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.
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 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.
Brazil will provide technical assistance and credit lines for modernizing the suburban system for short routes.
Those companies currently involved in outer urban transportation will have to merge into a single company, in order to jointly invest in the technology required for the project.
The government of Brazil has showed its willingness to cooperate with Guatemalan authorities in developing a modern, safe and dignifying transportation system.
"Transurbano", a new urban transportation system, will begin in March, serving 200.000 users in Avenida Petapa, Guatemala City.
In February, users will be able to request pre-paid cards (dubbed 'SIGA') at CACs (Customer Service Centers). These cards will be free of charge, and users will recharge them at any of these centers.
Different cards will be used for different needs, for example disabled people, elders, students, tourists and children.
President Alvaro Colom inaugurated a new transportation system in the capital city, called 'Transurbano Siga'.
Its name stands for Guatemalan Integrated Bus System, and introduces new bus units and the possibility of prepaying tickets.
Luis Gómez, vice president of the Association of Urban Bus Companies, commented that 5 companies bet on the change in order to provide a top quality service, in which users do not need to carry cash, as they will be using electronic pre-paid cards. Additionally, the driver's unions will enjoy better perks and constant training.
A bus prototype specifically designed to integrate itself into the transport system of Guatemala City was presented.
Eduardo Velasquez, in his article in El Periódico reported that this is the work of a group of national and foreign businessmen "led by Fernando Anzueto, an engineer for the Maprisa Company. He was accompanied by Severino Rosmo from the famous Rosmo Chassis Company and entrepreneurs from the Companies Hino of Japan, GPS of Central America and Cardtech. The new bus prototype has two rows of seats, each attached to the side windows of the bus. It has the fundamental modern systems for urban transport in the XXI Century such as GPS tracking systems, video cameras, a prepaid card system and entrance and exit doors on both sides of the vehicle."