President Varela announced that in the second week of May 2017 the tender will be launched for the construction of Metro Line 3, which in its first phase will run from Albrook to Ciudad del Futuro.
The launch of a tender for its construction is still scheduled for early 2017 and the line will run parallel to the fourth bridge over the Panama Canal.
From a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry of Panama:
The presidents of Panama, Juan Carlos Varela, and Japan, Shinzo Abe, will preside this April 18th in Tokyo, over the signing of the financing and project management of the construction of Line 3 of the Metro de Panama going towards the province of Panama Oeste, a work which is expected to be started at the beginning of 2017 and to be completed in 2022.
The government plans to analyze the feasibility of building a light rail line which would connect line 3 with other provinces, in a first stage to Penonomé, a second to Santiago and a third to David, Chiriqui.
In a statement on Presidencia.gob.pa, it is indicated that "... along with the construction of Metro Line 3 to the sector of West Panama, the administration has scheduled the feasibility studies necessary for the construction of a Light Rail line to connect Line 3 with the rest of the country, through a first tranche to Penonomé, a second to Santiago and a third stretch to David, Chiriqui.
The Metro Secretary is considering extending the line 1 even more than already planned, completing 18 or 20 kilometers and connecting with Villa Zaíta in the province of Panama.
The study to extend Line 1 of the Panama Metro has already been started, and now it has "... completed the route and up to the area where the station will be located." With this project the plan is to extend by 3-4 kilometers to connect with Via Zaíta.
A loan from the Japanese government for the construction of the third line of the Metro will have a term of 25 years, a seven-year grace period and an interest rate of 2.5%.
As was announced in July 2013, the Government of Japan will provide the resources for the construction of the third line of the Metro, whose final route will be up to Ciudad del Futuro in Arraiján.
An announcement has been made that on September 15th the specifications for the tender of construction of the second line, which will have a length of 21 kilometers and 16 stations, will be published.
From a statement issued by the Panama Metro Secretariat:
During the Cabinet Council, held on July 29th in the Ricardo J. Alfaro school, in the village of Tocumen, President Juan Carlos Varela Rodríguez, announced that on 15 September, the tender documents for Metro Line 2 of Panama will be published.
The government of Panama has announced that on September 15th they will announce the specifications of the tender for the supervision, design and construction of Metro Line 2.
From a statement issued by the Presidency of Panama:
The government has signed a contract for the supervision, design and construction of the new railway line.
During the Cabinet Council, held on July 29 in the Ricardo J.
The first line of the system will run for 14.5 kilometers, and will require an investment of $1 billion.
Authorities also unveiled the Metro's logo, which consists of a blue circle with white horizontal bars, in addition to the label "Metro de Panamá".
"Juan Carlos Varela, Panamanian vice president, informed on the line's length and cost, but didn't give details on which sectors of the city it will cover", reported Prensa.com.
Brazil's Development Bank will provide the government a $1 billion credit line for the construction of the Metro.
President Ricardo Martinelli announced: "We requested $1 billion, but they offered us an unlimited credit line. For that we must thank the minister and President Lula".
"Vice president Juan Carlos Varela explained that a technical team from the Development Bank of Brazil will visit Panama to adjust the terms of the loan with Alberto Vallarino, Economics and Finance Ministry", reports Prensa.com.