Transportation in the Dominican Republic
Encyclopedia
Roadways
There are five main highways (DR-1DR-1
DR-1 is a dual carriageway highway that forms part of the five designated national highways of the Dominican Republic. DR-1 provides a fast connection between Santo Domingo, the capital, on the southern coast, and the second city Santiago and the rest of the northerly Cibao region, one of the...
, DR-2
DR-2
DR-2 is the second numbered national highway in the Dominican Republic. Its common name is Carretera Sánchez in honor of Francisco del Rosario Sánchez one of the founding fathers and in the city of Santo Domingo it is known as Autopista 30 de Mayo. The highway serves as the main connection to the...
, DR-3
DR-3
DR-3 is one of three main dual carriageway highways of the Dominican Republic, connecting Santo Domingo to the eastern cities of the republic. The highway begins at the Plaza de La Bandera, on the western side of Santo Domingo, and travels eastward through downtown Santo Domingo and continues east...
, DR-4
DR-4
DR-4 is the fourth numbered highway of the Dominican Republic. It starts from Santo Domingo eastwards to San Pedro de Macoris and then to the north to Hato Mayor del Rey and again eastwards ending in the San Rafael del Yuma ....
, DR-5
DR-5
DR-5 is of one of the main highways in the Dominican Republic. The highway begins at a T-interchange with DR-1 in Villa Visonó in the small town of Navarrete located about 20 kilometers northwest of Santiago de los Caballeros. Initially...
) they are in good condition in the Dominican Republic connecting its biggest cities and tourist centers. There are nearly 19705 km (12,244 mi) of highways and roads, 9,872 being paved and 9833 km (6,110 mi) (2002 est.) unpaved. Like any underdeveloped nation, the Dominican Republic suffers from lack of good paved roads to connect smaller towns and less populated areas, major town roads however are in good condition.
Mass transit
The Santo Domingo MetroSanto Domingo Metro
The Santo Domingo Metro is a rapid transit system in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic. The Santo Domingo Metro is part of a major "National Master Plan" to improve transportation in Santo Domingo as well as the rest of the nation. The first line was planned to relieve traffic...
is the first mass transit system in the country, and second in the Caribbean & Central American nations after the Tren Urbano
Tren Urbano
The Tren Urbano — or Urban Train in English — is a 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...
in San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
. On Feb 27th 2008 the incumbent president Leonel Fernández
Leonel Fernández
Leonel Antonio Fernández Reyna is a Dominican lawyer, academic, and the current President of the Dominican Republic since 2004. He held the same office from 1996 to 2000...
test rode the system for the first time and free service was offered thereafter several times. Commercial service started on January 30, 2009. Several additional lines are currently being planned.
The Santiago light rail
Santiago light rail
The Santiago Light Rail is a planned light rail system within the City of Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic and the Cibao International Airport...
system is a planned light rail system in the Dominican Republic's second largest city, still in developing stages it was said to start on mid 2008 but right now is currently on hold due to lack of approval and of central government funds.
Buses
The Dominican Republic has a bus system that is rather reliable, and most of these public transportation vehicles are fairly comfortable. The fare is generally inexpensive, and there are bus terminals and stops in most of the island's major cities.Public Cars (Carros Públicos)
The Public Cars (Carros PúblicosShare taxi
A share taxi is a mode of transport that falls between taxis and conventional buses. These informal vehicles for hire are found throughout the world. They are smaller than buses, and usually take passengers on a fixed or semi-fixed route without timetables, usually leaving when all seats are filled...
–Conchos) are privately owned passenger cars that transit a specific route daily and passengers pay a certain fee with the convenience of stopping anywhere. This comprises one of the main ways of transportation inside the capital city of Santo Domingo, as well as other major cities.
This system though is not very reliable and lacks discipline, the high number of public cars that transit the roads, and the fact that they do not lend itself to regulation or central control, which causes frequent transit problems among city roads. They may also be somewhat uncomfortable, since they try to fit as much people as possible inside them. As a standard, a 4 person sedan (driver included) usually caries 6 passengers, twice the amount for which they were designed.
Railways
Rail operations are provided by one state owned operator and several private operators (mainly for sugar mills):- Central Romana Railroad was established in 1911 in the sugarcane fields. The total length of the line is 757 km (470 mi), 375 km (233 mi) being the standard gauge.
- The Dominican Republic Government Railway is a 142 km (88 mi) narrow gauge railway.
- There are 240 km (149 mi) operated by other sugarcane companies in various gauges: , , gauges (1995).
- There are no connections with Haiti.
Ports
- The Port of Santo Domingo, with its location in the Caribbean, is well suited for flexible itinerary planning and has excellent support, road, and airport infrastructure within the Santo Domingo region, which facilitate access and transfers. The port is suitable for both turnaround and transit calls.
- Haina Occidental PortHaina Occidental PortThe Haina Occidental Port is located in the Haina River, Haina, Dominican Republic. This harbor is only used for cargo operations incoming from several countries in the Caribbean zone.-Overview:...
