Street, San Diego, CA :15 5 p.m.

2 SANDAG Binational Seminar June 26, 2012 Introduction White Paper Every year since 1997, the Committee on Binational Regional Opportunities (COBRO) has supported the organization of the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) annual binational event. Continuing with these efforts to support binational discussions, COBRO recommended that the 2012 Binational Seminar focus on examining approaches for regional collaboration with Tijuana, Tecate, and Playas de Rosarito in the context of their Metropolitan Zone Strategic Plan and the Regional Comprehensive Plan (RCP) for the San Diego Region and the 2050 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS). The SANDAG Borders Committee concurred with the theme for this year s binational event. Background The choice for this topic, Mechanics of Crossborder Collaboration: The San Diego Region and the Tijuana, Tecate, and Playas de Rosarito Metropolitan Zone, stems from the opportunity to evaluate regional planning efforts in a new binational context. The 2011 event focused on the San Diego Tijuana region s land ports of entry (POEs) and nearby facilities that serve as significant transportation hubs for the binational region. This year s event recognizes other important regional and binational planning issues centered on transportation, economic development, and the environment that our regions share. Furthermore, COBRO considered that this would be an opportune time to assess the state of our border planning and collaboration processes, which have been enriched during the recent years with the experiences from the preparation and implementation of the Otay Mesa Mesa de Otay Binational Corridor Strategic Plan. The timing of this event is relevant since it coincides with the upcoming completion of the 2034 Tijuana, Tecate, and Playas de Rosarito Metropolitan Zone Strategic Plan and the adoption in fall 2011 of the San Diego Region 2050 RTP/SCS, as well as new direction to merge the update of the RCP for the San Diego Region with the next RTP/SCS into a combined regional plan. These plans form the backdrop for broader discussions on the many important issues that link our region. An improved understanding of the mechanics of these plans can help us better link their initiatives to bolster a more focused and stronger regional vision that supports common goals such as efficient mobility, economic prosperity, sustainability, and an enhanced quality of life. 3

3 The key objectives of the seminar are to: 1. Identify areas of effective collaboration that each region could consider synthesizing into their planning documents. 2. Gain insight and consensus on how to move forward on those areas of potential collaboration. 3. Explore the appropriate timing to move forward on future collaboration efforts. It is anticipated that input from the seminar could potentially help develop implementation actions for consideration in the development of the SANDAG combined regional plan as well as in the Metropolitan Zone Strategic Plan. This white paper provides background information to support discussions at the seminar. Specifically, this paper describes existing planning efforts and provides an overview on areas of potential collaboration as described in this white paper and listed in Attachment 1. Development of the 2034 Tijuana, Tecate, and Playas de Rosarito Metropolitan Zone Strategic Plan Currently, the Cities of Tijuana, Tecate, and Playas de Rosarito are involved in finalizing their first Metropolitan Zone Strategic Plan. Before describing this plan in further detail, the following will provide some background to give context to its development. In past years, the fundamental planning framework for the Cities of Tijuana, Tecate, and Playas de Rosarito has been based on each municipality developing its own Municipal Development Plan (Plan Municipal de Desarrollo) and Urban Development Program (PDUCP, Programa de Desarrollo Urbano del Centro de Población). The Municipal Development Plan is the guiding document for the entire municipal system of the city for the Mayor and City Council three-year administration. The main objective of the Municipal Development Plan is to establish goals, strategies, priorities, strategic projects and programs, and function as a tool to provide the precise actions and direction the city will take. Every three years, the Municipal Development Plan is developed by each of the cities through its individual Planning Committee for Municipal Development (Comité de Planeación para el Desarrollo Municipal or COPLADEM). COPLADEM serves as the city s outreach planning mechanism and is comprised of local planning councils, or municipal planning committees. These committees are made up of local representatives from the public and private sector. The representatives are charged with establishing the mechanisms for the formulation, instrumentation, control, and evaluation of the municipal development plan. In sum, these committees operate like a planning department, providing technical input and policy recommendations that reflect the will of the community. The PDUCP draws from the vision and strategies proposed in the Municipal Development Plan of each locality. The PDUCP grants the city zoning authority to regulate land use and is updated every five years. The cities Municipal Planning Institutes or Planning Departments coordinate the preparation of the PDUCP and also oversee implementation of long-term urban and regional planning. 4

4 The initial discussions regarding the development of a Metropolitan Zone Strategic Plan began several years ago between elected officials and planners. Their discussions focused on how to improve their planning coordination through a new mechanism, using similar principles as the PDUCP but expanding them to support planning at a metropolitan level. These discussions acknowledged the development trend in Tijuana, Tecate, and Playas de Rosarito that is leading these cities to grow closer to each other. As a result, these urban neighbors, who were distinct and separated in the past, could no longer ignore that they were becoming more connected. This phenomenon also was taking place across Mexico. As a response, in 2004 Mexico s Secretariat of Social Development (SEDESOL), Mexico s National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), and Mexico s National Population Council (CONAPO) developed the Delimitation of the Metropolitan Areas of Mexico, which officially established, for the first time, the criteria used to identify the metropolitan zones in the country. This plan helped to identify 55 metropolitan areas and their main characteristics. Tijuana, Tecate, and Playas de Rosarito were part of the candidate list. Their selection was based on the geographic conurbation criteria, which classifies Tijuana as the central city; the metropolitan region s boundary was defined by merging the three municipalities. The Council of the Metropolitan Zone for Tijuana, Tecate, and Playas de Rosarito was formed in the same year. In 2008, this metropolitan area was officially recognized in the State of Baja California Development Plan. This enabled the establishment of the metropolitan region s territorial limits and paved the way for funding the development of strategic projects. Since the region is formed by several cities, the Metropolitan Zone Strategic Plan was developed in order to determine how these funds would be invested throughout the Metropolitan region on strategic projects. The Metropolitan Zone Strategic Plan will be undergoing follow up activities in Phase II of its development in summer When it is finalized later this fall, it will represent the culmination of several years of work from the first research that reflects the needs and opportunities of the metropolitan region. Concepts and elements from the previous Municipal and State Urban Development Plans are integrated in the Metropolitan Zone Strategic Plan, in order to generate a true link between the cities, prioritizing strategies and regional needs. As a result of the Metropolitan Zone Strategic Plan s creation, the name and role of the City of Tijuana s Municipal Planning Institute (IMPlan) changed. It is now called the Metropolitan Planning Institute (IMPLAN). The new IMPLAN agency is tasked to plan for the Tijuana, Tecate, and Playas de Rosarito Metropolitan Zone and essentially could be considered as conducting some of the same functions as SANDAG. Another institutional change is that COPLADEM Tijuana has been merged into IMPLAN. However, COPLADEM continues to exist in the Cities of Tecate and Playas de Rosarito and collaborates with IMPLAN Tijuana. The essential functions of COPLADEM continue to exist within IMPLAN. 5

