After three and a half years, Ped West is reopened to cross-border commuters traveling south to Tijuana

SAN DIEGO (Border report) – Ped West, the second pedestrian crossing at the San Ysidro Port of Entry, will begin processing southbound border commuters for the first time in three and a half years.

It is scheduled to reopen during the evening rush hour on Monday.

Opening times are seven days a week from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.

It closed in April 2020 with the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

The northbound facility resumed operations in January but closed again eight months later to accommodate the sudden surge of migrants and asylum seekers.

It reopened to northbound commuters last Friday.

This side of the crossing is open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m

“With the resumption of operations at the Pedestrian West southbound facility, we are taking steps to restore operational capacity and improve the daily lives of thousands of area travelers who cross each day,” said Mariza Marin, Port Director of San Ysidro Port of Entry. “CBP will continue to work to improve economic and social relations across the border, especially on the eve of the holiday season.”

According to a statement from CBP, “emergency operations are regularly planned and implemented to support the agency’s overall mission and to ensure the safety and well-being of individuals in the agency’s custody.” CBP will continue to monitor the situation along the border evaluate and make operational changes if necessary. Stakeholders will be provided with operational updates as they become available.”

With Ped West closed southbound, people were forced to use the facility on the east side of the port of entry, resulting in long wait times for commuters.

Last week, people like Esmeralda Hernandez said opening the southbound border crossing would make life easier for her and thousands of others who live in Tijuana but work on the San Diego side of the border.

“If they opened it the other way, it would be so good,” she said.