23 measures for Transantiago

I haven’t commented on Transantiago, Santiago’s new public transit system, mainly because I’m not a user of the system, so I can’t say how good or bad it really is. But I know there are many people who feel affected. The president has announced 23 measures, which I copy below. Reading them, it’s clear to me that many should have been in place from the start. If the system wasn’t ready, why did she force Transantiago to launch in February? The only thing I can think of is that it was done so it would finally start running once and for all; delaying it further would have meant the project never happened.

The measures

1. Starting next week, daytime express services will be put in place, with known departure times and frequencies, to connect the outlying areas of the city with the main urban centers via the highways.

2. Shared-taxi routes in remote, low-density areas will be redesigned so that they serve as feeders to the bus services and the Metro.

3. Within 15 days the period for free transfers will be extended to 2 hours for users.

4. The number of inspectors will be raised to 400, and a specialized public transport management unit will be created with 200 technicians to monitor the fleet’s operation in the field.

5. Starting Monday the frequency of night bus services will be increased, with known departure and connection times at the main transfer points and destinations. Electronic fleet-tracking systems (GPS) will be installed to make sure the night routes are run.

6. Bus-only lanes will be set up on Recoleta, Independencia, Tobalaba, Los Leones, Providencia, Macul, Irarrázaval, Américo Vespucio, San Martín, Nataniel, Pajaritos, San Pablo, San Diego and Gran Avenida.

7. The 750 monitors on the street will be kept in place to redouble the efforts to educate and inform users. In addition, a Transantiago Móvil service will be added to bring information close to people.

8. Door-to-door information will be reinforced to make sure people know the route that suits them best.

9. Operators will be required to put the 5,600 buses they committed to into circulation.

10. The Ministry of Transport will apply severe penalties to companies that do not meet their obligations, which may go as far as revoking the concession.

11. Starting today a new train will be added to the Metro fleet, tomorrow two more, and on Thursday the 15th a fourth, reinforcing lines 1, 2 and 5. Before October, 7 more will be added, which will mean a 10% increase in the Metro’s current capacity, enough to carry 200,000 more users.

12. Starting Monday, March 19, the Metro will operate from 6 in the morning through 11 at night.

13. From Monday, March 19, Metro will take over responsibility for the “clone” bus service that mirrors its lines, reinforcing its own services at the busiest hours. This service will run 24 hours a day and its routes will be extended to cover the entire Metro network.

14. Metro will add 230 additional guards to its security services, committing to have, during the morning and evening rush hours, at least one guard on board each of the more than 110 trains that will be in operation.

15. Starting next week, and over a period of 60 days, 2,500 bus stops will be installed with user-friendly information, especially in working-class neighborhoods.

16. Within 15 days complaint offices will be set up in every municipality and the complaint procedure will be simplified to make solutions easier for users.

17. Within 15 days routes will be extended in the areas with the greatest difficulties, ensuring the frequency needed for people to reach hospitals, clinics and schools. This includes, among others, the following municipalities: Quinta Normal, Cerro Navia, Quilicura, Maipú, Pudahuel, Peñalolén and the areas near Gran Avenida, among others.

18. Within a month there will be 30 provisional prepaid boarding zones, making it easier for people to get on the buses, which will be able to open all their doors at once. We will gradually build the permanent versions of these 30 prepaid zones, with adequate protection for users and optimal urban design.

19. A special training program for 2,000 drivers will be funded, to support the companies’ service extensions and the staffing of the Metro’s clone buses.

20. Investment will be made in more segregated bus corridors with permanent infrastructure, along with improvements to their surroundings, incorporating all sections of Vicuña Mackenna, Av. Matta, Av. Grecia, Las Industrias, Pajaritos, Independencia, Pedro Aguirre Cerda and Dorsal.

21. A bill will be sent so that, in cases where operators fail to comply with their contract and that contract is terminated, a provisional administrator can be appointed to guarantee the continuity and quality of the service.

22. Starting Monday the fleet renewal process will be sped up, in order to have new buses throughout the city, especially on local routes.

23. A bill will be drafted, to be presented to the National Congress before May 21, to create the Metropolitan Transport Authority.