5 Tijuana, Tecate, and Playas de Rosarito Metropolitan Zone Source: IMPLAN The Metropolitan Zone Strategic Plan for Tijuana, Tecate, and Playas de Rosarito The Metropolitan Zone Strategic Plan has been developed as a guide towards achieving substantial change in the environmental, economic, urban, social, and institutional development of the Metropolitan Region of Tijuana, Tecate, and Playas de Rosarito. Starting with the commitment of the different urban stakeholders, the main goal is to improve the citizens quality of life, and ensure the governance and achievement of a shared vision. The Metropolitan Zone Strategic Plan seeks to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the environmental, economic, urban, social, and institutional sectors of the Metropolitan Region in a context that highlights the global role of the Metropolitan Region and its transformation into an urban space of social cohesion and international influence. 6

6 The vision for the Metropolitan Region in 2034 is the following: In the year 2034, the Metropolitan Region of Tijuana, Tecate, and Playas de Rosarito is a global metropolis competitive worldwide, within a platform of connectivity and distribution of international networks and the international flow of goods and services. It is characterized as an educated and innovative leading community that promotes the conservation, reuse and recycling of natural resources and use of alternative energy sources. Its high quality of life and economic competitiveness are the reflection of the citizens own security, high level of knowledge, use of cutting-edge technologies, broad ecologic diversity, efficient coordination between the governing representatives, and the enhancement of the potential found in its strategic geographic coastal and border location. Its inhabitants, proud of the identity and culture of their territory, constitute a society that supports solidarity, and that is healthy and active in the sustainable development of the metropolis. The Plan covers a great variety of issues, from sustainability with strategies regarding improved management of water resources, to quality of life with actions oriented to the improvement of housing. The specific objectives of the 2034 Metropolitan Zone Strategic Plan are as follows: 1. Support the institutional and socio-economic development of the Metropolitan Region, in order to improve the quality of life of its inhabitants. 2. Consolidate the planning processes of infrastructure, economic and social development for the Metropolitan Region, which will also promote the participation of every stakeholder from different sectors. 3. Define a management process for metropolitan environmental sustainability. 4. Determine an instrument of metropolitan management, which allows for dialogue between the different stakeholders on sustainable development, working for the metropolitan integration and shared financing of strategic projects. 5. Generate a metropolitan agenda of actions and strategic projects that identifies stakeholders and responsibilities. 6. Position the Metropolitan Region in the national and international context. Border-Related Strategies The border strategies were approached as an overarching subject, which enables this theme to be found throughout the different issues identified in the 2034 Metropolitan Zone Strategic Plan. Those found as a direct link to border issues are listed below. 7

7 Regional and Crossborder Integration Link the metropolis to its regional context favoring the connectivity between urban centers, regional corridors and border crossings. Social Expression Spread, promote, and develop the crossborder art and culture. Crossborder Management Improve the coordination and joint planning of the metropolitan crossborder sector. Also, the 2034 Metropolitan Zone Strategic Plan has identified several projects focused on the border. These are listed below. Puerta México/El Chaparral POE Expansion New Mesa de Otay II POE Border Region Master Plan (Comprehensive System of Border Crossings) New Jacumé POE Binational Institutional and Academic Exchange Program Otay Mesa-Mesa de Otay Binational Corridor Strategic Plan San Diego Regional Comprehensive Plan The RCP, adopted in 2004, is the strategic planning framework for the San Diego region and extends through It creates a regional vision, provides a broad context in which local and regional decisions can be made that foster a healthy environment, a vibrant economy, and a high quality of life for all residents. It balances regional population, housing, and employment growth with habitat preservation, agriculture, open space, and infrastructure needs and moves the region toward a sustainable future a future with more choices and opportunities for all residents. True to its name, the RCP is comprehensive in its scope. It looks beyond borders and considers the planning and growth underway in Imperial, Orange, and Riverside Counties as well as in Baja California, Mexico. A Shared Vision of the Future The RCP was crafted by citizens and representatives from the region's 18 cities and county government, working together as SANDAG. The plan was founded on the ideas of thousands of people including residents, business owners, and local public officials. Together, they endorsed the following vision statement for the RCP: To preserve and enhance the San Diego region s unique features its vibrant and culturally-diverse communities, its beaches, deserts, mountains, lagoons, bluffs, and canyons, and its international setting and promote sustainability, economic prosperity, and an outstanding quality of life for everyone. Citizens also helped articulate a series of core values, referenced throughout the RCP, which are the foundation for its policies and recommended actions. The policy recommendations are heavily shaped by principles of sustainability and smart growth. Sustainability means meeting current 8

