Metro Minister Diandino Pena told the Listin Diario that if Congress does not give green light to borrowing for the construction of the metro, the government would seek financing elsewhere. He said the private sector could finance the metro.
Pena said that the President is determined to defend the project to the last consequences. Pena told the Listin Diario that the government could choose to start the project with its own resources.
Pena has announced the metro would cost US$327-US$370 million, compared to the EUR1 billion prices of the Amsterdam and Paris similar lines and the US$2.3 billion price tag of the unfinished San Juan, Puerto Rico subway (mostly above ground). He also is promising fares of RD$5-RD$10 when fares abroad are in usually in the US$1-US$2 range. And he is promising a construction time of three to four years, compared to the standard double time elsewhere in the world.