, located just 20 km west of Santo DomingoSanto DomingoSanto Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
, is one of the most important port in the Dominican Republic. About 70% of all cargo, excluding Caucedo and free zone exports/imports, is moved through this port. - DP World's terminal Multimodal Caucedo PortMultimodal Caucedo PortThe Multimodal Caucedo Port is located in Caucedo, Boca Chica, Santo Domingo Este, Dominican Republic. This harbor is only used for cargo operations incoming from several countries in the Caribbean zone and is the youngest and the most modern port in the island.-Overview:Caucedo Port has one...
maritime terminal and logistic center operates under the Free Zone Regime. Actually 85% of Free Zone exports to United States is shipped from Caucedo terminal. Multimodal Caucedo port is also able to act as a trans-shipment hub to the Caribbean and Latin America for Asia specifically Japan as a door to the American market. - Port of Puerto PlataPort of Puerto PlataThe Port of Puerto Plata is located in San Felipe de Puerto Plata, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. This is the main harbor in the north coast and it is currently used for cargo operations and several military movements...
is the main commercial port on the north coast of the Dominican Republic. - Port of Boca ChicaPort of Boca ChicaThe Port of Boca Chica is located in Boca Chica, Santo Domingo Este, Dominican Republic.-Overview:The Port of Boca Chica was built in the 1950s and it served for the sugar transportation....
is located about 20 miles east of the capital city and 5 miles of the International airport Las Americas. Currently the port is almost exclusively used for containers and some lumber, newsprint and homogeneous cargoes. - Port of San Pedro de MacorisPort of San Pedro de MacorisPort of San Pedro de Macoris is located on the Higuamo river, San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic. This port is mainly used to discharge bulk fertilizer. Cementclinker, coal, wheat, diesel and LPG...
is located on the Higuamo river. This port is mainly used to discharge bulk fertilizer. Cement clinker, coal, wheat, diesel and LPG. It is also used to export sugar and molasses produced by several sugar cane mills in the region. - Central Romana PortCentral Romana PortCentral Romana Port is located in Chavon River, La Romana, Dominican Republic, and belong to Central Romana Corporation which is a private company established in 1911 and has the largest sugar mill I the country.-Overview:...
, located in La RomanaLa RomanaLa Romana is a province of the Dominican Republic. The capital is also named La Romana, and is the third-largest city in the country. La Romana was elevated to the category of province in 1944....
, belong to Central Romana Corporation which is a private company established in 1911 and has the largest sugar mill in the country.
The following six local ports are a single pier with berth facility:
- Cayo Levantado PortCayo Levantado PortCayo Levantado Port or Samana Port or Fondeaderon Port is located in Arroyo Barril, Samana, Dominican Republic.-Overview:Port of Samana was built in 1977 as a free commercial port to deposit or commercialize non-taxes products....
or (Arroyo Barruk/Puerto Duarte) is located in the SamanaSamana-Dominican Republic:*Samaná Province*Samaná, Dominican Republic, or Santa Bárbara de Samaná, the capital of Samaná Province*Samaná Peninsula*Cape Samana on Samaná Peninsula*Samaná Bay, a body of water in the Atlantic next to the Samaná Peninsula...
Bay. - Manzanillo PortManzanillo PortManzanillo Port is located in Manzanillo, Montecristi, Dominican Republic. It is very close to the border with Haiti.-Overview:Port of Manzanillo was built in the 1950s by the Dominican Fruit Company , a North American company dedicated to export bananas and other minor fruits of the country.This...
is located very close to the Haitian border. - Port of Cabo RojoPort of Cabo RojoPort of Cabo Rojo or Cabo Rojo Port is located in Cabo Rojo, Pedernales, Dominican Republic.-Overview:Port of Cabo Rojo was built by the Aluminum Corporation of America for exportation of Bauxite and Caliza....
is located in Cabo RojoCabo Rojo, Dominican RepublicLiterally meaning "Red Cape", is both a cape on the southwestern coast of the Dominican Republic, and a beach on the same location. More specifically, it belongs to Pedernales Province, the southernmost province of the country....
, southeast to the border. - Port of BarahonaPort of BarahonaBarahona Port or Port of Barahona is located in Barahona, Dominican Republic.-Overview:Port of Barahona was rebuilt in the 1950's by the United States....
is located in BarahonaBarahonaBarahona is a province of the Dominican Republic.The Barahona Coast is located on the southwestern part of the Dominican Republic approximately three hours drive from Santo Domingo the capital of the Dominican Republic....
, in the bay of Neyba. - Port of AzuaPort of Azua-Overview:Port of Azua was built in the 1959 by Rafael Leónidas Trujillo.The Harbor has two terminals, one of those is utilized by Compañía de Gas Licuado de Petróleo Opuvisa which has installed containers of gas....
in AzuaAzuaAzua may refer to:Places:* Azua Province in the Dominican Republic* Azua de Compostela, capital of Azua province in the Dominican RepublicThe Basque surname Azúa:* Goizeder Victoria Azúa Barríos* Félix de AzúaOther:...
, also called Puerto Viejo is located at Ocoa Bay. - Palenque Port is located southwest of Santo Domingo.
