Tren Urbano
Encyclopedia
The Tren Urbano — or Urban Train in English
— is a 10.7 miles (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
, taxi
s, 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.
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 tram
way network known as “Trolley” de San Juan operated by the Porto Rico Railway, Light and Power Company with more than 20 miles (32.2 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.
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.
(Departamento de Transportación y Obras Públicas 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 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.
2.28 billion.
, 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. Some question the viability of this system for additional reasons, such as the lack of an island-wide public-transportation system. The inner-city, public bus transportation system—the Metropolitan Bus Authority (AMA)
-- that operates in the Greater San Juan Metro Area is considered unreliable by most people, and it does not have a regular schedule. Integration with public mass transit systems, such as the AMA and the Acuaexpreso (an urban ferry), remains a challenge for the DTOP.
The use of bicycles as an urban mode of transport is growing in Puerto Rico, despite the lack of proper, widespread bicycling infrastructure that P.R. Law 22, Ch. XI calls for, and that is the DTOP's responsibility to build. The Tren Urbano allows bicyclists to bring their bicycles into the train with them as part of its 'bici-tren' program, but critics point out that the program is not widely advertised to the public and requires a photo permit that expires one year after issuance.
Customer service centers are located only at the Sagrado Corazón and Deportivo stations. These are also the only two centers/stations that issue the bici-tren permit.
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Tren Urbano is currently made up of one rapid transit route. It consists of 16 stations, ten of which are elevated, four at grade or in open cuttings, and two underground. All stations are designed to handle three permanently coupled pairs (6 vehicles). 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.
, stainless steel
-bodied cars, each 75 feet (22.9 m) long. Each vehicle carries 72 seated and 108 standing passengers. Trains have a maximum speed of 62 miles per hour (99.8 km/h), and average 20.6 miles per hour (33.2 km/h) including stops. All cars operate as married pair
s and up to three pairs will run together at any time. Tren Urbano currently operates 15 trains during rush hours, while the remaining cars stand at the yards or serve as backup should a train experience problems.
Power is provided by AC traction motors
, chosen over DC as they contain fewer moving parts and require less maintenance. The trains share many characteristics with the stock built by Siemens for Boston MBTA's Blue Line
route.
Air-conditioning systems, have been specially designed to cope with the hot, muggy conditions which are the norm in San Juan.
A single trip costs $0.75 ($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 35 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
.
In addition, with a fleet of 74 rail vehicles in the local yard to cover at least, “double” the 10.7 miles (17.2 km) system length, and with all the basic facilities and capital equipment needed for the functioning in place, it is indispensable that the train be extended as it was originally intended to include higher-density areas of the central district for it to be operationally successful and sustainable.
The Puerto Rico's Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) plans include:
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
— is a 10.7 miles (17.2 km) fully automated rapid transit
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
that serves the metropolitan area of San Juan
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...
, which includes the municipalities of San Juan
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...
, Bayamón
Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Bayamón is a municipality of Puerto Rico located on the northern coastal valley, north of Aguas Buenas and Comerío; south of Toa Baja and Cataño; west of Guaynabo; and east of Toa Alta and Naranjito. Bayamón is spread over 11 wards and Bayamón Pueblo...
and Guaynabo
Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
Guaynabo is a municipality in the northern part of Puerto Rico, located in the northern coast of the island, north of Aguas Buenas; south of Cataño; east of Bayamón; and west of San Juan...
. It is electrified
Railway electrification system
A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
by third rail
Third rail
A third rail is a method of providing electric power to a railway train, through a semi-continuous rigid conductor placed alongside or between the rails of a railway track. It is used typically in a mass transit or rapid transit system, which has alignments in its own corridors, fully or almost...
at 750 V
Volt
The volt is the SI derived unit for electric potential, electric potential difference, and electromotive force. The volt is named in honor of the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta , who invented the voltaic pile, possibly the first chemical battery.- Definition :A single volt is defined as the...
DC
Direct current
Direct current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by such sources as batteries, thermocouples, solar cells, and commutator-type electric machines of the dynamo type. Direct current may flow in a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through...
