Infrastructure Project Will Ease Traffic Congestion in Capital City, Reduce Travel Times, Increase Access from Outskirts.
The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)--the political risk insurance arm of the World Bank Group--today announced it is supporting the government of Panama's efforts to construct a modern and integrated mass-transit system as a solution to Panama City's urban transportation issues.
The Urban Equipment company of Panama, SA (EUPAN) will carry out the study, design, construction, supply and installation of "pay zones" for users of the Metro Bus transportation system
A press release from the Presidency of the Republic of Panama reads:
The Minister of the Presidency, Jimmy Papadimitriu reported that the Transit and Land Transport Authority (ATTT) has contracted, by a special procedure, the Urban Equipment company of Panama, SA (EUPAN) to handle the study, design, construction, supply and installation of "pay zones" for users of the new Metro Bus transport system in the districts of Panama and San Miguelito.
In a surprise move, the Ministry of Public Works yesterday canceled the tender for the concession to design, construct and provide supplies for the metro bus transit system stops.
After making the necessary consultations the government has discovered the existence of an existing concession contract which partially covers the subject of the tender by the Ministry (MOP).
The Ministry of Public Works concessions the design, construction and supply of 500 Metro Bus stops.
The Ministry of Public Works Public will tender the right to supply, install, maintain, preserve, develop, manage, use, usufruct, repair, replace, improve, build and operate 500 bus stops with the following characteristics:
-478 Standard Stops
-20 Pay Zones and / or Transfer Points
Chilean Consortium Sonda SA won the tender to manage the new mass transit system.
The concession was granted to the firm for a period of ten years.
"Sonda is responsible for recharging the cards for access to Metro Bus as set out in the terms and conditions of the bid, once the card system becomes operational one thousand points of sale will be available, of which 10% will be run 24 hours a day," reported the article in Prensa.com.
Sonda, Confya, Panama Card and Metro Recaudo submitted bids to manage the Metro Bus transportation system.
The proposals ranged between $ 118 and $ 229 million.
"Today's event was attended by Ministers Jimmy Papadimitriu (Presidency), Federico Suarez (Public Works), Rómulo Roux (Canal Affairs) and the director of the Transit Authority and Land Transport, Jorge Ricardo Fabrega," reports Prensa.com.
The 43 buses which will join the new Metro Bus system, arrived the Panamanian port of Manzanillo.
The arrival of the 43 buses from Colombia, add to the first 11 units which entered the country a week ago.
These 54 buses form the first group of 120 units required to start operations in the South Corridor, planned for late December.
In the next 10 days or so, said Minister of the Presidency, Jimmy Papadimitriu, the new system will begin operating in the South Corridor and in January of next year, it will change the entire public transport fleet which uses the Northern Corridor.
10 companies participated in the preliminary meeting for bidding on the management of the Metro Bus system.
To the four companies which participated in the previous process, declared void on October 8th, the following companies joined: Unipago, TMS-Telemarca, Taborda Velez Transdata, King Holding and Cable & Wireless Panama.
"Companies interested in the contract, which has a reference price of $ 15 million, should make their proposals on November 30th, although several have requested an extension," wrote Prensa.com.
The Government will again invites bid the financial management services for $ 15 million.
The first bid held on October 8th was declared vacant.
This system will consist of an alternate payment mechanism to the exchange system, to be implemented and operated by an independent Financial Manager of Transportation.
The State will sign the contract with the Financial Manager and ensure it will receive remuneration according to the service, passengers carried and other terms and conditions of the Concession Agreement.
The government will introduce in November a second bidding process for the installation and operation of a payment system for the public transport.
The first contest with participation of four companies, Sonda of Chile; Confya formed by Colombians, Venezuelans and Panamanians; Metrorecaudo of Panama and Colombia, and Panama Card, was declared vacated by the Transit and Land Transport Authority.
Winners of a bidding process for urban transportation, Transporte Masivo de Panamá S.A., will contract 2,000 drivers.
The announcement was made by the director of the National Institute of Vocational Training for Human Development (INADEH), Themistocles Rosas.
Prensa.com writes, "Next November, Rosas said, classes will begin at the Training Center for Bus Operators, where applicants will be trained to drive buses for the new system."
Four companies submitted bids to fit and operate the charging system for Metro Bus passengers.
The participating groups were Chile's Sonda; Confya, formed by Colombian, Venezuelan and Panamanian businesses; Metrorecaudo from Panama and Colombia; and Panama Card.
"The four bidders are seeking to be awarded the contract for the 'financial administration service for Panama's metropolitan area transport system', which will last 15 years and has a reference price of $15 million," reports Prensa.com.
Volvo Buses has received an order for 1000 Volvo B7RLE bus chassis to Panama City. The customer is a consortium in Panama called Transmassivo and is led by the Colombian enterprise Fanalca Group.
Volvo Buses has received an order for 1,000 Volvo B7RLE bus chassis to Panama City. Low fuel consumption and a high level of availability were decisive factors in the customer’s decision to purchase Volvo vehicles.