8 economic, environmental, and community needs while also ensuring that the ability of future generations to do the same isn t jeopardized. Sustainability also means making a regional commitment to the Three Es: Economy, Environment, and Equity advancing a prosperous economy, supporting a healthy environment, and promoting social equity. Smart growth is understood as developing the region in a way that creates communities with more housing and transportation choices, better access to jobs, more public spaces, and more open space preservation. Smart growth more closely links jobs and housing, provides more urban public facilities such as parks and police stations, makes neighborhoods more walkable, and places more jobs and housing near transit. It reduces land consumption in the rural and agricultural areas, and spurs reinvestment in the existing communities. Borders Chapter: Forging a Better Future with our Neighbors The various chapters of the RCP address each of the major elements of planning for the San Diego Region: urban form, transportation, housing, healthy environment, economic prosperity, public facilities, and borders issues. Each chapter begins with a vision for the San Diego region in 2030 and includes a description of existing conditions, existing plans and programs, an analysis of key issues, and recommended goals, policy objectives, and actions. One chapter is dedicated exclusively to border issues, which are described in the following sections. A goal of the RCP is to create a regional community where San Diego, our three neighboring counties, 17 tribal governments, and northern Baja California, Mexico mutually benefit from San Diego s resources and international location. To achieve this goal, the RCP calls for the coordination of shared infrastructure, efficient transportation systems, integrated environmental planning, and economic development with all of its regional neighbors. It recognizes that the region is a unique and dynamic place to live one that embraces cultural diversity, promotes interregional understanding, and benefits from its varied history and experience. Improving Access to Jobs and Housing Along the international border, although struggling to meet its own demand for housing units, Tijuana has seen San Diegans buying homes and crossing daily to work in San Diego. The RCP states that we must address both the issues of San Diegans migrating southward for affordable housing and the northward migration of Mexicans in search of work along the border. Similar to the partnership created with southwestern Riverside County, the RCP calls for developing a partnership with authorities in Mexico to address the issues surrounding jobs/housing accessibility in the binational region. The Otay Mesa-Mesa de Otay Binational Corridor Strategic Plan reported on Smart Growth issues and SANDAG focused discussions on the issue of Smart Growth at the SANDAG 2008 binational seminar (Smart Growth and Sustainability on the Border). 9

9 Enhancing Transportation Systems and Trade Routes As growth continues in this region and the surrounding areas, maintaining major transportation systems will be an even greater challenge. Agencies must work together to provide reliable and efficient transportation systems associated with interregional commuting corridors, key trade corridors, tribal reservations, and POEs. The RCP recognizes that the San Diego region needs support from its neighbors to acquire funding for trade corridor infrastructure in the international border zone. Energy and Water Supply, and the Environment Water and energy supply, and the environment are other key areas that span the regional, international, and intergovernmental borders. Policies and infrastructure are needed to meet binational, tribal reservation, and interregional long-term energy and water needs in a fiscally and environmentally sound manner. Maintaining habitat corridors, and improving air and water quality will contribute to a healthy binational and interregional environment. Specifically, the RCP calls for increasing the use of renewable energy resources throughout the binational and interregional region; coordinating long-term water planning with surrounding counties, Mexico, and tribal governments; and establishing a cross-border cooperative effort to protect border communities from potentially harmful environmental impacts of projects on either side of the U.S.-Mexico border. Economic Development Interregional partnerships can contribute significantly to the success of the Regional Economic Prosperity Strategy and position the greater binational and interregional area as a strong competitor in the global marketplace. A specific action called for in the RCP is to enact policies and measures that promote economic development along the border in Mexico, such as the Maquiladora Program; and establishing a forum for increased communication with tribal governments regarding economic development. Homeland Security In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, homeland security presents an increased challenge for the international border region. Local, state, and federal officials from both countries have been charged with keeping the nation secure while protecting the quality of life in the greater border region. The RCP outlines how improvements can be made to binational POEs through the application of new technologies and increased involvement of local agencies. European countries could provide helpful models for maintaining security and fluidity in border areas. 10

10 San Diego Region Total San Diego Region Population: 3,095,313 Tecate Tijuana Playas de Rosarito Source: SANDAG 2010 Census Data 11

11 2050 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy The 2050 RTP/SCS was adopted in 2011 and covers the period from It was developed around five primary components: a SCS; Social Equity and Environmental Justice; Systems Development; Systems Management; and Demand Management. Each component has a unique, yet interdependent role in creating a sustainable transportation system that improves mobility, reduces greenhouse gases, and increases travel choices for everyone in the San Diego region through The San Diego region has consistently supported a multimodal approach to transportation that looks at the overall system and improvements that benefit all modes, rather than prioritizing one over the other. This approach gives choices to all transportation system users traveling within and through the region. SANDAG is required to address congestion management through a process involving an analysis of multimodal region wide strategies that are cooperatively developed to foster safety and integrated management of new and existing transportation facilities eligible for federal funding. Just like the RCP, the 2050 RTP/SCS also considers the planning and growth underway in Imperial, Orange, and Riverside Counties as well as in Baja California, Mexico. The following are some of the areas that relate to transportation planning along the border included in the 2050 RTP/SCS. The San Diego Region Goods Movement Network The movement of goods in the San Diego region involves intermodal systems of air cargo, border crossings, maritime, pipeline, rail and roadways/truckways. Situated between major production, trade, and population centers, San Diego hosts a wide array of freight transportation and infrastructure components. The freight transportation system includes interstate and state highways, Class I freight rail operations, two short line railroad operations (all freight operations occur on tracks shared with passenger rail services), airport cargo systems, the Port of San Diego with two working marine terminals, and the Otay Mesa and Tecate commercial border crossings. Land Ports of Entry In 2010, nearly $27 billion in goods moved between Mexico and the United States at the Otay Mesa POE and at the Tecate POE. The SANDAG 2050 Comprehensive Freight Gateway Study (Gateway Study), projects that the nearly two million trucks that crossed the California-Mexico border in 2007 will increase to nearly five million trucks in According to the SANDAG study, Economic Impacts of Wait Times at the San Diego-Baja California Border, trucks crossing the border at Otay Mesa and Tecate currently experience delays of more than two hours, on average, even when they are not subjected to secondary inspections. To shorten these delays, roadway projects are proposed at the border, as well as the new Otay Mesa East POE. 12

