Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10MATAMOROS17
2010-01-13 23:34:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Matamoros
Cable title:
CEREMONIAL OPENING OF ANZALDUAS INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE
how-toVZCZCXRO7405 RR RUEHCD RUEHGD RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHRD RUEHTM DE RUEHRS #0017/01 0132334 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 132334Z JAN 10 FM AMCONSUL MATAMOROS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4589 INFO RUEHXC/ALL US CONSULATES IN MEXICO COLLECTIVE RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC RUEFHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON DC RHMFIUU/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHINGTON DC RUEHRS/AMCONSUL MATAMOROS 3780
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MATAMOROS 000017
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/MEX, EEB/TRA
TREASURY FOR IA
NSC FOR RACHEL WALSH
USDOC FOR 4320/ITA/MAC/WH/ONAFTA/GWORD
STATE PASS TO USTR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ELTN ETRD ECIN MX
SUBJECT: CEREMONIAL OPENING OF ANZALDUAS INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE
CELEBRATED BY U.S. AND MEXICAN OFFICIALS
REF: 09 Matamoros 177
MATAMOROS 00000017 001.2 OF 002
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MATAMOROS 000017
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/MEX, EEB/TRA
TREASURY FOR IA
NSC FOR RACHEL WALSH
USDOC FOR 4320/ITA/MAC/WH/ONAFTA/GWORD
STATE PASS TO USTR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ELTN ETRD ECIN MX
SUBJECT: CEREMONIAL OPENING OF ANZALDUAS INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE
CELEBRATED BY U.S. AND MEXICAN OFFICIALS
REF: 09 Matamoros 177
MATAMOROS 00000017 001.2 OF 002
1. Speakers:
Mexican President Felipe Caldersn
U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk
Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs Patricia Espinosa
U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Carlos Pascual
Mexican Ambassador to the U.S. Arturo Sarukhan
Tamaulipas Governor Eugenio Hernandez
2. Mexican President Felipe Caldersn presided over the
ceremonial opening of the Anzaldzas International Bridge on
January 11, 2010, under a large tent in Reynosa just over the
bridge from McAllen, Texas. The bridge, spanning the Rio Grande
just southwest of McAllen and west of Reynosa, Mexico, began
operations with a "soft opening" on December 15, 2009.
3. Background: Anzaldzas is the fifth international crossing
connecting Hidalgo County, Texas, and the state of Tamaulipas,
Mexico. It is closest international bridge to Monterrey,
Mexico, and Mexico City. The bridge is 3.2 miles long, half in
the U.S., half in Mexico. The U.S. port of entry (POE) is the
first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
certified land POE on the southern border. The bridge operates
seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and accommodates
passenger vehicles and buses only. The Presidential permit for
Anzaldzas, issued in 1999, does not permit commercial traffic on
the bridge.
4. Bilateral Relations and Trade: At the event President
Calderon focused his comments on how the crossing would improve
the region's competitiveness and assist economic recovery in
2010. He said infrastructure was key to Mexico's
competitiveness and growth and Anzaldzas was an example of
Mexico's links to the largest economy in the world. He
emphasized that 2010 would be a year of economic recovery,
thanks to projects like Anzaldzas and the soon-to-come crossing
between Donna, Texas, and Rio Bravo, Mexico. Ambassador Kirk
stressed the importance of U.S.-Mexico trade: "Cross-border
trade totals more than $1 billion every day. Mexico is the
number one trading partner for 22 American states." Ambassador
Espinosa said modern infrastructure and connections to the U.S.
are crucial to Mexico's competitiveness and called for the
building of more bridges. She said Anzaldzas would support the
area's competitiveness, promote better economic security for
both nations, and help ensure economic recovery in the region.
Mexican Secretary of Communications and Transport Juan Molinar
said the Mexican transportation network in Reynosa will be
saturated by 2014, and more binational crossings need to be
built to ease traffic congestion. He also said new ports and
improvements to existing ports in Mexico will solidify Mexico's
position as a logistical platform for North America.
5. Commercial Traffic: Calderon said that he hoped that
Anzaldzas would soon carry commercial cargo traffic which would
further expand export capacity and commerce between both
nations. McAllen, Mayor Richard Cortez strongly urged port
officials on both sides to more fully utilize Anzaldzas. He
asked officials to work to decrease waiting times and allow
commercial traffic on Anzaldzas as soon as possible because
commercial congestion is restraining economic development in the
region. Tamaulipas Governor Hernandez also called for a
commercial crossing at Anzaldzas saying it would significantly
increase the competitive capabilities on both sides of the
border. During the walk from the event Calderon asked Kirk
about the commercial traffic issue and Kirk told him that it was
"on our side".
