In an interview with Hoy newspaper, the head of the tramway project has provided some more details of the project up for bids next month. Etienne Lhomet, representative of Semaly, the French transport consulting company overseeing the project, explained that the first stage of the tramway will consist of the eleven kilometers running along Avenida John F. Kennedy. This segment is estimated to cost between US$145 million and US$170 million (depending on the winning bid, of course). The second segment, hoped to be started before President Fern?ndez leaves office in August 2000, will follow San Mart?n to reach Avenida 27 de Febrero near the Braulio Alvarez Park, and pass along Avenida Duarte until stopping at the S?nchez bridgeThe tramway will consist of 30-meter cars, each with a maximum capacity of 300. The plan is to run the trains such that they pass through each station every thirteen minutes, providing reliable and fast transport along this corridor. Semaly expects an initial capacity of 6,000 passengers per hour, increasing progressively until it reaches 12,000. As designed, the system could go up to 18,000 persons per hour by running two-car trains. He also revealed that plans are for the original line to eventually extend across the river to terminate in Ozama at a bus transfer station. Also envisioned is a second tramway route, which would run North-South along Avenida M?ximo G?mez. The tramway project was announced during President Fern?ndez’s recent European trip, when French financing was secured for the project.Those interested in learning more about the project can see an interview with Lhomet in this Sunday’s installment of the television program "Siglo XXI" on channel 11.
