Architect Guillermo Santoni and structural engineer William Reid argue that with the cost of one kilometer of underground metro they could build an entire 30 km. monorail system for the city of Santo Domingo. As reported in Hoy newspaper, Santoni estimates that the cost of one kilometer of monorail would be around US$900,000. Santoni and Reid made their presentation during the first international seminar on the feasibility of the underground metro, organized by the Dominican College of Engineers (CODIA).
They propose to build the monorail taking advantage of already existent overpasses on 27 de Febrero expressway. The first phase of the monorrail would run along Josefa Brea, Pedro Livio Cedeno, Ortega y Gasset, Euclides Morillo, Los Proceres, Kennedy Avenue down to 27 de Febrero in a first phase.
Santoni Robles said that the monorail is an efficient, economic transport system that can pay for itself.
To cover the entire city, they propose to build four phases over a 15 year period for a total of 95 kilometers.
The second phase would transport passengers along Josefa Brea, Juan Bosch bridge, Las Americas, San Isidro, Charles de Gaulle and Mella highways, Sanchez bridge, Padre Castellanos avenue and contemplates 20 kilometers. A third phase would run for 14 kilometers along Maximo Gomez, Independencia, Villa Mella bridge, Guaricanos. And a fourth would run along Charles de Gaulle, Ozama Bridge, Konrad Adenauer, Jacobo Majluta, Sol Poniente.
The workshop continues today at the Barcelo Gran Hotel Lina with promoters of the metro scheduled to speak. The director of OMSA, Ignacio Ditren, a supporter of the underground system, is scheduled to speak, along with other engineers that will tell of the Venezuelan, Mexican, Puerto Rican and Spanish metro experiences. The event will end at 5:30 pm with a presentation made by the promoters of the Santo Domingo underground.
While not a campaign proposal, President Leonel Fernandez appointed his former public works minister Diandino Pena to the new post of Metro Minister and has endorsed the construction of the first 10 kms of underground. Promoters say this will cost US$327 million, but detractors say it is likely to cost US$2 billion.