Roundtable Visits Pendleton, Carlsbad, Tijuana Airports And Silicon Valley South

I do study said the southwest corner of T is ideal for new international airport. The empty terminals at Palomar Airport in North County may be seen again or not. A new cross-border terminal AIDS travelers to and from Mexico. San Diego emerges as a series of portable contender to be the next Silicon Valley. I am Mark Sauer, the KPBS roundtable starts now. Welcome to our discussion, weeks top stories. Training at the KPBS roundtable are North County reporter Alison St. John. Good to have you back. She wrote for KBS, glad to have you today. Alison St John, reporter, KPBS News And Jean Guerrero, reporter, KPBS News and Roger Showley, reporter, The San Diego Union-Tribune Lindberg field has been inadequate on several levels and has reached capacity in 20 years. Plenty of sites have been suggested that this week a study released by Cal State San Marcos says it best site is on Camp Pendleton. Allison, start with the specifics, what are they saying in this is a study builds on other looks at this. Essentially it is built on research done before the last time we are looking for another airports. The students decided to settle on Camp Pendleton. If you can imagine the road going past Camp Pendleton is on the Bay South edge of capital 10 and North of Oceanside. It would have the river running through, there are hills, they would put two airstrips on the South edge of the base. I alluded to the needs for airports. We have for big airports in Southern California that the need is clear. I think that is what is interesting, they chose the area because they feel and people in or's County would benefit as well as San Diego. It would serve a population of 2.2 million at the moment. By the time this would get built if it ever did would be a couple of decades. That be around 2.7 million people seem to be quite a lot of people who, if the roads get worse, they be struggling to get to the closest to national airport.. The first question is what to the Marines think of this? The Marines have responded in a very unified fashion to say they will review the proposal essentially they were not aware of the incredible importance of their base to our national security and the training facilities involves facilities in Nevada and Arizona and there is a link which is irreplaceable, it is the largest land-based training facility in the nation possibly the world. They say taking a piece of their acreage would compromise their mission and national security. This federal government have a say on whether this should go forward? If you're going to go straight to the biggest obstacle, you may end up with a dead-end. I think there are various people who feel like they need for another airports is great enough that we need to start opening a dialogue with people to see whether it would be feasible to look at the economic benefits and the cost and how it might be financed. Politics are unpredictable, in 20 years, the entire situation may be different. Is impossible to tell what military situation may be. Right now, the military is moving their focus to the Pacific rim. It seems like this is not a good time to ask. They have Miramar and Camp Pendleton. If they can't do capitals and, can they give us Miramar? I wondered about that [ Laughter ] Without backing from influential people, this would go very far. They both said they are very interested in this idea and this could be a way of putting more pressure on the military and saying we are a military town, we need to be supported by the military as we support the military. It could either maybe some thinking that perhaps the military may start inking Miramar would be better than Pendleton. It is clear we need more airports in this region. I was talking to someone from the airport authority. He said the plan is coming to an end or reached capacity. They just seem to be a sense of urgency which is surprising bearing in mind it would take at least 20 years to position a new airport. How much money, and who would pay for it? According to the MBA student, they say we need a new model from all the 20th century airport modeling which is based on bonds in public funding. This would need a 21st century funding in public private partnerships is the way to go impossibly attractive and major airline to come to that site and help them design it as a mega-hub from the start and put in some funding is the only way to go. The ballpark price tag is less than $10 billion. There are many more questions on that I know you will two more reported but we're going to shift gears to a related story that you also did this week. The existing McClellan Palomar Airport they are fixing to expand, not everybody is happy about that. County supervisors will vote. What is the status? It's really busy and nobody has any idea there's this tiny airports but none of those aircraft or for commercial airline traffic at the moment. They are all private jets. Not even the short house. There was a successful United SkyWest operation for a couple of years. 