District 11 photo
Note: Nikki Tiongco, District 11’s South County Trade Corridor director, was featured in San Diego Magazine’s 50 People to Watch in San Diego, 2026. Here’s that story:
The San Ysidro Port of Entry is the one of the busiest border crossings in the world—a massive economic and cultural driver for San Diego. But it’s also a pain, with hours-long waits. Nikki Tiongco’s working on solutions.
California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) may be a state agency, but Tiongco, as the South San Diego County and Trade Corridor Director, plays a critical role for two countries, serving as the point person for big projects at the border. “San Diego and Tijuana understand this border region really is considered one community,” she says.
Her current venture: the Otay Mesa East Port of Entry, slated for completion in late 2027. With tens of billions of trade passing through the existing Otay Mesa and Tecate ports each year, Otay Mesa East will be an economic boon to an ever-growing area. It will also incorporate state-of-the art tech to improve efficiency and sustainability. Dynamic tolling will change prices based on demand to help manage the flow of vehicles, helping the port serve as a release valve for traffic at other border crossings, like San Ysidro. The resulting shorter wait times will mean vehicles idle less, reducing emissions and pollution.
Ultimately, Tiongco’s goal is to make the entire border system more efficient. She’s part of the team leading plans for a rail study on both sides of the line and facilitating a binational dialogue to prioritize the planning of projects for the forthcoming Border Master Plan.