Santiago.-.The Santiago Monorail will begin transporting passengers starting next December, announced this Friday the executive director of the Trust for the Development of the Mass Transit System (FITRAM), Jhael Isa Tavárez, during a supervision visit led by President Luis Abinader to the main construction areas of the project.
The information was provided following a tour of the railway system’s workshops and the underground station located in the Monumental Area, where authorities verified the progress of one of the most important mobility infrastructures currently being built in the Dominican Republic.
Isa Tavárez reported that, four years and 72 days after the work began, the project has reached an overall progress of 92.6%, approaching its final execution phase.
He highlighted that all the structural components required for the project have already been manufactured, including 100% of the viaduct piles, equivalent to 4,246 units, as well as the 1,132 beams necessary for the structure.
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Likewise, he explained that 679 support piles or columns, 619 pile caps, and 637 footings have been installed. He indicated that some works experienced delays due to modifications made to the project’s layout in the Reparto Universitario sector, in response to requests made by residents of that community.
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During the supervision, the authorities also evaluated the progress of the electromechanical and railway phase, which includes the installation of the power supply network, signaling systems, operational and backup telecommunications, as well as the preparations for the incorporation of the trains and the integration of all the systems that will guarantee a safe and efficient operation.
One of the highlights of the project is the recovery of 180 parking spaces in the vicinity of the Monumental Area, which can be used by users to leave their vehicles and board the mass transit system.
Jhael Isa stated that the execution schedule remains on track and assured that the monorail’s entry into operation will mark a turning point for urban mobility in Santiago, significantly reducing travel times and improving the quality of life for thousands of citizens.
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President Luis Abinader reiterated his administration’s commitment to the development of high-impact infrastructure projects, aimed at modernizing public transport and strengthening the economic and urban growth of the Northern region.
The Santiago Monorail will have the capacity to transport up to 20,000 passengers per hour in each direction, equivalent to about 200,000 daily users. The system will cover approximately 15 kilometers from Cienfuegos to Pekín, will have 14 stations, and a central integration terminal with the Santiago cable car.
According to FITRAM, the project will directly benefit more than 500,000 people, reduce family spending on transportation by 30%, contribute to reducing traffic congestion, and have a positive impact on the city’s productivity and environmental sustainability.
