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The Tren Urbano — or Urban Train in English — is a 10.7-mile (17.2 km) fully automated rapid transit that serves the metropolitan area of San Juan, which includes the municipalities of San Juan, Bayamón, and Guaynabo. It is electrified by third rail at 750 V DC. The Tren Urbano consists of 16 stations along a single line. The Tren Urbano complements other forms of public transportation on the island such as the public bus system, taxis, water ferries and shuttles. The entire mass transportation system has been dubbed the “Alternativa de Transporte Integrado” (Integrated Transportation Alternative) or “ATI”. Tren Urbano is also the Caribbean's first rapid transit system.[1]
[edit] HistoryIn the late 19th century while the island was under Spanish rule, regional rail systems were begun in Puerto Rico. The railroad continued to be in use for the most part of the first half of the 20th century and played a key role in the transportation of people and goods throughout the island. The railroad systems of the period also played a vital role in the sugarcane industry.  From 1901 to 1946 San Juan had a street tramway network known as “Trolley” de San Juan operated by the Porto Rico Railway, Light and Power Company[2] with more than 20 miles (32 km) of tracks and ran between San Juan and Santurce. During its heyday, it was the most modern electric streetcar system in Puerto Rico, rivaling New York and Toronto and transported nearly 10 million passengers a year. Today there are plans to bring back the tram to the heart of San Juan to complement the Tren Urbano.[citation needed] During the 1950s, an industrial boom, due in part to development programs such as Operation Bootstrap, led to the downfall of agriculture as the principal industry on the island. During this decade automobiles became more widely available. Newer, and more efficient roads and highways along with the closure of sugarcane mills displaced the need for rail transportation. It was not long that it was realized that an alternative means of mass transportation was needed in addition to the public bus system to alleviate the severe traffic situation that was being created, especially in the San Juan metropolitan area. [edit] Return of rail transit
[edit] ProposalsIn 1967, proposals were made for the construction of a rapid rail transit system to serve the city of San Juan. It was not until 1989 that Puerto Rico’s Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW, or DTOP in Spanish) officially proposed the construction of a new rail system. The train system was dubbed the “Tren Urbano”, Spanish for “Urban Train” or "City Train". In 1993, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) selected the Tren Urbano as one of the Turnkey Demonstration Projects under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991. During 1996 and 1997, seven design-build contracts were awarded for different segments of the Tren Urbano Phase 1 system.  A number of companies[3] shared the tasks for building the Tren Urbano including Siemens AG which was granted a concession to design and build the line and its rolling stock, and to operate it for the first five years. The company won a contract which was a “first” for North America in the scope of the work which it involved, and which was awarded in July 1996. [edit] ConstructionThe construction project was plagued by delays, contractual disputes between the government and companies involved in the undertaking, as well as investigations into possible mismanagement of funds. The project cost was US $2.28 billion. [4] [edit] Free ServiceThe rail system was officially inaugurated on December 19, 2004. After this date, free service was offered on weekends until April, 2005 when weekdays were added to the free service. Popularity grew quickly and by the end of the free period 40,000 people were using the train on a daily basis. By late 2005, however, ridership had fallen to 24,000, less than one-third of the 80,000 projection (and well below the projection of 110,000 for 2010).[5] [edit] Paid ServicePaid fare service started on June 6, 2005[4]. In 2006, average weekday boardings stood at 28,179 and in 2007, ridership decreased to 27,567[4]. Ironically, the Tren Urbano goes mostly through suburban areas. Nonetheless, by the third quarter of 2008 average weekday ridership had increased to 36,500.[6] [edit] Issues and ConcernsThere is no service to Old San Juan, Santurce, the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (and many other parts of Guaynabo, Bayamón, and San Juan), and it doesn't serve important suburbs like Cataño, Toa Baja, Toa Alta, Carolina, Trujillo Alto, Canóvanas and others, which helps to explain low ridership. However, some question the viability of this system for other reasons, such as the lack of an island-wide public-transportation system.[citation needed] At present, there is no reliable inter-city public transportation, such as buses with a regular schedule. Integration with other public mass transit systems, such as the Metropolitan Bus Authority (AMA), has proven to be an uphill issue for the DTOP. Customer service centers are located at the Martínez Nadal, Rio Piedras and Sagrado Corazon Stations. [edit] Route Tren Urbano is currently made up of one rapid transit route. It contains 16 stations, ten of which are elevated, four at grade or in open cuttings, and two underground. The stations in the system are:
Each of the 16 stations boasts unique artwork and architectural style. A maintenance depot and operations control center is located halfway along the route, between Martínez Nadal station and Torrimar station. [edit] Fares A single trip costs $1.50 ($0.75 if you transfer from an AMA bus) including a 2 hour bus transfer period. If you exit the station and wish to get back on the train the full fare must be re-paid; there is no train to train transfer period. Students and Seniors (60–74 years old) pay 75 cents per trip. Senior citizens older than 75 and children under 6 ride for free. Several unlimited passes are also available. A stored-value multi-use farecard may be used for travel on buses as well as on trains. The value on the card is automatically deducted each time it is used. It is a system similar to the Metrocard system used in New York City. Effective in the month of March or April of 2010, the fares will be reduce 50%. A single trip will cost from $1.50 to 75 cents. Students and Seniors (60-74 years old) will pay from 75 cents down to 35 cents. [edit] SecurityAll Tren Urbano stations are protected by specialized security units, such as private police companies and the Tren Urbano Police of the Puerto Rico Police Department. 72 law enforcement officers compose the police force of the Tren Urbano Police.[citation needed] In August 2009, the Secretary of Transportation and Public Works of Puerto Rico indicated that he will make a Strike Force Unit specialized in terrorist attempts and suspicious activity.[citation needed] [edit] Future plans Upon opening of the Tren Urbano, there were further proposals to extend the rail system to other municipalities such as Carolina. Two tunnels, each 136 ft (42 meters) in length, south of the Río Piedras Station were already built for this purpose.[7] An extension of the Phase I route to the San Juan district of Santurce through another underground segment below the Ponce de León Avenue was also planned, though to date, no design work has been started.[citation needed] Other past proposals included extending the Tren Urbano to Old San Juan and also the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport.[citation needed] On March 9, 2007, a new “light intercity rail system” from San Juan to Caguas was originally proposed by the mayor of Caguas. The rail line would include two stops in Caguas that would connect the Tren Urbano in San Juan with the Cupey or Centro Médico Station. As of 2009, further evaluation studies for this project have been postponed by the Department of Transportation and Public Works under the Fortuño administration.[citation needed] A light rail line has been proposed from Sagrado Corazón station to the Old San Juan district of San Juan. It will run on an existing right-of-way on the Fernández Juncos Ave. and Ponce de León Ave. Construction was originally projected to start in 2009, but the Fortuño administration is exploring other financing options, such as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.[citation needed] [edit] See also
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Coordinates: 18°23′26″N 66°06′22″W / 18.39055°N 66.10618°W | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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