Douglas council hears update on new commercial Port of Entry; city to build stormwater conveyance

The Douglas Mayor and Council received a presentation May 27 on the Douglas West commercial Port of Entry and related connector and utilities work, including projected timelines and funding gaps.

The update, presented as an addendum to the May 27 special meeting, outlined a multi-phase port master plan that lists a Phase 1 commercial-only port and an overall fact-sheet budget figure of $328,787,265. Officials said the planned utilities corridor and connector road have target completion in 2027 and the commercial port construction is expected to finish in 2028.

Why it matters: The port and connector are intended to divert commercial truck traffic away from the existing downtown crossing, support regional trade flows and enable adjacent industrial and commercial development. The project will require coordination among the General Services Administration, the Arizona Department of Transportation, the City of Douglas and Mexican authorities.

City Manager Ana Urquijo told the council the city’s primary infrastructure obligation for the project is installation of stormwater pipe and ensuring proper conveyance through the area. "The city is partnering on the stormwater drainage component of the project and is working closely with project partners on stormwater redirection and engineering plans," Urquijo said.

The presentation materials identify a new Douglas water infrastructure component with a $50.3 million total cost, $19.6 million secured and a remaining funding gap of about $30.7 million. The slides also note utilities corridor work estimated to be complete by second quarter 2027 and a commercial-port construction target of September 2028.

Council members asked whether the city would face additional funding obligations or infrastructure shortfalls. Council Member Jose Montaño asked specifically whether U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) had committed to additional officer staffing for the new port; Urquijo said she had no recent updates on CBP staffing levels and that discussions about retaining agents in the community have been ongoing.

Council Member Ray Shelton thanked Urquijo for the presentation and said the city should support the project and fulfill its coordination role. Council Member Ida Pedrego inquired about business opportunities and whether the city might offer land; Urquijo said land deals are primarily private matters between property owners and the GSA and that the city’s role is to coordinate agreements among the parties.

What’s next: Project documents indicate remaining environmental and technical work and ongoing cross‑border coordination; the council did not take any formal vote on the presentation itself. The meeting adjourned at 6:47 p.m.