A gleaming, purple pedestrian bridge linking the Tijuana airport with the United States at Otay Mesa opened Wednesday.
The Cross Border Express or CBX project is the first facility of its kind in the world and offers a welcome respite to Tijuana air passengers ultimately bound for San Diego, who for years have had to make their way to the busy border crossing a few miles away at San Ysidro and endure – whether in vehicles or on foot – hours-long waits, not to mention a taxi ride from the TJ airport to San Ysidro that costs roughly 200 pesos or US$12.
The CBX footbridge costs US$19 dollars, although it is free until December 19 as an introductory offer. Thus, the facility seems more promising for Tijuana-airport-to-San Diego travelers, since the trip in reverse (San Ysidro to Tijuana airport) generally involves no waiting and the taxi ride from the super-busy San Ysidro crossing, as mentioned, is generally less than US$19.
The only other downside for those crossing via footbridge is that as yet there is no public transportation on the Otay Mesa side and taxis from there to downtown San Diego may cost around US$60, as a rather lonely looking cab driver informed me Wednesday. The CBX Web site notes that the bridge is 22 miles from downtown San Diego and promises that buses, shuttles and car rental services are coming soon. And one can always summon an Uber taxi.
If someone is picking you up in Otay Mesa, as was my case, the Tijuana-Otay Mesa footbridge is a seamless and downright thrilling experience. The short distance from the baggage pickup area to the CBX bridge is well marked and replete with smiling, uniformed personnel (some of whom speak English) who politely shepherd you along. All you show before forking over your US$19 is your passport, if necessary, a visa, and an airline boarding pass. (Of course on Wednesday my bridge passage was free, further adding to my elation.) There was none of the customary hustle and bustle of the TJ airport. The bright, pretty bridge with its frosted glass windows was cool and serene.
After about five minutes, you arrive at the U.S. Customs checkpoint where on Wednesday a friendly, no-nonsense supervisor oversaw my interactions with a border officer (preceded by sliding my U.S. passport through an automatic reader).
Then a German shepherd (attached to another officer) approached me — a bit too eagerly for my taste. But the officer assured me that “He just smells you; he doesn’t bite.” Next my bags went through x-ray inspection, as usual, and I was off to link up with my ride.
See www.crossborderxpress.com/node/29.