50,000 people a year were using its. There been a number of airlines that have tried out of there and not been able to come up with a business model. The airport manager says he has another one up his sleeve that's made the announced early next year but it seems like that's right way is to shorts. That is the big problem. What is the plan here? You mentioned 800 feet, is that right? The recommended option says the possibility of expanding 800 feet, although that is not the first thing done. The first thing done it will be safety procedures put into place. The FAA would find 90% of those safety features. Extending the Runrik cost a lot more than you would imagine because the site is on an old landfill. Right where you put that 800 feet is an old landfill. The question is, if the FAA wasn't going to pay for the extension of the runway, do we want to spend tens of millions of dollars of public money on an airline and airport where it's all private's corporate aircraft rather than the general public. There is the argument and that is the catch 20. You mentioned the FAA would find 90% of the safety stuff but that is not the entire cost, where would the funding of tens of millions more come from? The item on the agenda next week says there is no fiscal impact which means this is just a plan. I feel like this is very typical of the way things happen in incremental steps so you think there's no problem but if they say yes, then when the actual 800 extension comes down the line with a possible $70 million price tag, it will be difficult to go back and say no, we can't afford it because they've already said they think it's a good idea. There isn't any target about how it would be funded. You interviewed the neighbors reaction. Some people are upset with the corporate jets. With the FAA says you can't possibly know there's aircraft, if we are experiencing that much noise and rattling windows and things falling off shelves, those are over our homes and their low bigger than the weekend aircraft. The Vista city Council is considering writing and asking for White House to be aligned. Is obviously something going on here and they're not being obvious about it. It makes us wonder what is the end game? I think that is what everyone is wondering. It's interesting people in neighboring community have noticed an increase in noise going over their community. It's very difficult to tell because the FAA says they haven't changed flight paths. Going back to history about all of this, the county tax to think of itself as an independent County until they need facilities and they don't want to build them. I wonder if that's a problem down there. I feel like this has got to the points where North County may have thought itself as independent it is becoming increasingly to as the trees become more clogged. Businesses find themselves driving to John Wayne. They access to San Diego city is getting worse. Blasted thing really quick, when is the vote? Next Wednesday. Let's head south for another aviation story, this one involves a new an easier way to fly to Tijuana. Tell us about the new pedestrian bridge, where is it? Is in the United States and in Mexico, two thirds in the US and one third in Mexico. It straddles the border. It will make traveling back and forth all costs -- across the border easier. They can cause less than five minutes and bypass the long lines. That is a nice segue. I fly back and forth almost every month. Because I have a business there. The hassle of travel has been huge through the years. Just a walk half a mile to cross the border and take a taxi to the to what airport. On the way that she sometimes waits hours in traffic. That process is difficult if you're carrying a fair amount of luggage. This is so much easier. Carroll talks about how hassle very relative to what the situation was, but there are other advantages. The flights themselves, the better times, the prices. A lot of San Diegan's opt to use the 210 airports. Is usually on lots cheaper. I did a search yesterday. It would cost between $300-$400 from the airport is less than $200. A significant chunk of savings. I have a personal story to tell. My wife is going to Mexico City for meeting a few months ago. She did choose going to Tijuana or LA. She worried about security and the backups and everything getting the border. She said I'm going to drive to LA and go that way. It was quicker and more convenient. There are more places to go to from Tijuana. A lot of people go from San Diego to LA because LA offers more options than Lindbergh Field. Tijuana airport has 34 different destinations to choose from. If you want to go three less touristy part, they go to Tijuana. It is the larger airstrip I believe. They could be sending airlines to further destinations, international destinations. There is currently any plans I know to expand further. It is primarily a domestic airport. They already know international works. The winter or the opening to Cuba in Havana, One of the things Cal State research found was most of the international flights leaving from the East Coast to Europe. Only 30% go from the West Coast to the Pacific Rim. Bearing in mind trade is where they are picking up, there is a big market that is underserved by airports. Let me ask you specifics about this. It is unusual because how was built in who pay for it and who owns it. It is completely privately funded cross-border airports terminal. There's no other fully privately funded port of entry along the border. Their bridges and other connections privately funded bench this one specifically, even the salaries of the officials are privately funded. The customs and border protection. Is completely and privately funded, a big investor group including Chicago billionaire. How are they making their money back? To use the bridge, you have to pay -- buy tickets. Is $18 one way or you could buy 36 hours round-trip. Only Tijuana airport passengers can use the bridge. So it's not for general people heading down to the markets? Yes. The can buy your ticket online or at the cross-border express websites. Or at the terminal itself and you need to show evidence you will be buying into or out of Tijuana. If someone needs to race across the border could you can see the Levi ticket, pay the fee, cross over and leave the terminal and to your business? I bet some people would do that to save time. Are talking about buying actual airline ticket? You need to have a fight? Yes. I don't know how people would be willing to do that. Let me ask you about security. Is that a concern, how is it being handled? There were some concerns but I spoke to US customs and border protection and they mention this will operate exactly like any other port of entry with the exact same, CDP worked closely with the operator and the builder to make sure all the same