Pedestrian Boulevard Projects Come To A Hault
One of the first consequences of the break up between Costa Rica and Taiwan is that the planned boulevards - pedestrian walkways - planned for downtown San José will be no more, unless someone else steps in to pitch the us$2.6 million dollars needed for the construction of three new boulevards.

"It is regrettable for the project San José Posible with the suspension of ties with Taiwan and the us$2.6 million dollars to construct boulevards in 2008", asid Johnny Araya Monge, mayor of San José.

Araya added that the financial support was fundamental in the municipality's efforts to regenerate and repopulate the downtown core. "We hope to establish priorities to finance some of the projects with municipal funds and to look for other international financial support", said Araya.

Notwithstanding, Araya supports the government's position to cut ties with Taiwan in favour of China.

The Municipalidad de San José announced last year a network of boulevards for the downtown core, beginning with Avenida 4, which is currently under construction, in an effort to bring people back to the downtown core.

The first boulevard was created along Avenida Central, that runs from the Mercado Central on the west to the old Cine Capri to the east.

The boulevard was expanded to include the section between Avenida Segunda and Avenida 3, on Calle 2, all on the north side of the downtown core.