The government announced that in 2019 it will invest $578 million in the completion of Line 2 and in the construction of the branch that goes from the Technological University to Tocumen.
Although Line 2 must be operational in April 2019, Metro de Panamá announced that in January it will bring into operation five stations and 12 of the 20 wagons that the Line will have, in order to meet demand foreseen during World Youth Day.
The pre-feasibility study for the new master network includes estimates of future demand up to 2040, and recommendations on the location of stations for lines 2A, 4 and 5.
The study recommends starting with Line 2A, as this would complete Line 2 and would significantly ease the exchange at San Miguelito and Line 1, by giving users the opportunity to head to the city center through Ave.
Of nine companies participating in the prequalification process, seven were authorized by Metro de Panama to participate in the international tender to build Line 3.
From a statement issued by Metro de Panama:
Metro de Panamá informs that a total of 7companies, out of the 9 that participated in the prequalification process, met the requirements to participate in the international public tender for the construction of Metro Line 3.
The consortium made up of two Japanese companies and one French company will develop the pre-feasibility study for the new metro master network, with emphasis on lines 4 and 5.
The consortium, called Nippon Koei Lac-Sytra, is made up of the Japanese companies Nippon Koei Co. Ltd and Nippon Koei LAC Inc, and the French company Sytra.
A call has been made for expressions of interest to develop a pre-feasibility study for a new network master plan for the Panama Metro system, with emphasis on lines 4 and 5.
From the announcement made by the Panama Metro Secretariat:
The general objective of the consulting services for a pre feasibility study for a New Network Master Plan for the Panama Metro System is to undertake pre feasibility analysis of the New Network Mater Plan for the Panama Metro, with emphasis on lines 4 and 5, starting from demand estimates developed under the TRANUS system, updating the MPSA database in terms of the physical, socioeconomic and urban development variables of the various corridors that make up the network.
Italy's Salini Impregilo, Brazil's Odebrecht, the Chinese firm CHEC and Costa Rica's MECO are the four companies that participated in the field trip to see the route that line 3 will take.
From a statement issued by Metro de Panama:
With a visit to the site where the works of Line 3 of the Metro de Panama will be developed, today saw the start of the pre-selection process of companies eligible to participate in the Best Value Tender with separate evaluation for the construction of this mega project, which will benefit a large population of the province of Panama West.
Metro de Panama has started the process of selecting companies to participate in the tender to design and build Line 3 of the Panama Metro, with funding of $2.6 billion.
From a statement issued by Metro de Panama:
It is estimated that the tender for this Best Value megaproject will be launched in 2017.
Metro de Panama has been given approval to publish, in the coming days, the conditions for prequalification in the tender for selection of a prime contractor for Line 3.
From a statement issued by the Presidency of Panama:
The Cabinet Council has authorized the corporation Metro de Panama, SA (MPSA), to begin the process of prequalification of bidders for the holding of a public act corresponding to the project implementation and commissioning of the system for Line 3 of the Metro.
$660 million will be invested to extend Line 2 up to El Dorado mall and extend by 2.2 kilometers Line 1 to Villa Zaíta, in the town of Las Cumbres.
Among the advances made by Metro de Panama since the intention to extend the lines was announced in January 2016 is the preliminary design of the extension of Line 1 by 2.2 kilometers and"...
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 financing agreement signed between the governments of Panama and Japan includes a non-refundable $35 million for recruitment of the Project Management company.
From a statement issued by the Presidency of Panama:
Panama today finalized a landmark agreement with Japan for financing of up to B /. 2,600 million to be used for the construction of Line 3 of Metro de Panama, the country's largest public infrastructure project since the Canal Expansion.
The Master Plan includes 90 stations to provide transport service for Panama City and its metropolitan area: San Miguelito, Arraiján and La Chorrera.
The director of the Panama Metro, Roberto Roy presented the master plan for the Metro which proposes a network of eight lines planned for 2040, which includes line 1 which is in operation and line 2, which is under construction.
A video released by the Metro Department shows details of the project which has the potential to enhance the development of an area that is already growing and whose population will have doubled by 2050.
The inclusion of the logo of the International Cooperation Agency (JICA) next to the Panama Metro Secretariat gives a certain confidence regarding the success of the realization of a work which is not only vital for the development of the area west of Panama City, but will confirm the direction of modernity that the country has turned towards since recovering the Canal in 2000.
While suspicions grow in the media about the companies in the tender for Line 2 of the Panama Metro, the absence of US companies is surprising.
EDITORIAL
An article in Prensa.com reports that "... In the best value tender proposals have been submitted by three consortia composed of companies from China, Spain, one from Mexico, one from Brazil and one from Peru.