security measures are in place. If you're going southbound, to check your stuff, if you're come into the United States you have your passport checked, your baggage will go through x-rays, all of the same security measures you would go through crossing through. This is expected to cause drain on passengers? They are 20 miles apart. That is not expected to happen. Primarily because of the fact the Tijuana airport is primarily serving Mexico destinations. People are traveling with an Mexico. It's a vision people came up with many years ago to have a binational border airports one on either side or using Mexico and Tijuana as the regional airport as an augmentation to San Diego service. Instead of building one in $20 billion in capital 10, it's cheaper and quicker to build one in Tijuana. We will be watching your stories here and I'm sure we went to follow-ups in six MUs are here. Now, everyone knows the Bay area is home to the tech engineering Mecca known as SoCon Valley. It is immortalized in satire. No reports say is ideally positioned to give our northern neighbors are run for their money. What is it about San Diego that is starting to attract some of these high-tech firms. One reason is San Francisco is getting difficult to do business in. It's very expensive, crowded, the companies find it more difficult to expand their thinking of moving. If they move, they move for expand outside California. San Diego boosters hope instead of doing that they will steer than our way. We don't want to lose them entirely. Then you say there are other choices, why would you come to San Diego? San Diego has in bandages and that it is cheaper -- cheaper than San Francisco. The real estate and processes are less onerous. Plus San Diego art he has a biomed hub is very successful. It is compatible. Jay Leno -- the company that did the study says the are ranked 18th in terms of tech hub opportunities. We fare better than LA and just below Portland. There is a chance of for growth. Give us examples of firms that are abandoning or have abandoned the Bay area. Nobody has yet. They have a foot in both places. One example is bit bit. They are setting up in Road office in Rancho Bernardo. Another one is go pro. They are based in San Mateo They had an office in San Diego and expanded to Carlsbad. Limit sign is a new company that Google bought the last year. They build sensors. They will be expanding their research operations to San Diego. Allison Lisa, if Google is interested in San Diego, maybe I should be. We talk to the economic boosters, they say we're still focusing on keeping San Diego companies from moving always went to talk to other companies that want to move here. Go pro are thinking it may be much more convenient to fly out of Carlsbad to take the terrible traffic on five. I read an interesting letter in the paper in the San Diego Tribune making the points he had gone to UCSD and talk to a bunch of people they are about how we spent so much energy on the Chargers. We are focused on this about the Chargers and the are really in port and things for developing our region such as the structure, roads, education, etc. are taking a backseat to dots. There are plenty of developers who are chomping at the bit to actually get this market developed in San Diego and our former owner, Doug Manchester has a giant project at the foot of Broadway and have a broker and they're making a concerted effort to appeal to those companies in San Francisco. Let's talk about the comparative costs. We're still a very expensive city. Break down some numbers. The bottom line number is that San Diego, they measured salaries and real estate costs in San Diego average cost per person is 112,000 for real estate and salary. That is the least they are paying. That is lower than East Bay Oakland, Silicon Valley is 219,000. The San Francisco Peninsula is 240,000 go We're not as cheap as Phoenix or Denver. Let's talk about that for a moment. There is reference in your story to San Francisco as attractive from a lifestyle standpoint. If this squishy idea. I don't understand how they measured this and he didn't explain but they measured walk ability in San Diego came up number three in LA was 10. I said that is impossible but they said it doesn't matter. Knuble walks LA as the song says. In the West side of LA, it is walkable. All of LA is not walkable, neither is San Diego. The pointer raising is even though we have a lower house prices perhaps our infrastructure to get around is not as good and really needs to have mobility. This is one of the disadvantages for us. I think the developers say if you put your office downtown, you can live and work there and don't have to get on the freeways. Now downtown is a bedroom suburb for North County companies. The reverse of what it was 50 years ago. If they can only get companies to start looking and moving to San Diego, that will start to develop. We have one minute left. Let me ask you about San Diego and where we stand with availability investor capital. That is the sad thing about San Diego. It's America's finest city, it's not America's finest of bank. There are 200 some million dollars and is a fraction of what San Francisco gets which is in the billions. I don't quite understand how investors Inc. We're only an hour flight from here to San Francisco why can't you just go back and forth and make your case to the investors up there. They said they left the company here but he's moved back to San Francisco to beg for money from the San Francisco investors. That whole thing would be high-tech but they are very hands-on and they want to see you and have coffee and make money. We'll have to see how that all plays out. That weeks -- that wraps up another week of KPBS roundtable. I would like to thank my guests, Alison St John, reporter, KPBS News Jean Guerrero, reporter, KPBS News and Roger Showley, reporter, The San Diego Union-Tribune and. I am Mike Sauer they give for joining us.