12 Rail San Diego County is served by three rail companies that own and/or operate rail facilities within the county. In the northern part of the county along the Interstate 5 (I-5) corridor, Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway operates on two lines owned by the North County Transit District (NCTD) and the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS). They run from Oceanside to Escondido, and from Oceanside to downtown San Diego. BNSF also operates on a rail line segment between downtown San Diego and the National City Marine Terminal (this segment is owned by BNSF). In the southern portion of the county, San Diego and Imperial Valley Railroad (SD&IV), a subsidiary of Fortress Investment Group (formerly Rail America Inc.), operates two short lines owned by MTS. One line connects the Santa Fe Depot in downtown San Diego with the San Ysidro border crossing and freight yard. The other line runs from downtown San Diego to the City of Santee, in the eastern part of the region. Additionally, the Carrizo Gorge Railway (CZRY) owns the rights to operate limited service between the U.S.-Mexico border at San Ysidro/Tijuana, through Mexico to the U.S.-Mexico border crossing at Tecate. The rail line continues from Tecate to Plaster City in the western part of Imperial County. The section between Tijuana and Tecate is owned by the Mexican government, while the section between Tecate, California, and Plaster City is owned by MTS. However, the portion between Division, near Tecate, and Plaster City is currently closed due to bridge repairs. In 2008, all of the region s rail operators handled about 32,000 carloads, including such commodities as motor vehicles, lumber, chemicals, petroleum, agricultural products, cement, and aggregate. Freight rail capacity along the coast and south to Mexico is currently constrained by limited infrastructure and the sharing of track with passenger operations including Amtrak, the COASTER, and the Trolley. The 2050 RTP includes proposed rail capacity improvements to reduce current passenger/freight rail bottlenecks and to increase capacity for existing port and border-related freight. New rail logistics centers at key locations would allow rail and truck transfers where the demand for local or subregional industrial/manufacturing is high and where land is less expensive. Track improvements on the San Diego to Tecate line would provide better connections and service to manufacturing centers in Mexico, with the potential to grow rail carloads. Road/Truckways The majority of the region s freight travels by truck. Congested freeways and highways slow the movement of freight, especially at key gateway access points. These include the border crossing at Otay Mesa and the port connector roads along Harbor Drive and ultimately to the Interstate system. New Managed Lanes are planned along the region s primary truck routes, including primary northsouth routes such as I-5, I-15, and I-805. Also, the potential use of Managed Lanes during off-peak periods for moving goods will be evaluated in the near future. Other proposals for increasing truck capacity include improvements on State Route 52 (SR 52), SR 54, SR 67, SR 94, and SR 125. In the San Diego region, I-5, I-805, and I-15 are the major north-south corridors used by significant numbers of commercial trucks. SR 94/125, I-8, and SR 905/Otay Mesa Road are the region s primary east-west truck corridors. 13

13 Areas for Potential Collaboration The following outlines selected issue areas identified in both regions planning documents that could present opportunities for potential collaboration. Environment Both regions plans address the environment in their respective documents. The Metropolitan Zone Strategic Plan identifies the following as environmental issue priority areas on a region-wide scale: environmental sustainability, improved air quality, conservation and rehabilitation, sustainable management of the coastal zone, fostering environmental values through environmental education, increased environmental monitoring and management by the appropriate government agencies, and climate change adaptation. Environmental issues also are addressed in the RCP and the 2050 RTP/SCS. The RCP addresses these issues on a binational and a region-wide scale. Among many recommendations, the plan calls for linking habitat corridors within San Diego County with surrounding counties and Mexico to create interregional and international preserve systems. It also promotes a crossborder cooperative effort to protect border communities from potentially harmful impacts of projects. Other regional priorities include maintaining clean air and water, viable natural habitats, and a well-managed shoreline. The RTP/SCS region wide approach to environmental issues is to evaluate strategies for adapting to climate change and inclusion of a SCS that integrates land use and transportation planning which will help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In addition, the RTP/SCS makes border specific recommendations to promote the use of technology and best practices to reduce vehicle emissions due to congestion and idling at the border. Energy and Water Supply The Metropolitan Zone Strategic Plan has identified improving the management of water resources as an important goal. Although the agency primarily responsible for this is Baja California s State Commission on Public Services (CESP), this goal would be incorporated into the Metropolitan Zone Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan also promotes improved efficiency in the use of energy and development of new renewable sources. The issues of water and energy are not addressed as binational issues. In the categories of energy and water, the RCP identified increasing the use of renewable energy resources throughout the binational and interregional area; and coordinating long-term water planning with surrounding counties, Mexico, and tribal governments. 14

14 Transportation The Metropolitan Zone Strategic Plan addresses transportation through supporting regional and cross-border integration. It links the metropolis to its regional context supporting the connectivity between urban centers, regional corridors and border crossings. It promotes the development of a sustainable and comprehensive land use and mobility system that favors the use of public and nonmotorized transportation. The RTP/SCS also identifies transportation strategies linked to the border. In general, the RTP/SCS supports coordination of transportation projects with neighboring jurisdictions. It promotes the use of technologies and best practices to reduce vehicle emissions due to congestion and idling at the border and seeks to secure funding for needed transportation infrastructure in the region s border area (e.g., San Ysidro POE, SR 11, and the Otay Mesa East POE), and to coordinate border related capital and operating improvements with the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). The RTP also supports the use of technology at the international land ports of entry, as well as the expansion of the Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI)-like programs for travelers and cargo. In the area of border crossing delays the RTP recommends that SANDAG work with Caltrans, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and other involved agencies to monitor the impacts of northbound and southbound traffic delays at the international land ports of entry and explore opportunities to mitigate these delays. It also recommends that SANDAG work with CBP and Caltrans to secure funds to develop performance indicators such as level of service for cross-border vehicle (private and commercial) and pedestrian wait times at the POEs. In the area of transportation there are opportunities for both regions to coordinate transportation access and connections to the borders and collaborate on improving the flow of people and traffic across the border. SANDAG is developing a new tool to forecast travel demand within the San Diego region that also has a crossborder travel component. The Activity-Based Model (ABM) is currently under development as an open source model. Homeland Security The RCP Borders chapter outlines how improvements can be made to binational POEs through the application of new technologies and increased involvement of local agencies. Economic Development In the area of economic development, the Metropolitan Zone Strategic Plan proposes the consolidation of the planning process of infrastructure, economic and social development of the Metropolitan Region. It also supports identifying mechanisms for metropolitan management, which allows a dialogue between the different stakeholders, supports sustainable development, and works for the inter-municipal integration and shared financing for strategic projects. The RCP identifies the SANDAG Regional Economic Prosperity Strategy as its primary economic element. The Strategy s recommended actions call for infrastructure investment and public policy support in key areas to strengthen the region's economic foundation. The Strategy makes the connections among a strong economy and sufficient land for jobs and housing, a superior infrastructure system to support business and industry, and an education system that prepares residents to succeed in the workforce. 15

