The Government of Guatemala announced that it expects to invest next year in Line 7 of the Transmetro system, which will have a total fleet of 35 buses and 32 stations.
The Direction of Urban Mobility of the Guatemalan Government presented a $28 million estimate for the project to implement the Transmetro route that will cover from the Mariano Galvez University in zone 2 to the University of San Carlos in zone 12, which will cross the Peripherical.
In Costa Rica there will never be a Metro, nor an urban electric train, nor any type of efficient public transport system simply because it does not suit the bus companies.
EDITORIAL
Lack of strong political leadership and a government with real capabilities is preventing Costa Rica from making the indispensable -and also inevitable- changes needed for it to regain its position as a leading nation in terms of economic and social development in Central America.
The government has announced that the Metro Bus service in the capital will be run by the State and its management will be granted in concession to private operators.
The government announced that the service which up to now has been provided by the company Mi Bus will pass into state hands, and the concessionaire will be a private company.
Government Minister, Milton Henriquez told Panamaamerica.com.pa "...
The possibility of tendering Metro feeder routes and Metro Bus in Panama City and San Miguelito is being analyzed.
Government Minister Milton Henriquez, said that the aim of the eventual granting in concession of routes by tender is "... that transportation be a single integrated system which includes the Metro, Metro Bus and feeder routes."
The president of the National Chamber of Transport, Dionisio Ortega told Prensa.com that "...
With an investment of $6 million, a card payment systems will be installed on buses, with operations starting in April.
The system aims to prevent drivers having to carry cash, as passengers will only be able to use the service through prepaid cards.
Ruben Altamirano, vice president of the Regional Union of Collective Transport Cooperatives (Urecootraco) noted that "carriers will not invest money in the installation of equipment or issuing the cards, but rather companies interested in the business will do so.
The renewal of the public transport fleet begins with the importation of about 300 buses powered by liquefied petroleum gas.
The renewal of bus concessions to be made by businesses by mid-2013 and early 2014 will be used by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT) to bring in units which use cleaner energy sources, such as LPG or CNG (Natural Gas). The change will begin with 300 units, noted an article published by Crhoy.com.
The Ministry of Public Works in El Salvador has announced a tender for the construction of the first section of the Metropolitan Transit System, for about $10 million.
Viceminister Nelson Garcia said that this stage will consist of 3.3 kilometers of streets with dedicated lanes for articulated buses.
The stretch will run from Soyapango terminal to Avenida Norte 33, and will have three stops.
Banrural and the German Bank for Development and Investment have granted a loan to Servicios para Centrales S.A. to finish building the bus transfer terminal CentraNorte in Guatemala.
The Rural Development Bank (Banrural) and the German Bank for Development and Investment (DEG, by its German acronym), have agreed to pay $40 million to the company Servicios para Centrales S.A., to complete construction of the bus transfer terminal CentraNorte, reported Elperiodico.com.gt.
An amendment to the Transportation Act and the adoption of a prepaid system would result in a better public transport service, more revenue and greater safety for users.
These are the suggestions put forward by the Users Association of Urban and Suburban Transport (Autue) in the face of the current situation where there are murders, assaults, illegal charges and abuse against drivers which plague the current transport system in Guatemala City and other cities.
The Legislature has approved a loan to finance the implementation of the "San Salvador Metropolitan Area Transport Program."
These financial resources have been provided with the aim of improving public transportation and transit for passengers in the metropolitan area of San Salvador, with at its core, the implementation of a mass transit system of articulated buses in designated preferential lanes.
The funds are destined for improving the public transportation system in the Salvadoran capital.
The loan, which has a grace period of 4 years, will be paid off over 25 years.
A document from Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) reads:
“The project will improve the quality of life of the inhabitants of AMSS, by reducing travel time, extending the range and coverage of public transport and providing greater convenience to users as well as contributing to improved air quality. People with low financial resources are the main users of public transport and often have to make longer trips and travel combinations. An integrated system will result in a decrease in transport cost. An ordered transit system, reduced congestion, the use of modern technology buses with low emissions and better use of urban spaces will result in a reduction of CO2 emissions, air pollution and noise levels.”
The Colombian company, Conconcreto, has announced an investment of $25 million to build the project.
The new bus terminal will have capacity to serve two million passengers a month, and will be built by Conconcreto and the company Servicios Para Centrales, originally from Guatemala, which will provide the remaining 50% of the investment ($25 million).
The complex will also have space for 300 banks, restaurants and shops.
In order to ease congestion of traffic coming from the East, a bus terminal will be built, which will be able to receive 2 million passengers per month.
Buses coming from that area will not have to go into the city, helping to improve traffic conditions in the capital, especially in rush hours.
Companies managing 18 routes in the metropolitan area have formed a consortium in order to improve profitability and competitiveness.
Reflecting the theme "Unity is strength", transport companies in El Salvador have decided to form an association through which they intend to do things like for example, negotiate with suppliers jointly.
Purchasing spare parts and storing fuel, among other things, are some of the activities that could be managed through the group, which is called Consorcio de Empresas de Transporte (Consortium of Transport Companies).
Backed by $30 million from the BID, September will see the beginning of the bidding process for the urban transport system in the Honduran capital.
The Transmetro project consists of installing a dedicated line along which a two-car articulated bus will run.
The first stage of the project will include a 9 km tract from the National Stadium to the Colina Kennedy passing through the through Central American Boulevard.