End of cooperation?
San Luis, Somerton oppose separate border inspection station for tractor-trailers
SAN LUIS, Ariz. — Cities in south Yuma County are coming out against a proposal by the federal government to build a separate station for inspection of border-crossing tractor-trailers at the San Luis II port of entry.
The mayors of San Luis and Somerton have expressed opposition in signed letters sent to the U.S. General Services Administration, in response to the federal agency’s request for public comment on the proposal.
Opened in 2010 on the city’s east side, San Luis II serves as the gateway for commercial vehicles traveling between the United States and Mexico. At present, northbound tractortrailers undergo inspections at a single station by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Arizona Department of Transportation.
Creating a separate site for the FMCSA, the mayors fear, could unnecessarily lengthen inspection times for trucks, in turn creating delays in border crossings.
“The problem that I see with this is that right now there is cooperation and all the agencies are working together. If the federal inspection is separated, it could end that cooperation.”
The proposal, he added, undermines the efforts of Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, who several years ago directed ADOT to work with FMCSA to streamline inspection procedures.
Last week, the Somerton City Council voted to authorize Mayor Gerard Anaya to sign that city’s own letter in opposition to the separate inspection station.
GSA did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The proposed inspection station is one of five proposed construction projects at five ports of entry on the Mexican border.