California-Baja California Border Resiliency Plan

The primary goal of the BRP is to study the unique climate stressors, vulnerabilities, and challenges facing border region communities and identify tangible infrastructure solutions to address the adverse climate impacts experienced from those stressors. It will serve as a blueprint for regional solutions that will strengthen border resiliency, improve crossborder mobility, and support safer, healthier communities.

Additionally, the BRP aims to maintain and strengthen binational coordination between the U.S. and Mexico on climate and environmental justice issues. 

Implementation of the plan will strengthen border resiliency. Proposed infrastructure improvements could also help reduce water, air, and climate pollution throughout the border region, enhancing the quality of life for residents, visitors, and commuters.

The BRP will align with the SANDAG Regional Plan and 2021 California Climate Adaptation Strategy.

The BRP is being developed with input from community, business, nonprofit, tribal, and government organizations in the U.S. and Mexico.

The BRP will be managed by SANDAG with input from Caltrans, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), the State of Baja California, and the Interagency Task Force.

The BRP Interagency Task Force will provide technical guidance, background knowledge, and interagency coordination throughout the development of the plan. The task force is made up of representatives from cities within and adjacent to the project area, plus federal, state, and local agencies, and tribal governments.

The task force will help develop climate strategies and report to SANDAG staff working on the project. That team will then make recommendations to the SANDAG Borders Committee, who will oversee the development of the BRP and provide final approval.

Task Force Members

U.S.

• SANDAG
• Caltrans
• Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG)
• Imperial County Transportation Commission (ICTC)
• Municipalities (San Diego, Imperial Beach, National City, Chula Vista, Coronado, El Centro, Holtville, Calexico)
• Port of San Diego
• County of San Diego
• Imperial County
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)
• California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA)
• California Air Resources Board (CARB)
• California State Water Quality Resources Board (SWQRB)
• San Diego Air Pollution Control District (SDAPCD)
• Imperial County Air Pollution Control District (ICAPCD)

Mexico

• Consul General of Mexico, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE)
• Secretariat of the Environment and Natural Resource (SEMARNAT)
• Secretariat of Territorial, Agrarian, and Urban Development (SEDATU)
• State of Baja California, Secretary of Economy and Innovation
• State of Baja California, Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources (SMADS)
• State of Baja California, Secretary for Management, Sanitation and Protection of Water (SEPROA)
• State of Baja California, Secretary for Infrastructure and Urban Development (SIDURT)
• Municipalities (Tijuana, Tecate, Mexicali, Playas de Rosarita)
• Tijuana Municipal Institute of Planning (IMPLAN Tijuana)
• Mexicali Municipal Institute of Research and Urban Planning (IMIP Mexicali)
• Municipal, Development and Planning Institution of Tecate (INPLADEM Tecate)

Binational

• International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC)/Comisión Internacional de Límites y Aguas (CILA)
• North American Development Bank (NADB)

Tribal

• Southern California Tribal Chairman's Association (SCTCA)

The BRP is funded through a $3 million Climate Adaptation Planning Grant provided by Caltrans.

The BRP, with input from the task force, will identify and propose funding strategies that could be considered for plan implementation.

The California-Baja California Border Master Plan (BMP) is a binational effort to coordinate the planning and delivery of projects at land ports of entry and the transportation infrastructure serving them. Historically, the BMP has served as a guiding document supporting multiagency and binational coordination on border transportation infrastructure. The current BMP, updated in 2021, focuses on mobility—the movement of people and goods—and  the international collaboration required to prioritize and advance transportation infrastructure to and from the land ports of entry. 

While innovative and progressive in its approach, the current BMP does not fully address the ambitious goals and priorities outlined in the 2021 California Climate Adaptation Strategy, which includes addressing the impacts of climate change. Climate stressors are already impacting the transportation system in the California-Baja California border region. 

This region is home to communities that have been historically overburdened with climate pollution and have fewer resources to cope with these impacts. Climate change threatens existing transportation infrastructure and exacerbates the existing air quality challenges facing these communities.

Because these communities face significant environmental injustices and depend on transportation infrastructure, SANDAG is developing the BRP to assess the climate stressors and impacts and identify adaptation strategies. 

The proposed BRP would include a roadmap for its implementation and could be used by Caltrans as they update the 2021 BMP.

A climate stressor is a change in the environment that poses increased risks or harm to the systems we rely on for our day-to-day lives. Climate stressors are already impacting the transportation system and surrounding infrastructure throughout the California-Baja California border region.

For example, severe rainstorms and floods threaten roads and power systems, increasingly harsh droughts and heat waves reduce water levels, and frequent wildfires threaten homes, lives, and the electrical grid.

The BRP will focus on reducing the impact of climate stressors that exacerbate environmental conditions that currently exist within border communities, such as air and water pollution. By reducing the impacts of these climate stressors, the BRP could also help address these public health issues.

The BRP is being developed with input from the community members, businesses, and nonprofits, as well as tribal and other government organizations in the U.S. and Mexico. SANDAG will customize outreach tools and events to ensure communities within the study area are aware of the planning process and can participate and provide feedback.

We will meet people where they already are. Outreach events will include pop-ups at existing community events and popular destinations.

Updates will be available on this web page and via email. Sign up for email updates below. Watch for opportunities to participate in surveys, public meetings, workshops, and other events.