History

Founded in 1993, the Border Transportation Council (BTC), formerly the Association of Concerned San Ysidro Businesses, formed a non-profit (501-C3) Corporation of business owners who provide goods and services just north of the Tijuana/San Diego International Border. It was their original intention to merely address the issue of "Wildcatting" (illegal transportation carriers) with the goal of obtaining aggressive law enforcement to help eliminate the problem.

The San Ysidro Port of Entry is the busiest vehicular and pedestrian land port in the world. For decades, this Port of Entry has been plagued by "wildcatters*", who illegally solicit northbound pedestrians and tourists to utilize unlicensed passenger operators as a means of transportation. Not only are they in violation of the San Diego municipal code but are impacting the local economy and are placing citizens at risk.

The Border Transportation Council, in partnership with organizations in the SanYsidro area, have been successful in mitigating the following issues: wildcatting, illegal solicitation, traffic at the crossing and matters related to passenger transportation. In 2010, the San Ysidro Chamber of Commerce designated the BTC as their official transportation committee. Today, awareness, education, and the collaboration of federal, state and local agencies join together to take action.

Who We Are

Promoting the Use of Legitimate Transportation Carriers, Eliminating Wildcatters (non-licenced, uninsured carriers), Encouraging Fair Competition, Advocating Member's Interest & Supporting the Activities of the Community & Law Enforcement Agencies

Border Transportation Council, the official transportation committee of the San Ysidro Chamber of Commerce, is a group of legitimate transportation providers who come together to collaborate on matters of the SanYsidro Port of Entry. Safety and law enforcement are the topics of priority as well as matters of community service, City of San Diego re-development planning and infrastructure and how it relates to serving transportation customers.

The transportation industry is global in nature and its growth has been spurred by the increased adoption of new technologies. Nearly every company, business, government and consumer in the world is, to some degree, dependent on the transportation industry, to transport labourers to their places of employment or visitors to a world renowned destination, San Diego. As a result, the transportation providers who cross the largest port of entry in the world, came together to come to a resolution as to ways to improve efficiency upon crossing into and out of the United States.

The BTC’s concerns are with the local “Wildcatters" or "Raiteros", illegitimate transportation providers who solicit customers to utilize their transportation source. Not only is soliciting on the streets illegal but many do not have the proper licensing or insurance to operate as a business. The Border Transportation Council meet monthly to identify ways of combating, collectively a loss of business that reaches the hundreds of thousands of dollars each year.

Our members and supporters comprise of legitimate private transportation providers, law enforcement agencies such as: the San Diego Police Department-Southern Division, the San Diego City Attorneys' Office, California Highway Patrol, Metropolitan Transit Systems Security, Public Utilities Commission, US Dept. of Transportation, the Department of Homeland Security, US Customs, Border Patrol and the San Ysidro Chamber of Commerce to name a few.

The BTC meetings are held on the second Tuesday of the month at lO:30AM – Noon at the San Ysidro Chamber of Commerce Offices located at 663 E. San Ysidro Blvd. , San Ysidro, CA 92173.

Officers

Francisco Bates, President

Francisco Bates graduated from San Diego State University with a B.S. in Marketing. While studying and after graduation, he worked for the Marketing and Promotions Department at KIFM. He used this experience to work as the Production and Logistics Director for several concert promoters in California, as well as a Corporate Events firm in Barcelona, Spain. After returning from Europe, Francisco applied his experience in logistics while working for Americanos USA and its parent company, Greyhound Lines. Currently, Francisco is the Director of Border Operations at Brice House, a Property Management and Development firm specializing in transit related properties.

Fernando Acevedo, Vice President

Sabas Ruacho, Treasurer

Benita Flores, Secretary

Benita Flores started her career with Greyhound Lines back on July 01, 1991 as an information clerk in Los Angeles, CA. Benita held different positions in the organization as, Information, Lead, Trainer, Supervisor, and her latest position as a City Manager for the San Diego location. Benita loves her company and is proud to say that she works for the leading ground transportation company in America.

Benita has also served as Vice President of the BTC.