. 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
Public transport bus service
Bus services play a major role in the provision of public transport. These services can take many forms, varying in distance covered and types of vehicle used, and can operate with fixed or flexible routes and schedules...
, taxi
Taxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
s, 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.
History
In the late 19th century while the island was under Spanish rule, regional railRegional rail
Commuter rail, also called suburban rail, is a passenger rail transport service that primarily operates between a city center, and the middle to outer suburbs beyond 15km and commuter towns or other locations that draw large numbers of commuters—people who travel on a daily basis...
systems were begun in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. 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
Sugarcane
Sugarcane refers to any of six to 37 species of tall perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum . Native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of South Asia, they have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar, and measure two to six metres tall...
industry.
From 1901 to 1946 San Juan had a street tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
way network known as “Trolley” de San Juan operated by the Porto Rico Railway, Light and Power Company with more than 20 miles (32.2 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.
During the 1950s, an industrial boom, due in part to development programs such as Operation Bootstrap
Operation Bootstrap
For other uses, see Bootstrapping and Bootstrapping .Operation Bootstrap is the name given to the ambitious projects which industrialized Puerto Rico in the mid-20th century.-History:...
, 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
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...
metropolitan area.
Proposals
In 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 WorksPuerto Rico Department of Transportation and Public Works
The Puerto Rico Department of Transportation and Public Works is a government agency of Puerto Rico regulating transportation and public works. The agency's headquarters are located in San Juan.-External links:*...
(Departamento de Transportación y Obras Públicas 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
Federal Transit Administration
The Federal Transit Administration is an agency within the United States Department of Transportation that provides financial and technical assistance to local public transit systems. The FTA is one of ten modal administrations within the DOT...
(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 shared the tasks for building the Tren Urbano including Siemens AG
Siemens AG
Siemens AG is a German multinational conglomerate company headquartered in Munich, Germany. It is the largest Europe-based electronics and electrical engineering company....
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.
Construction
The 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 $United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
2.28 billion.
Free Service
The rail system was officially inaugurated on . 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).Paid Service
Paid fare service started on . In 2006, average weekday boardings stood at 28,179 and in 2007, ridership decreased to 27,567. Ironically, the Tren Urbano goes mostly through suburban areas. Nonetheless, by the third quarter of 2008 average weekday ridership had increased to 36,500. Though it was announced that effective the month of March or April 2010, the fares would be reduced 50%. Fare was reduced from $1.50 to actual $0.75.Issues and Concerns
There is no service to Old San Juan, SanturceSanturce
Santurce can refer to:*Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico, a district of San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico*Santurtzi, a town near Bilbao, the Basque Country, Spain...
, the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located in Carolina, Puerto Rico, three miles southeast of San Juan. Over 4 million passengers board a plane at the airport per year according to FAA reports . It is owned and managed by the Puerto Rico Ports...
(and many other parts of Guaynabo, Bayamón, and San Juan), and it doesn't serve important suburbs like Cataño, Toa Baja, Toa Alta, Carolina
Carolina, Puerto Rico
Carolina is a city located in the northern part of Puerto Rico, bordering the Atlantic Ocean; it lies north of Gurabo and Juncos; east of Trujillo Alto and San Juan; and west of Canóvanas and Loíza. Carolina is spread over 12 wards plus Carolina Pueblo...
, Trujillo Alto, Canóvanas and others, which helps to explain low ridership. Some question the viability of this system for additional reasons, such as the lack of an island-wide public-transportation system. The inner-city, public bus transportation system—the Metropolitan Bus Authority (AMA)
Autoridad Metropolitana de Autobuses
Autoridad Metropolitana de Autobuses or by its initials in Spanish, AMA, is a public bus transit system based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is operated by the Department of Transportation and Public Works of Puerto Rico....
-- that operates in the Greater San Juan Metro Area is considered unreliable by most people, and it does not have a regular schedule. Integration with public mass transit systems, such as the AMA and the Acuaexpreso (an urban ferry), remains a challenge for the DTOP.
