A synthesis on cross-border travel: Focus on El Paso, Texas, retail sales, and pedestrian travel

The U.S.–Mexico land border crossings are some of the busiest in the world. However, over the last several years, cross-border traffic has decreased significantly between El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, negatively impacting businesses in El Paso. The objective of this paper is to provide a synthesis of cross-border travel decision analyses, explore factors influencing that travel, and provide insights to mitigate the economic impact of travel reductions on border communities. While the paper aims to provide a broader view of cross-border travel, special emphasis is also given to pedestrians as a case study.A better understanding of cross-border travel is critical for responding to not only the mobility needs of travelers crossing the border on a regular basis but also the needs of businesses that suffer losses in productivity and sales. The insights obtained from this study can help retailers develop business strategies and contribute to the local agencies' analysis toolbox for better managing cross-border travel, developing improved policies that ensure regional economic and environmental sustainability, and marketing cross-border travel to particular population groups, such as pedestrians. The paper provides valuable insights in the context of not only El Paso but also other U.S. border areas as well.