Carolina Mejía, the new mayor of the capital city of the Dominican Republic, says that improving the flow of traffic in the city, adequate handling of solid wastes, and the lighting in the city are her priorities.
In an interview with Diario Libre, she spoke of new efforts to reduce the amount of wastes trucked to Duquesa, the city’s garbage dump. The program intends to get people to separate the rubbish so that what can be recycled stays in the National District and less is trucked to Duquesa. This would represent significant savings for the National District government.
Regarding transport, Mejía is working closely with Hugo Beras, who resigned his aspirations to run for mayor for the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) to join Mejía’s campaign. She appointed him as her secretary-general. Beras spoke of 42 more one-way streets that have been approved for the city, pedestrian ways (especially in the Colonial City), and more parking spaces. He announced they are encouraging the private sector to invest in building parking spaces. The city government is working on these projects with the National Institute of Transit and Ground Transport (Intrant).
Mejía and Beras also announced an increase in efforts to make Santo Domingo a more bicycle-friendly city. They announced a new bike circuit as of 3 June, with the inauguration of a pilot program on Bolívar Avenue. [Listin Diario announced the bicycle route starts at Km Zero in Independence Park to take Bolívar Avenue, turn south at Abraham Lincoln Ave. and a return via Independencia Ave to Km. Zero (Independence Park). This would be the second “bici-ruta” in the National District. A first is from Winston Churchill Avenue south to the Malecón, as reported in Listin Diario.]
For the lighting project, Mejía said the city government is continuing the plan initiated by her predecessor, David Collado. She explained they are also working with the installation of security cameras in coordination with the 911 Emergency System.
Mejía said that the efforts to reach out to neighborhood boards will continue. She says Estalin Alcantara is the liaison with the “juntas de vecinos.” “What I have always been sure of is that without everyone’s involvement, we cannot be successful,” she said.
Read more in Spanish:
Diario Libre
Listin Diario
2 June 2020