Upcoming Luncheon Program

SR-11/Otay Mesa East POE

May 14, 2024

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Filippi’s Pizza Grotto

5353 Kearny Villa Rd, San Diego, CA 92123

Program Summary:

The growth of the California-Baja California binational economy is straining land ports of entry between the United States and Mexico, with typical border crossing wait times of two to four hours during peak periods. Border crossing delays and vehicle idling contribute to poor air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, and economic loss. The $1.2 billion S.R. 11/Otay Mesa East Port of Entry Project will construct a new border crossing for personal and commercial vehicles. Variable toll rates will manage traffic with a goal to provide a reliable 20-30 minute average wait time. The Project includes a port of entry to be operated by Customs and Border Protection, a Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Facility used by California Highway Patrol and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association, technologies to enhance movement of vehicles and will include chargers for commercial vehicles, conduit, and solar panels for on-site power generation.

The Project has advanced into the 30% Design milestone, and the presentation will show latest layouts and status of agreements being negotiated to bring the project to fruition.

Presenter Biography:

Maria Rodriguez Molina is a Project Development Program Manager at the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) and oversees the State Route 11/Otay Mesa East Port of Entry, a bi-national project valued at more than $1.2 Billion.

In her role, Ms. Rodriguez Molina spearheads the design, construction and delivery of border and freight mega projects. She recently secured over $300 million in grant funding for the Otay Mesa East Project and currently oversees inter-agency collaboration with federal, state, local, regional and binational stakeholders, leads innovative financing and design solutions, and directs complex project agreement negotiations.

Ms. Rodriguez Molina also has 18 years of experience working as a Risk Manager and Project Management Expert on major projects throughout the state of California, including the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, Willits Bypass, Doyle Drive, Kramer junction as well as 40 miles of reconstruction of Interstate 8 along Imperial County.

She graduated from UC Berkeley with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research and has a Master of Science in Engineering Management (MS) from Santa Clara University. She holds a PMP certification with the Program Management Institute.