The Metropolitan Transport Authority (AMET) will begin offering modern bus transportation services in Santiago de los Caballeros, the DR’s second largest city, as of 19 September. Some 40 buses, of a total of 200 to be stationed in Santiago, will start servicing Santiago residents on three routes. These are: Autopista Duarte and Avenida Hispanoamerica, Mirador del Yaque, General López, Imbert, 27 de Febrero, Ensanche Libertad, free zone. Gurabo, Avenida Bartolomé Colón, General López and Hato del Yaque. Rotonda Ensanche Libertador, through the center of the city. Bus service in Santiago will be under the Santiago Metropolitan Authority. Major Vásquez Jérez is the new commander of the AMET transport police force. While the establishment of the service met initially with protests from taxi unions and even the city hall, engineer Hamlet Hermann, director of AMET, said that its installation in Santiago has been easier than in Santo Domingo. He said that the residents of Santiago are more identified with their city than those of Santo Domingo. The new AMET offices will be located at the Barranquita Sports Complex. Engineer Hermann has vowed to contribute to the restoring of the sports complex, that has been practically abandoned. The complex was site of the 1986 Central American and Caribbean Sports Games.