MATAMOROS 00000017 002.2 OF 002
6. Comment: The event was successful and was heavily covered
in the press. The issue of commercial traffic is commonly
raised by local officials on both sides of the border.
Authorization for commercial traffic is unlikely in the near
term due to CBP and Pharr municipality opposition, and in
addition would require significant new funding to build the
infrastructure necessary. End Comment.
BARKIN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/MEX, EEB/TRA
TREASURY FOR IA
NSC FOR RACHEL WALSH
USDOC FOR 4320/ITA/MAC/WH/ONAFTA/GWORD
STATE PASS TO USTR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ELTN ETRD ECIN MX
SUBJECT: CEREMONIAL OPENING OF ANZALDUAS INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE
CELEBRATED BY U.S. AND MEXICAN OFFICIALS
REF: 09 Matamoros 177
MATAMOROS 00000017 001.2 OF 002
1. Speakers:
Mexican President Felipe Caldersn
U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk
Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs Patricia Espinosa
U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Carlos Pascual
Mexican Ambassador to the U.S. Arturo Sarukhan
Tamaulipas Governor Eugenio Hernandez
2. Mexican President Felipe Caldersn presided over the
ceremonial opening of the Anzaldzas International Bridge on
January 11, 2010, under a large tent in Reynosa just over the
bridge from McAllen, Texas. The bridge, spanning the Rio Grande
just southwest of McAllen and west of Reynosa, Mexico, began
operations with a "soft opening" on December 15, 2009.
3. Background: Anzaldzas is the fifth international crossing
connecting Hidalgo County, Texas, and the state of Tamaulipas,
Mexico. It is closest international bridge to Monterrey,
Mexico, and Mexico City. The bridge is 3.2 miles long, half in
the U.S., half in Mexico. The U.S. port of entry (POE) is the
first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
certified land POE on the southern border. The bridge operates
seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and accommodates
passenger vehicles and buses only. The Presidential permit for
Anzaldzas, issued in 1999, does not permit commercial traffic on
the bridge.
4. Bilateral Relations and Trade: At the event President
Calderon focused his comments on how the crossing would improve
the region's competitiveness and assist economic recovery in
2010. He said infrastructure was key to Mexico's
competitiveness and growth and Anzaldzas was an example of
Mexico's links to the largest economy in the world. He
emphasized that 2010 would be a year of economic recovery,
thanks to projects like Anzaldzas and the soon-to-come crossing
between Donna, Texas, and Rio Bravo, Mexico. Ambassador Kirk
stressed the importance of U.S.-Mexico trade: "Cross-border
trade totals more than $1 billion every day. Mexico is the
number one trading partner for 22 American states." Ambassador
Espinosa said modern infrastructure and connections to the U.S.
are crucial to Mexico's competitiveness and called for the
building of more bridges. She said Anzaldzas would support the
area's competitiveness, promote better economic security for
both nations, and help ensure economic recovery in the region.
Mexican Secretary of Communications and Transport Juan Molinar
said the Mexican transportation network in Reynosa will be
saturated by 2014, and more binational crossings need to be
built to ease traffic congestion. He also said new ports and
improvements to existing ports in Mexico will solidify Mexico's
position as a logistical platform for North America.
5. Commercial Traffic: Calderon said that he hoped that
Anzaldzas would soon carry commercial cargo traffic which would
further expand export capacity and commerce between both
nations. McAllen, Mayor Richard Cortez strongly urged port
officials on both sides to more fully utilize Anzaldzas. He
asked officials to work to decrease waiting times and allow
commercial traffic on Anzaldzas as soon as possible because
commercial congestion is restraining economic development in the
region. Tamaulipas Governor Hernandez also called for a
commercial crossing at Anzaldzas saying it would significantly
increase the competitive capabilities on both sides of the
border. During the walk from the event Calderon asked Kirk
about the commercial traffic issue and Kirk told him that it was
"on our side".
MATAMOROS 00000017 002.2 OF 002
6. Comment: The event was successful and was heavily covered
in the press. The issue of commercial traffic is commonly
raised by local officials on both sides of the border.
Authorization for commercial traffic is unlikely in the near
term due to CBP and Pharr municipality opposition, and in
addition would require significant new funding to build the
infrastructure necessary. End Comment.
BARKIN