A local ferry service runs daily between the Samaná and Sabana del Mar ports.
Merchant marine
- Total:
- 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,587 GRT/
- Ships by type:
- cargo 1 (1999 est.)
Entering the ports
Boaters and sailors who with to dock in any of DR's ports must follow certain entry requirements:- Upon approaching the port, ships must display a quarantineQuarantineQuarantine is compulsory isolation, typically to contain the spread of something considered dangerous, often but not always disease. The word comes from the Italian quarantena, meaning forty-day period....
flag, which has the letter 'Q' on it, and wait for admittance into the port. - The passengers of the vessel must pay a fee, get a tourist card, and show proper identification including a valid passportPassportA passport is a document, issued by a national government, which certifies, for the purpose of international travel, the identity and nationality of its holder. The elements of identity are name, date of birth, sex, and place of birth....
. - Military officials must sometimes grant the passengers clearance to come ashore.
Airports
There are 7 major and 31 minor airports in the DR (2009):
- Las Américas International AirportLas Américas International Airport-Cargo airlines:-Accidents and incidents:*On February 15, 1970, a Dominicana de Aviación DC-9 flying to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, crashed, killing all 102 persons on board ....
, Santo Domingo CitySanto DomingoSanto Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
, Santo Domingo - Punta Cana International AirportPunta Cana International AirportPunta Cana International Airport is a privately owned commercial airport in Punta Cana, eastern Dominican Republic. The airport is built in a traditional Dominican style with open-air terminals with their roofs covered in palm fronds. built the Punta Cana International Airport in 1984. A number...
, Punta CanaPunta CanaPunta Cana is part of the newly created Punta Cana-Bávaro-Veron-Macao municipal district in La Altagracia, the easternmost province of the Dominican Republic. The area is best known for its beaches and balnearios, which face both the Caribbean and Atlantic, and it has been a popular tourist...
/ HigüeySalvaleón de HigüeyHigüey , or in full Salvaleón de Higüey, is the capital city of the eastern province of La Altagracia, in the Dominican Republic. The river Yuma flows through the urban area of Higüey.... - Cibao International AirportCibao International AirportCibao International Airport also known as Santiago Airport, is located in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic's second largest city. It's the country's third busiest airport by passenger traffic and aircraft movements....
, Santiago CitySantiago de los CaballerosSantiago de los Caballeros is a city in the Dominican Republic. Founded in 1495 during the first wave of European colonization of the New World, today Santiago is the second largest metropolis in the Dominican Republic, located in the north-central region of the Republic known as Cibao valley...
, Santiago - Gregorio Luperón International AirportGregorio Luperón International Airport- Cargo carriers :- External links :*...
, Puerto PlataSan Felipe de Puerto PlataSan Felipe de Puerto Plata, often referred to as simply Puerto Plata, is the capital of the Dominican province Puerto Plata.The city is famous for resorts such as Playa Dorada and Costa Dorada, located east of San Felipe de Puerto Plata. There are a total of 100,000 hotel beds in the city.The only... - La Romana International AirportLa Romana International AirportLa Romana International Airport is located on the southeastern coast of the Dominican Republic, adjacent to the tourist town of La Romana and the resort of Casa de Campo. The airport, which opened in December 2000, is about 68 miles from the capital, Santo Domingo...
, La Romana City, La Romana - Samana El Catey International AirportSamaná El Catey International AirportSamaná El Catey International Airport , also called Aeropuerto Internacional Presidente Juan Bosch , is a new international airport that opened on 6 November 2006, serving the province of Samaná in the Dominican Republic....
, Sanchez, Samana - María Montez International AirportMaría Montez International AirportMaría Montez International Airport is an international airport located in Barahona, Dominican Republic. It is named after the late film star Maria Montez, who was born in the province of Barahona.- Airlines and destinations :- Former Destinations :...
, Barahona City, Barahona
Airports - with paved runways
- Total: 10 (1999 est.)
- Over 3,047 m: 3
- 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
- 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
- 914 to 1,523 m: 3
- under 914 m: 2
Airports - with unpaved runways
- Total: 15 (1999 est.)
- 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
- 914 to 1,523 m: 4
- under 914 m: 9
National airlines
- Dominicana de AviaciónDominicana de AviaciónCompañía Dominicana de Aviación, usually shortened to Dominicana, was an airline from the Dominican Republic, serving as flag carrier of the country.-History:...
used to be the country's national airline for a large period of time. Due to economic crisis, however, this title has been passed on to various other companies after Dominicana stopped flying. - PAWA Dominicana is the current flag carrierFlag carrierA flag carrier is a transportation company, such as an airline or shipping company, that, being locally registered in a given country, enjoys preferential rights or privileges, accorded by the government, for international operations. It may be a state-run, state-owned or private but...
of the country.
Flights
There are direct flights to and from Dominican Republic From United States, Cuba, Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Europe and the Caribbean.External links
- Dominican Republic - Ministry of Tourism, Official Site
- Santo Domingo Public Transportation
- Dominican Republic Information Pictures of transportation