NewsWhore
03-31-2011, 06:40 PM
An investigative report by Listin Diario this week concludes that although billions have been spent on public transport, it continues to be bad, expensive and dangerous. The report says that five government institutions are responsible for transport, but operate without coordination or integration of tasks. In an editorial today, the newspaper says that the chaos has reached such a level that five different fares prevail on one single route, and what's worse - they are unilaterally imposed by the transport unions that admit they operate without official regulation.
Urban planning expert Eric Dorrejo Medina says the transport focus needs to be reverted. "The idea is to invest in the majority, not the minority." He said the attention needed to be focused on serving pedestrians and advocated for public transport lanes and an integrated public transport system. He stressed that the problem is one of management, not of economic resources.
Amparo Chantada, professor of urban architecture at the UASD says: "It is incredible that we are one of the few cities where pedestrians are treated like wild animals that can be run over, that no one takes into consideration, or lets cross the road". She advocated for a new collective discipline. Furthermore, she complained that the overpasses are more a solution for inter-regional transport than for local transport.
Urban planner Marcos Barinas Uribe makes the point that while the government builds a mass transport system, it at the same time is building overpasses and corridors that crisscross the city and cause congestion and the need for more parking.
The report looks into several of the main issues behind the poor quality of public transport. It highlights that with few exceptions, private companies or unions pay scant attention to safety, comfort of their vehicles, regardless of whether these are buses or taxis. "There is an increasing perception that the authorities, despite all the institutions dedicated to the same sector, have been insufficient or incapable of guaranteeing a minimum of order, safety and efficiency of our public transport system. In this area, it has all been about letting it happen, letting it pass."
The reports said that transport is practically controlled by Conatra (Antonio Marte), CNTU (Ramon Perez Figuereo) and Fenatrano (Juan Hubieres). Government institutions that are supposed to regulate public transport are the Technical Ground Transport Office (OTTT), the Metropolitan Transport Authority (AMET), the National District Municipality, the Metropolitan Bus Service Office (OMSA) and the Metro Office (Opret).
Antonio Marte of Conatra says that the authorities have employed this laissez-faire approach to the sector precisely because they prefer the transporters to bear the burden of responsibility for raising fares.
An estimated 2.8 million passengers use public transport in the DR every day, with many having to pay several fares. "Public transport in this country is controlled by disorder, with deteriorated fleets of vehicles, that are unsafe and uncomfortable for passengers, and with fares that as well as very high, are subject to little regulation," reported Listin Diario.
The Fernandez administration's recent contribution to public transport is the multi-billion Santo Domingo Metro project. The government claims that 25,000 passengers use the Metro, but Antonio Marte says the number is probably closer to 7,000, as reported in Listin Diario. The government is working on the construction of a second line running from Km. 9 on Duarte Avenue to Padre Castellanos (Puente de la 17).
http://www.listin.com.do/la-republica/2011/3/28/182668/print
http://www.listindiario.com.do/la-republica/2011/3/29/182887/Proponen-un-transporte-seguro-eficaz-y-puntual
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#6)
Urban planning expert Eric Dorrejo Medina says the transport focus needs to be reverted. "The idea is to invest in the majority, not the minority." He said the attention needed to be focused on serving pedestrians and advocated for public transport lanes and an integrated public transport system. He stressed that the problem is one of management, not of economic resources.
Amparo Chantada, professor of urban architecture at the UASD says: "It is incredible that we are one of the few cities where pedestrians are treated like wild animals that can be run over, that no one takes into consideration, or lets cross the road". She advocated for a new collective discipline. Furthermore, she complained that the overpasses are more a solution for inter-regional transport than for local transport.
Urban planner Marcos Barinas Uribe makes the point that while the government builds a mass transport system, it at the same time is building overpasses and corridors that crisscross the city and cause congestion and the need for more parking.
The report looks into several of the main issues behind the poor quality of public transport. It highlights that with few exceptions, private companies or unions pay scant attention to safety, comfort of their vehicles, regardless of whether these are buses or taxis. "There is an increasing perception that the authorities, despite all the institutions dedicated to the same sector, have been insufficient or incapable of guaranteeing a minimum of order, safety and efficiency of our public transport system. In this area, it has all been about letting it happen, letting it pass."
The reports said that transport is practically controlled by Conatra (Antonio Marte), CNTU (Ramon Perez Figuereo) and Fenatrano (Juan Hubieres). Government institutions that are supposed to regulate public transport are the Technical Ground Transport Office (OTTT), the Metropolitan Transport Authority (AMET), the National District Municipality, the Metropolitan Bus Service Office (OMSA) and the Metro Office (Opret).
Antonio Marte of Conatra says that the authorities have employed this laissez-faire approach to the sector precisely because they prefer the transporters to bear the burden of responsibility for raising fares.
An estimated 2.8 million passengers use public transport in the DR every day, with many having to pay several fares. "Public transport in this country is controlled by disorder, with deteriorated fleets of vehicles, that are unsafe and uncomfortable for passengers, and with fares that as well as very high, are subject to little regulation," reported Listin Diario.
The Fernandez administration's recent contribution to public transport is the multi-billion Santo Domingo Metro project. The government claims that 25,000 passengers use the Metro, but Antonio Marte says the number is probably closer to 7,000, as reported in Listin Diario. The government is working on the construction of a second line running from Km. 9 on Duarte Avenue to Padre Castellanos (Puente de la 17).
http://www.listin.com.do/la-republica/2011/3/28/182668/print
http://www.listindiario.com.do/la-republica/2011/3/29/182887/Proponen-un-transporte-seguro-eficaz-y-puntual
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#6)