15 Its focus on the border is to promote coordination of shared infrastructure, efficient transportation systems, integrated environmental planning, and economic development with all of its regional neighbors. In addition, it supports economic development strategies; and enacting policies and measures that promote economic development along the border in Mexico, such as the Maquiladora Program. Housing The Metropolitan Strategic Plan addresses housing by calling for the promotion of high quality housing, infrastructure, public services and urban projects, accessible to the general public, which contribute enhancing the quality of life of the general population. It promotes the creation of prosperous communities through architectural and urban projects that enable the population to thrive and fully develop. At the binational level, the RCP proposes developing a partnership with authorities in Mexico to address the issues surrounding jobs/housing accessibility in the binational region. Society/Family/Culture The Metropolitan Zone Strategic Plan promotes as a strategy to spread, and develop cross-border art and culture. Digital City The Metropolitan Zone Strategic Plan identifies Digital City as a strategy to promote innovation, research and technology development, and consolidating information and compatible networks. Its goal is to expand free metropolitan access to the internet; in addition modernize city administration, daily activities to provide digital means of completing transactions with the city, schools, businesses, and other relevant institutions. Coordination/Collaboration In the area of coordination and collaboration the Metropolitan Zone Strategic Plan proposes to improve the coordination and joint planning of the metropolitan cross-border sector. The RCP s approach is to strive to create a regional community where San Diego County, 18 local cities, three neighboring counties, 17 tribal governments, and northern Baja California, Mexico mutually benefit from San Diego s resources and international location. In addition it promotes the coordination of shared infrastructure, efficient transportation systems, integrated environmental planning, and economic development with all of its regional neighbors. The RCP recognizes that the San Diego region needs support from its northern and eastern neighbors to acquire funding for trade corridor infrastructure in the international border zone. Health Assessments The Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is an emerging planning tool in the San Diego Region. It is a systematic process that uses an array of data sources and analytic methods and considers input from stakeholders to determine the potential effects of a proposed policy, plan, program or project on the health of a population and the distribution of those effects within the population. HIA provides recommendations on monitoring and managing those effects. 16

16 BIBLIOGRAPHY Tijuana, Tecate, and Playas de Rosarito Metropolitan Zone Strategic Plan, Metropolitan Planning Institute (IMPLAN): Regional Comprehensive Plan for the San Diego Region, San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), Regional Transportation Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategy, San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG): 17

17 Seminario Binacional de SANDAG 26 de junio de 2012 Introducción Documento de Respaldo Desde 1997, el Comité de Oportunidades Binacionales de la Región (COBRO, por sus siglas en inglés) ha apoyado a la Asociación de Gobiernos de San Diego (SANDAG, por sus siglas en inglés) en la organización del evento anual binacional. Continuando con los esfuerzos para fomentar un diálogo binacional, COBRO recomendó que el evento anual de 2012 se enfocara en examinar enfoques para la colaboración regional con la Zona Metropolitana de Tijuana, Tecate y Playas de Rosarito, dentro del contexto del Plan Estratégico de la Zona Metropolitana, el Plan Integral Regional de San Diego (RCP, por sus siglas en inglés) y el Plan Regional de Transporte 2050/Estrategia de Comunidades Sustentables (2050 RTP/SCS, por sus siglas en inglés). El Comité de Fronteras de SANDAG estuvo de acuerdo con el tema elegido para el evento binacional del presente año. Antecedentes La elección del tema Mecánica de la Colaboración Transfronteriza: La Región de San Diego y la Zona Metropolitana de Tijuana, Tecate y Playas de Rosarito, surge de la oportunidad de evaluar nuestros esfuerzos regionales en planeación, en un nuevo contexto binacional. El evento de 2011 se enfocó en las garitas de acceso en la región de San Diego Tijuana y las instalaciones cercanas que sirven como importantes centros de transporte para la región binacional. El evento de este año enfatiza otras importantes problemáticas presentes en ambas regiones, dentro de la planeación regional y binacional centradas en el transporte, desarrollo económico y el medio ambiente. Asimismo, COBRO consideró que este podría ser un tiempo oportuno para abordar el estado de la planeación fronteriza y los procesos de colaboración, que han sido enriquecidos en años recientes con las experiencias de la preparación e implementación del Plan Estratégico del Corredor Binacional de Otay Mesa-Mesa de Otay. La fecha para el evento no podría ser mejor, ya que coincide con la próxima terminación del Plan Estratégico de la Zona Metropolitana Tijuana, Tecate y Playas de Rosarito 2034 (PEM) y la reciente adopción del 2050 RTP/SCS de la Región de San Diego, así como la nueva dirección para combinar la actualización del Plan Integral Regional de San Diego (RCP) con el próximo plan RTP/SCS. Estos documentos representan la base de discusiones más amplias sobre las problemáticas importantes que vinculan nuestra región. Un mejor entendimiento de la mecánica de estos planes puede ayudarnos a vincular correctamente sus respectivas iniciativas y reforzar una visión más fuerte y enfocada que apoye las metas en común tales como movilidad eficiente, prosperidad económica, sustentabilidad y una mejor calidad de vida. 18

