San Luis taxi stand removal leaves drivers and riders stranded

The removal of San Luis’ long-running taxi stand has turned an ordinary border crossing into a daily scramble for riders who depend on cabs to get to work, school, errands and appointments. Instead of lining up in one organized place near the pedestrian entrance, passengers now have to search nearby streets for drivers, while taxi operators have been pushed into surrounding areas where they risk fines or being moved along.

For years, the main stand on Urtuzuastegui Street offered just three designated parking spots, shared by dozens of drivers through a rotation system. That setup was already tight, but it gave cross-border riders a predictable pickup point at one of the busiest access points between San Luis, Arizona, and San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora. Its removal has left drivers scattered and riders without the simple, familiar curbside access that had long functioned as part of the border’s transportation network.

The city’s decision is tied to the San Luis I Land Port of Entry modernization and expansion project, a $355,195,000 federal effort aimed at improving traffic flow, reducing wait times, expanding CBP processing capacity and strengthening operational security. The port was built in 1984, and the project will expand northbound privately owned vehicle lanes from 8 to 16 and pedestrian inspection lanes from 10 to 14. Construction began in May 2023 after a design-build contract was awarded in September 2022, and temporary roadway and lane closures are expected through spring 2026, with substantial completion projected for spring 2029.

City documents described the taxi stand site as a traffic safety concern and said it was interfering with ongoing construction. San Luis officials said they had met with taxi companies in advance and raised possible replacement sites, but drivers argued the options were not workable and could create new traffic hazards. On February 26, 2026, the San Luis City Council considered repealing city-code language that regulated taxi stands, but the proposal failed twice, first on a vote and then on a tie. Mayor Nieves Riedel said the request came from the U.S. General Services Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to clear the perimeter for construction and security.

Drivers and riders said the loss will hit people who can least afford extra walking or uncertainty, especially students crossing daily to attend school in San Luis, people heading to medical appointments and riders with disabilities. Gabriel Garibay Medina said the change was especially difficult for people who struggle to walk. For many border commuters, the taxi stand was not just a parking zone but a basic piece of access, and its disappearance has made an already complex crossing more difficult.