SANTO DOMINGO – The government continues to implement its plan to strengthen public transportation, one of the major challenges facing the Dominican Republic, which lacks effective, comprehensive programs to meet the needs of those who rely on it for transportation. One approach included in the current administration's plans is the implementation of dedicated bus corridors, the most recent of which was launched on Avenida Independencia.
Luis Abinader, the president of the Dominican Republic, inaugurated the Independence Corridor, an initiative that, according to the official statement, will impact more than 40,000 passengers daily and contributes to the transformation of public transportation in Greater Santo Domingo.
A network of corridors
The bus corridor network currently comprises a total of 209 buses distributed across four corridors: 30 on the Núñez corridor, 46 on the Churchill corridor, 64 on the Charles corridor, and 68 on the Independencia corridor. "This network currently provides coverage of 500.93 kilometers, with an additional 67.27 kilometers added to its various branches with the implementation of the new corridor," the Presidency's statement highlights.
Other initiatives
The Minister of the Presidency, José Ignacio Paliza, highlighted that the Government will launch other initiatives this year that seek to continue improving transportation.
Among them he cited Line 2C of the Santo Domingo Metro, two additional lanes on the Duarte Highway, the completion of work on kilometer 9 of the same road and the overpasses in Plaza de la Bandera, as well as the new cable car in Santo Domingo Oeste.
President Luis Abinader officially inaugurated the new transportation route. (External source).
He noted that this will be complemented by the Santo Domingo monorail, which will connect the Olympic Center with Santo Domingo West, and its bidding process is already underway.
Millions of users mobilized
Since the launch of the first reformed corridor in February 2021 to date, the system has transported a total of 56,461,684 passengers, establishing itself as one of the main strategies for reorganizing urban transport in the country, the document highlights.
The new corridor
The new corridor will operate with 68 buses with a capacity of 90 passengers each, from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., with intervals of 5 to 7 minutes and 82 marked stops along an 18-kilometer route from origin to destination.
It will have a single fare of RD$35.00 with fully electronic payment. Furthermore, through the Fare Stabilization Fund (FET) established in the central fare collection system, passengers can expect to save up to RD$60 per trip, as part of the subsidy aimed at ensuring the system's accessibility and sustainability.
Connectivity with the Santo Domingo Metro
The Presidency also notes that the first phase of the pilot program for fare integration with the Santo Domingo Metro will be launched, allowing transfers at no additional cost at designated stations when payment is made electronically with a bank card.
The project is coordinated by the Transportation Cabinet of the Dominican Republic and operationally supervised by the National Institute of Transit and Land Transportation (Intrant), which will guarantee GPS monitoring from the Bus Control Center and inspection at bus stops.
Staff training
The statement explains that more than 200 drivers received training, strengthening their skills in safe driving, customer service, and compliance with traffic regulations. They will also benefit from social security, fixed work schedules, and pensions.
The new scheme incorporates service quality standards, including punctuality, optimal condition of the units and regularity in frequency, with permanent monitoring of these indicators to ensure a safe and efficient mobility experience.
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