President Abinader announced a billionaire public and private investment for a mega mass transport system for Greater Santo Domingo and San Cristóbal with its population of more than 4 million inhabitants. The Abinader administration seeks to offer low-cost efficient public transport to those living and working in Greater Santo Domingo (National District and Santo Domingo province) and San Cristóbal, the bed city to the west.
On Wednesday, 27 September 2023, President Luis Abinader announced the Integrated Transport System for Greater Santo Domingo (SIT-SD). The long-term program calls for an investment of US$3.2 billion in mass transport, with private investors committing to invest US$2 billion.
The Santo Domingo Integrated Transportation System (SIT-SD) is an initiative that seeks to reduce urban traffic jams by incorporating new modes of transportation for the more than a million users of public transport every day. The intention is that the accessible and efficient transport system will reduce the need to get around by private vehicle on avenues in Greater Santo Domingo.
President Abinader, in making the announcement, said the mass transport service will reduce the cost of getting around in the city by about half and will bring with it a 70% decline in commuting times.
The project is scheduled to begin in 2024. It introduces new features such as the construction of a third cable car line connecting East and West Santo Domingo via kilometer 9 of the Duarte highway continuing onto Ensanche Altagracia, El Café de Herrera, Carretera Sánchez and Haina Port in Santo Domingo West. This work would cost US$250 million and will have the capacity to transport between 4,000 and 6,000 passengers per hour.
The SIT-SD also includes the Santo Domingo Metropolitan Train to Las Americas International Airport and along the 27 de Febrero Avenue and the San Cristóbal Train, as well as the construction of three interurban bus terminals.
President Abinader highlighted that the SIT-SD will connect the five entrances to Santo Domingo with an efficient, fast and accessible public transportation system. The citizens of Santo Domingo Este, Santo Domingo Norte, Santo Domingo Oeste, Los Alcarrizos, San Cristóbal, Bajos de Haina, Guerra and Boca Chica will no longer have to wait in long traffic jams of more than two hours to access the capital city (Distrito Nacional).
Collective transportation will be available to replace the nearly 3,500,000 individual trips made daily in the city, saving time and money for each citizen. “This great work will represent the greatest effort for social integration, where building an inclusive and universal mobility system, which integrates all social classes in a common space for the benefit of the environment and improving the quality of life of our citizens,” stressed President Abinader.
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Diario Libre
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
28 September 2023