18 Los objetivos claves del seminario son: 1. Identificar áreas de colaboración efectiva que cada región pueda considerar e integrar dentro de sus documentos de planeación. 2. Adquirir introspectiva y consenso en cómo dar pasos hacia adelante en esas áreas con potencial de colaboración, y 3. Explorar los tiempos apropiados para avanzar en futuros esfuerzos de colaboración. Se anticipa que las aportaciones del seminario puedan potencialmente ayudar a desarrollar acciones de implementación para su consideración en el desarrollo del nuevo plan regional combinado del RCP/RTP de SANDAG así como en el Plan Estratégico de la Zona Metropolitana. Este resumen ejecutivo provee antecedentes que ayuden a fundamentar discusiones en el seminario. En específico, el documento describe los esfuerzos existentes en la planeación y proporciona una visión general sobre las áreas de posible colaboración (Ver Anexo 1 sólo en inglés). Desarrollo del Plan Estratégico de la Zona Metropolitana de Tijuana, Tecate y Playas de Rosarito 2034 Actualmente las ciudades de Tijuana, Tecate y Playas de Rosarito están involucradas en la finalización del primer Plan Estratégico de la Zona Metropolitana. Antes de describir el plan en mayor detalle, a continuación se describen los antecedentes del PEM a manera de contexto. En años anteriores, la planeación de las ciudades de Tijuana, Tecate y Playas de Rosarito había sido desarrollada dentro del marco del Programa de Desarrollo Urbano del Centro de Población (PDUCP) de cada ciudad. Este a su vez surge de la visión y estrategias propuestas en el Plan Municipal de Desarrollo de cada municipio. El Plan Municipal de Desarrollo es un documento guía de todo el sistema municipal de la ciudad para la administración de tres años de cada Ayuntamiento. El principal objetivo del Plan Municipal de Desarrollo es establecer las metas, estrategias, prioridades, proyectos estratégicos y programas, y servir como herramienta para proveer las acciones y dirección precisa que la ciudad tomará. Cada tres años el Plan Municipal de Desarrollo es realizado por cada una de las ciudades por su propio Comité de Planeación para el Desarrollo Municipal (COPLADEM). COPLADEM sirve como el mecanismo de planeación vínculo de la ciudad con los consejos locales de planeación o comités municipales de planeación. Estos comités están conformados por representantes locales del sector público y privado. Estos representantes están encargados de establecer los mecanismos de formulación, instrumentación, control y evaluación del plan municipal de desarrollo. En resumen, estos comités operan como un departamento de planeación, proveyendo información técnica y recomendaciones de políticas que reflejen la voluntad de la comunidad. Así, el PDUCP surge de la visión y estrategias propuestas en el Plan Municipal de Desarrollo de cada municipio. Le permite a las instancias encargadas de la zonificación de la ciudad, regular el uso de suelo y actualizarlo cada cinco años. Los Institutos de Planeación Municipal o Departamentos de Planeación de cada ciudad asimismo coordinan la preparación del PDUCP y supervisan la implementación de la planeación urbana y regional a largo plazo. 19

19 Las discusiones iniciales en relación al desarrollo del PEM iniciaron años atrás; al principio se enfocaron en cómo mejorar la coordinación de la planeación mediante un nuevo mecanismo, utilizando principios similares al PDUCP pero expandiéndolos de tal forma que apoyen la planeación a nivel metropolitano. Estas discusiones reconocieron la tendencia del desarrollo en Tijuana, Tecate y Playas de Rosarito, que ha llevado a dichas ciudades a eliminar poco a poco la brecha de separación entre ellas, haciendo finalmente imperceptible la división urbana y evidenciando su conexión. Debido a que este fenómeno comenzó a presentarse en todo México, en 2004 la Secretaría de Desarrollo Social (SEDESOL), el Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI) y CONAPO (Consejo Nacional de Población) desarrollaron la Delimitación de las Áreas Metropolitanas de México, la cual determinó oficialmente por primera vez el criterio que se utilizaría para identificar las zonas metropolitanas en el país. Con ello se lograron identificar 55 áreas metropolitanas y sus principales características. Tijuana, Tecate y Playas de Rosarito formaron parte de la lista de candidaturas. Esta elección estuvo basada en el criterio de conurbación geográfica, que clasificó a Tijuana como la ciudad central; los límites de la región metropolitana fueron definidos al agrupar a los tres municipios. El Consejo de la Zona Metropolitana de Tijuana Tecate y Playas de Rosarito fue establecido el mismo año. En 2008, esta área metropolitana fue oficialmente reconocida en el Plan Estatal de Desarrollo de Baja California ; lo cual permitió que se establecieran los límites territoriales de la región y con ello la petición de recursos para el desarrollo de proyectos estratégicos. Debido a que la región está conformada por varias ciudades se requirió realizar un Plan Estratégico de la Zona Metropolitana, para determinar cómo se dividirían los fondos recibidos y en qué proyectos serían invertidos. El PEM entrará próximamente a su Fase II este verano, en la cual abordará acciones de seguimiento y continuidad. Cuando el plan sea finalizado en otoño, representará la culminación de ocho años de trabajo, desde las investigaciones iniciales hasta la próxima terminación del plan, mismo que refleja las necesidades y oportunidades que la zona metropolitana presenta. Distintos conceptos y elementos de los Planes Estatales de Desarrollo Urbano y Municipales fueron incorporados en el Plan Estratégico de la Zona Metropolitana, para con ello lograr generar un verdadero vínculo entre las ciudades, priorizando estrategias y necesidades regionales. Como resultado de la creación del PEM, se modificó el papel y el nombre del Instituto Municipal de Planeación de Tijuana (IMPlan), que se fusionó con COPLADEM para formar el nuevo Instituto Metropolitano de Planeación de Tijuana (IMPLAN), el cual lleva a cabo la tarea de planeación de la Zona Metropolitana de Tijuana, Tecate y Playas de Rosarito y esencialmente se le puede considerar la agencia de planeación análoga a SANDAG. Sin embargo, dicho cambio sólo fue realizado en la ciudad de Tijuana, por lo que COPLADEM de las ciudades de Tecate y Playas de Rosarito permanecen iguales y realizan trabajos de colaboración con IMPLAN Tijuana. Las funciones esenciales de COPLADEM se conservan dentro de IMPLAN. 20

