SANTO DOMINGO – Yesterday's nationwide blackout highlighted the most critical aspects of public transportation in the Dominican capital. Since Tuesday afternoon, thousands of citizens have been forced to improvise routes to return home, facing long waits, traffic chaos, and exorbitant fares .
The failure at the San Pedro de Macorís substation of the Dominican Electricity Transmission Company ( ETED) caused all the country's power generation plants to shut down, leaving the entire nation without electricity. The outage directly affected the Santo Domingo Metro and cable car system, causing gridlock on the city's main avenues and streets.
The Minister of Energy and Mines, Joel Santos, reported that the transport systems would operate free of charge and extend their hours by two hours to facilitate the mobility of citizens, although this measure was slow to be implemented while the metro and some cable cars remained out of service.
Citizens like Nicole Gómez , a resident of Villa Mella, recounted the difficult experience of getting around during the blackout. She said she left Máximo Gómez Avenue at 6:15 pm and didn't arrive home until 9:00 pm, facing heavy and disorganized traffic.
“The buses were charging 100 pesos, when the normal fare is 35 , and the motorcycle taxi drivers were asking for between 300 and 400 pesos. I had to negotiate several times to be able to pay less and continue my journey home,” Gómez explained.
Large crowds of people formed last night amid the chaos caused by the blackout. (External source).
Nicole's journey included three legs: from APEC to Ovando (35 pesos), a bus from Ovando to Mama Tingo (she asked for 100 pesos, but could only pay 80), and a final car ride home (35 pesos). These exorbitant reflect a phenomenon known as " emergency pricing ," which was repeated in several areas of Santo Domingo and highlighted the lack of regulation during critical situations.
For the average Dominican, a typical day of public transportation costs between 70 and 105 pesos, depending on the routes taken. During the blackout on November 11, that same trip doubled or even tripled , generating an unexpected expense that directly impacted the family budget.
Citizens reported how, on similar routes, motorcycle taxi drivers were charging up to 400 pesos for short trips, while buses were demanding fares three times higher than normal. This emergency surcharge not only represents an economic blow, but also additional stress for those who depended on public transportation to get home.
Many users agreed that the lack of organization and control increased frustration . “It was impossible to move, there was traffic everywhere, and the drivers were charging whatever they wanted . We could only move by negotiating with them,” said Ana Leonardo, a frequent subway user.
The social impact was also evident: long waits in the sun, uncertainty about getting home, and a feeling of vulnerability due to improvised transportation. For many families, a power outage lasting a few hours can double or triple their daily expenses and disrupt their routines.
Although the authorities managed to restore service in the early hours of the morning and extended the hours of private transport, many unscrupulous individuals took advantage of this situation to profit from citizens' desire to get home, charging excessive and uncontrolled fares.
The November 11th blackout highlighted the vulnerability of the transportation system and the importance of ensuring reliable electrical systems and regulated transportation. Situations like this serve as a reminder that urban mobility must have clear contingency plans and mechanisms to protect citizens from price gouging during emergencies.
