Traffic management has not been a strong point of governments in the Dominican Republic. Significant relief was garnered with the construction of the metro and skylift in Santo Domingo. The Abinader government has continued mass transport investments and Santiago has its skylift and a monorail is under construction.
But traffic jams continue as vehicles and motorcycles seemingly take over every single space left on city streets. Government actions and even more so, government lack of action rather accommodate vehicles and motorcycles and as a result all commuters are suffering through the long traffic jams.
A perfect storm of lack of adequate public transport, the economic boom and governmental Banco de Reservas-led low-interest rate programs to foster vehicle sales has resulted in traffic jams being normal at any time of the day. What should be a 15-minute drive to get anywhere easily turns into an hour’s commute.
The intense construction of high rises where there were single-family homes has worsened the situation, concentrating the population in city areas. Likewise, condominiums are built with limited parking spaces and few have parking for visitors. Spaces on the street where vehicles could have parked, are now entrances to the high rises, reducing the number of public parking spaces.
The city governments have looked the other way and contributed to the chaos by allowing businesses to open without adequate parking for their clients. Valet parking and double streetside parking is the norm.
Public transport has not kept up the pace with economic development. Everyone wants to have their own car and the low-interest programs offered by banks have made this possible. The government actually cashes in on more petrol taxes when more fuel is sold due to the long traffic jams.
Moreso, the government authorities have allowed major violations to traffic laws to become the new normal.
Minister of Public Works Deligne Ascención, with almost four years on the job, promises to do better and presents new proposals to organize traffic, in an interview with Corripio Group media. The Ministry of Public Works under Minister Deligne Ascención has been slow in carrying out roadworks. For instance, the Duarte Highway connector roadworks were announced to take 10 months to be completed and 27 months later there is no date for the works to be completed.
El Caribe reports that the number of vehicles in circulation, according to Tax Agency (DGII) stats as of 31 December 2023, was 5,810,882 units, including 346,892 newly registered vehicles in 2023.
Read more in Spanish:
El Dia
El Caribe
Listin Diario
Listin Diario
DR1 News
2 May 2024