20 Zona Metropolitana de Tijuana, Tecate y Playas de Rosarito Fuente: IMPLAN El Plan Estratégico de la Zona Metropolitana de Tijuana, Tecate y Playas de Rosarito 2034 El Plan Estratégico de la Zona Metropolitana es una guía que establece las directrices de actuación para alcanzar un cambio sustancial en el desarrollo ambiental, económico, urbano, social, e institucional de la Zona Metropolitana de Tijuana Tecate y Playas de Rosarito (ZMTTR), a partir del compromiso colectivo de los diferentes actores urbanos, con el objetivo principal de elevar la calidad de vida de sus habitantes, garantizar la gobernabilidad de la metrópoli y alcanzar una visión compartida dentro de la misma. De manera general, el PEM 2034 pretende identificar las fortalezas, potencialidades, debilidades y amenazas del sector ambiental, urbano, económico, social e institucional de la ZMTTR; para con ello proponer un plan de objetivos y acciones que ayude a contrarrestar y fortalecer estos ámbitos, dentro de un marco que acentúe la vocación global de la Zona Metropolitana y su transformación en un espacio urbano de cohesión social e influencia internacional 21

21 La Visión para la Zona Metropolitana en el año 2034 establecida por los propios habitantes de la metrópoli es la siguiente: En el año 2034, la Zona Metropolitana Tijuana-Tecate-Playas de Rosarito es una metrópoli global que compite en el mundo sobre la base de la conectividad y su contribución a las redes internacionales y a los flujos financieros, de bienes y servicios. Se caracteriza por ser una comunidad líder, educada e innovadora, que promueve la cultura del ahorro, reúso y reciclaje de los recursos naturales y la utilización de fuentes alternativas de energía. Presenta un desarrollo urbano ordenado y funcional soportado por redes de infraestructura y movilidad modernas que configuran una estructura espacial eficiente y equilibrada. Su alta calidad de vida y competitividad económica son el reflejo de la seguridad ciudadana, el alto conocimiento y utilización de tecnologías vanguardistas, la amplia diversidad ecológica, la acertada coordinación entre los entes que la gobiernan y la potencialización de su posición geográfica costera y transfronteriza. Sus habitantes, orgullosos de la identidad y cultura de su territorio, conforman una sociedad solidaria, sana y activa en el desarrollo sustentable de la metrópoli. El Plan cubre una gran variedad de temas, desde la sustentabilidad con estrategias que se enfocan en el mejoramiento del manejo del agua, hasta la calidad de vida con acciones orientadas al mejoramiento de la vivienda. Los objetivos específicos del PEM son: 1. Impulsar el desarrollo socio-económico e institucional de la zona metropolitana para mejorar la calidad de vida de sus habitantes. 2. Consolidar los procesos de planeación de la infraestructura, el desarrollo económico y social en la zona metropolitana, que promueva la participación de todos los actores en todos los ámbitos. 3. Definir procesos de gestión para la sustentabilidad ambiental metropolitana. 4. Contar con un instrumento de gestión metropolitana, que permita la interlocución de los distintos actores de un desarrollo sustentable, para la integración intermunicipal y el financiamiento compartido de proyectos estratégicos. 5. Generar una agenda metropolitana de acciones y proyectos estratégicos que identifique actores y responsabilidades. 6. Posicionar esta zona metropolitana en el contexto nacional e internacional. Estrategias de Frontera Las estrategias fronterizas específicas fueron abordadas como una temática transversal, por lo que pueden ser encontradas a través de los distintos temas axiales determinados en el PEM Aquellas que hacen una referencia directa a la frontera se enlistan a continuación. 22

22 Integración regional y transfronteriza Vincular la metrópoli a su contexto regional favoreciendo la conectividad entre centros urbanos, corredores regionales y cruces fronterizos. Expresión social Difundir, promocionar y desarrollar el arte y la cultura fronteriza. Gestión transfronteriza Elevar la coordinación para la planeación conjunta del ámbito metropolitano transfronterizo. De igual forma, el PEM 2034 incluye una cartera de proyectos dentro de la cual fueron ubicados una serie de proyectos con índole fronteriza, se muestran a continuación: Ampliación de Puerta México/El chaparral Nueva Garita Otay II Plan Maestro de Zona Fronteriza (sistema integral de cruces fronterizos) Nueva Garita Jacumé Programa de intercambio binacional académico e institucional Plan Estratégico del Corredor Binacional Otay Mesa-Mesa de Otay Plan Integral Regional de San Diego El Plan Integral Regional (RCP, por sus siglas en inglés) adoptado en 2004, es el marco de la planeación estratégica en la región de San Diego y se extiende hasta el año Aporta una visión regional, provee un contexto general en donde las decisiones locales y regionales pueden dar cabida a un medio ambiente saludable, una economía vibrante y una alta calidad de vida para todos los habitantes. Hace un balance entre la población regional, vivienda y el crecimiento de empleo con la preservación del hábitat, agricultura, espacios abiertos y las necesidades de infraestructura, asimismo impulsa a la región hacia un futuro sustentable un futuro con más opciones y oportunidades para todos los habitantes. Fiel a su nombre, el RCP es integral en su alcance. Ve más allá de sus fronteras y considera la planeación y el crecimiento en marcha en los Condados de Imperial, Orange y Riverside, al igual que en Baja California, México. Una Visión Compartida del Futuro El RCP fue desarrollado por los ciudadanos y representantes de las 18 ciudades de la región y el gobierno del condado, trabajando lado a lado con la Asociación de Gobiernos de San Diego (SANDAG, por sus siglas en inglés). El plan fue basado en las ideas de miles de personas incluyendo a los residentes, empresarios y funcionarios públicos locales. Juntos, aprobaron la siguiente visión para el RCP: Para preservar y realzar las características únicas de la región de San Diego sus comunidades dinámicas y culturalmente diversas, sus playas, desiertos, montañas, lagunas, faroles y cañones, y su posicionamiento internacional promoción de sustentabilidad, prosperidad económica y sobresaliente calidad de vida para todos. Los ciudadanos de igual forma ayudaron a articular una serie de Valores Nucleares, referenciados a través del RCP, los cuales representan las bases para sus políticas y acciones recomendadas. 23

