**Pending Construction of Sports Facility in Loma Blanca and More Access Routes to Santa Fe**
In Tijuana, several key development projects are on hold, including the construction of a sports facility in Loma Blanca, additional access roads to Santa Fe, and the rehabilitation of sidewalks to ensure universal accessibility. Councilor Gina Arana highlighted these pending projects, indicating that they are awaiting action from the municipal government.
Even though there’s no set timeline for the commencement of these projects, Arana remains hopeful that the sports facility could be executed by 2025. She noted that the land, initially donated as a green area and intended for transfer to a developer by the previous administration, has been reclaimed by the Tijuana City Council’s property registry. The Metropolitan Planning Institute (IMPLAN) has already developed an executive project for the sports facility, which has been handed over to the city’s Urban Development Department and is ready for the current administration to execute.
Regarding Santa Fe’s access routes, Arana pointed out the need for three new routes to accommodate the area’s growing population. These would include an access road from the Aztlán neighborhood towards Rosarito and another from Boulevard Banderas to the Tijuana-Ensenada highway. During her leadership of the Urban Mobility and Traffic Commission’s inaugural session, Arana committed to pushing forward feasibility studies for projects like removing medians on the Vía Rápida and building a vehicle bridge over a canal for those queuing to cross into the United States.
While the costs for these projects remain undetermined, once the executive plans are finalized, there will be an estimate, and Arana emphasized the importance of seeking funding from state and federal sources.
On November 5, 2024, Arana also brought attention to Tijuana’s ranking as the fifth city with the most traffic congestion in Mexico, where people lose 37 hours annually due to traffic jams, according to a study by the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO). Additionally, she called for aligning state and municipal regulations with the General Mobility Law.
In response, the mayor, Ismael Burgueño Ruiz, stated that efforts would be made to improve the city’s mobility, starting with revising road signs and traffic lights and presenting a plan aimed at reducing travel time from the East Zone to the city center back to 20 minutes, as was previously the case.
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**Related News: Updates and Challenges in Tijuana’s Urban Development**
Apart from the ongoing issues related to urban projects, Tijuana faces other developmental challenges. The city has been grappling with increasing traffic congestion, impacting daily commutes and quality of life. The city’s administration is considering various infrastructural changes to address these problems, including traffic signal upgrades and the potential introduction of smart traffic management systems.
Moreover, Tijuana is witnessing a surge in residential and commercial development, spurred by its strategic location near the U.S. border. However, this growth presents its own set of challenges, mainly the need for sustainable urban planning to prevent haphazard development and ensure the city’s infrastructure can support the burgeoning population.
The local government remains committed to addressing these challenges by engaging with planning bodies, securing necessary funds, and involving the community in decision-making processes. As Tijuana continues to evolve, maintaining a balance between growth and quality of life will be pivotal for its residents and the city’s future.