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MOPT Stalls Again The
Reorganization Of Downtown Bus
Stops
The stalling has been going on
for years and this year it will
be no different, as the
Ministerio de Obras Públicas y
Transportes (MOPT) has decided,
once again, to postpone the
reorganization or "sectoring" of
the bus stops and limit the
number buses entering in the
core of downtown San José.
The postponements have been
ongoing since 1999.
It was expected that this year
the MOPT would finally make the
changes badly needed as the
majority of the bus route
concessions come up for renewal.
However, the MOPT haa decided
that it needs a new study on the
demands for public
transportation in the downtown
area.
Viviana Martín, vice-minister of
Transportes, affirmed that the
government has a high interest
in resolving the problem, but
her ministry will not make a
decision until it has the new
study concluded.
Martín explained that the last
"formal evaluation" was made
back in 1992 and believes that
it is not possible to make a
"responsible decision" without
updating the information.
The vice-minister added that the
new study will give authorities
the technical information of
what is there now which will
form the base for a decision on
the changes.
Martín has given the task to
transport specialist Leonardo
Castro who will include in the
study the needs of the 14.000
families that live near the
affected area.
The reorganization proposal
would include the dividing of
the downtown core into nine
sectors, each with exclusive bus
lanes, articulated buses and
improvements to the roads. The
goal is to reduce contamination
and move people more quickly
between destinations.
Martín said she expects to have
the report of the study in her
hands by August.
While the study is being
conducted, 275 of the 304
concessions come up for renewal.
In 1999 when the majority of the
concessions expired, MOPT
officials believed it was a good
time to make the changes, but
then changed their minds and
postponed the decision until
2002, which would then begin a
"transition" period and the plan
would be fully in place by 2003.
In 2003, the MOPT said the
project would begin in 2004 in
the Pavas area, but nothing
happened. In 2005 a decision was
made to wait until 2007 to begin
the changes, which now the MOPT
says it needs more study.
It is estimated that some 2.500
buses enter downtown San José
every day during morning and
afternoon peak hours.
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