23 Las recomendaciones de política están fuertemente conformadas por principios de sustentabilidad y crecimiento inteligente. La Sustentabilidad se define como alcanzar las necesidades económicas, medio ambientales y comunitarias actuales, sin poner en peligro la posibilidad de las futuras generaciones de hacer lo mismo. Sustentabilidad de igual forma significa hacer un compromiso regional hacia las tres E s: economía, ecología y equidad; es decir, sustentabilidad se atribuye a alcanzar las necesidades económicas, ambientales y comunitarias actuales mientras se fomenta una economía prospera, se apoya un medio ambiente sano y se promueve la equidad social. Crecimiento Inteligente entendido como el desarrollo de la región de tal forma que genera comunidades con mayores opciones de vivienda y transporte, mejores accesos a trabajos, mayores espacios públicos y mayor preservación de espacios abiertos. De manera más puntual, el Crecimiento Inteligente vincula trabajo y vivienda, provee más instalaciones públicas urbanas como parques y estaciones de policía, convierte a los vecindarios en más amigables para el peatón y coloca más trabajos y viviendas cercanas al transporte. Reduce el consumo de suelos en las áreas rurales y agrícolas y estimula la reinversión de las comunidades existentes. Capítulo de Fronteras: Forjando un Mejor Futuro con Nuestros Vecinos Los distintos capítulos del RCP abordan cada uno de los principales elementos en la planeación de nuestra Región de San Diego: forma urbana, transporte, vivienda, medio ambiente saludable, prosperidad económica, instalaciones públicas, y fronteras. Cada capítulo inicia con la visión de la Región de San Diego para el año 2030 que incluye una descripción de las condiciones existentes, los planes y programas, análisis de asuntos claves y las metas, objetivos de políticas y acciones recomendadas. Un capítulo es dedicado exclusivamente a los asuntos de fronteras, las cuales se describen en las siguientes secciones. Una meta del RCP es crear una comunidad regional en donde el Condado de San Diego, los tres condados vecinos, 17 gobiernos tribales y el norte de Baja California, México, se beneficien mutuamente de los recursos de San Diego y la ubicación internacional. Para alcanzar dicha meta, el RCP llama a la coordinación de infraestructura compartida, sistemas de transporte eficiente, planeación ambiental integrada y el desarrollo económico con todos sus vecinos regionales. Reconoce que la región es un lugar único y dinámico en donde vivir- uno que abraza la diversidad cultural, promueve el entendimiento interregional y se beneficia de su vasta historia y experiencia. Mejorando el Acceso a Trabajos y Vivienda A lo largo de la frontera internacional, con los problemas para suplir su propia demanda de vivienda, en Tijuana han visto a los sandieguinos comprar casas y luego cruzar a diario para trabajar en San Diego. El RCP establece que debemos abordar ambas situaciones, en donde los sandieguinos migren hacia el sur, para conseguir vivienda económicamente accesible; y la migración mexicana hacia el norte, en busca de trabajo a lo largo de la frontera. De manera similar a la alianza creada con el sudoeste del Condado de Riverside, el RCP promueve una alianza con autoridades de México, para mitigar las problemáticas en relación al acceso a trabajos y vivienda en la región binacional. El Plan Estratégico del Corredor Binacional de Otay Mesa-Mesa de Otay hizo un reporte sobre las 24

24 problemáticas de Crecimiento Inteligente y las discusiones de SANDAG enfocadas en dicho tema en el Seminario Binacional llevado a cabo en el año 2008 (Crecimiento Inteligente y Sustentabilidad en la Frontera). Mejorando Sistemas de Transporte y Rutas Comerciales Mientras que el crecimiento continúa en la región y las áreas circundantes, el mantener los principales sistemas de transporte se torna más complicado. Las agencias deben trabajar juntas para proveer sistemas de transporte confiables y eficientes asociados a los corredores interregionales de transporte, corredores comerciales clave, reservas tribales y garitas. El RCP reconoce que la región de San Diego necesita el apoyo de sus vecinos para conseguir el financiamiento para la infraestructura en el corredor de la zona internacional fronteriza. Energía, Suplemento de Agua y Medio Ambiente Agua, energía y el medio ambiente son otras áreas clave recorren las fronteras regionales, internacionales e intergubernamentales. Se requieren políticas e infraestructura para cubrir las necesidades a largo plazo de agua y energía, en el área binacional, de las tribus e interregionales, de una manera fiscal y ambientalmente racional. Mantener los corredores de hábitat y mejorar la calidad de aire y agua, contribuirán a un sano medio ambiente binacional e interregional. Específicamente, el RCP llama al incremento del uso de fuentes de energía renovables en la región binacional e interregional; coordinando la planeación del manejo del agua a largo plazo con los condados circundantes, con México y los gobiernos tribales, y estableciendo un esfuerzo de cooperación transfronteriza para proteger a las comunidades fronterizas de potenciales impactos ambientales negativos, como resultado de proyectos en ambos lados de la frontera de EE.UU.- México. Desarrollo Económico Asociaciones interregionales pueden contribuir significativamente al éxito de la Estrategia de Prosperidad Económica Regional y posicionar a la mayor área binacional e interregional como un competidor fuerte en el mercado global. Acciones específicas identificadas en el RCP, incluyen el apoyo a las estrategias de desarrollo económico de la Asociación Interregional de la I-15; establecer políticas y medidas que promuevan el desarrollo económico a lo largo de la frontera con México, tal como el Programa Maquiladora; y establecer un foro para incrementar la comunicación con los gobiernos tribales referente al desarrollo económico. Seguridad Nacional Tras los ataques terroristas del 11 de septiembre de 2001, la seguridad nacional presenta un mayor reto para la región internacional fronteriza. Oficiales federales, estatales y locales de ambos países han sido encomendados a mantener la seguridad de la nación al tiempo que también deben proteger la calidad de vida en la región. El RCP define cómo se pueden efectuar mejoras a las garitas binacionales mediante la aplicación de nuevas tecnologías y un mayor involucramiento de las agencias locales. Los países Europeos proveen útiles modelos para el mantenimiento de la seguridad y fluidez en áreas fronterizas. 25

25 Condado de San Diego Población total de la Región de San Diego: 3,095,313 Tijuana Tecate Playas de Rosarito Fuente: SANDAG 2010 Census Data 26