The use of bicycles as an urban mode of transport is growing in Puerto Rico, despite the lack of proper, widespread bicycling infrastructure that P.R. Law 22, Ch. XI calls for, and that is the DTOP's responsibility to build. The Tren Urbano allows bicyclists to bring their bicycles into the train with them as part of its 'bici-tren' program, but critics point out that the program is not widely advertised to the public and requires a photo permit that expires one year after issuance.
Customer service centers are located only at the Sagrado Corazón and Deportivo stations. These are also the only two centers/stations that issue the bici-tren permit.
Route
- Minillas (Phase 1A) Planned ←
- Sagrado Corazón (Sagrado CorazónSagrado Corazón / Monteflores, Puerto RicoSagrado Corazón and Monteflores are two contiguous neighborhoods with similar characteristics formerly known as the Alto de Ubarri and part of Santurce's 40 "sub-barrios"...
) (360 parking spaces) - Hato Rey (Golden MileGolden Mile, Puerto RicoMilla de Oro is a nickname given to a one-mile stretch of Ponce de León Avenue in Hato Rey, San Juan, Puerto Rico. The stretch is famous for the number of local and international banks and financial company's headquarters and buildings, located in the area, which have led some to call it the "Wall...
/ José Miguel Agrelot ColiseumJosé Miguel Agrelot ColiseumThe José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum, officially named "Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot" , is the biggest indoor arena in Puerto Rico dedicated to entertainment...
) - Roosevelt (Golden MileGolden Mile, Puerto RicoMilla de Oro is a nickname given to a one-mile stretch of Ponce de León Avenue in Hato Rey, San Juan, Puerto Rico. The stretch is famous for the number of local and international banks and financial company's headquarters and buildings, located in the area, which have led some to call it the "Wall...
) - Domenech (Hato ReyHato Rey, Puerto RicoHato Rey is a former ward located in the northwest part of the dissolved municipality of Río Piedras. It now stretches over three wards of the municipality of San Juan, Puerto Rico:*Hato Rey Central*Hato Rey Norte*Hato Rey Sur...
) – (Biography: MANUEL V. DOMENECHManuel V. DomenechManuel V. Domenech was a Puerto Rican politician and engineer.-Early years:Domenech was born in Isabela, Puerto Rico...
) - Piñero (Hato ReyHato Rey, Puerto RicoHato Rey is a former ward located in the northwest part of the dissolved municipality of Río Piedras. It now stretches over three wards of the municipality of San Juan, Puerto Rico:*Hato Rey Central*Hato Rey Norte*Hato Rey Sur...
) - Universidad (Río PiedrasRío Piedras, Puerto RicoRío Piedras is a district of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Founded in 1714, it has been the home of the University of Puerto Rico's main campus since 1903, earning the town the popular name of Ciudad Universitaria...
/ University of Puerto RicoUniversity of Puerto RicoThe University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
) - Río Piedras (Río PiedrasRío Piedras, Puerto RicoRío Piedras is a district of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Founded in 1714, it has been the home of the University of Puerto Rico's main campus since 1903, earning the town the popular name of Ciudad Universitaria...
) - → Carolina (Phase 2) Planned
- Cupey
- Centro Médico (University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences CampusUniversity of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences CampusThe University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus —or Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Ciencias Médicas in Spanish— is a state university located in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is one of the eleven campuses of the University of Puerto Rico...
) - San Francisco (535 parking spaces)
- Las Lomas
- Martínez Nadal (1200 parking spaces)
- Torrimar (GuaynaboGuaynabo, Puerto RicoGuaynabo is a municipality in the northern part of Puerto Rico, located in the northern coast of the island, north of Aguas Buenas; south of Cataño; east of Bayamón; and west of San Juan...
) - Jardines (128 parking spaces)
- Deportivo (Juan Ramón Loubriel StadiumJuan Ramón Loubriel StadiumThe Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium is a 12,500 seat stadium at Route 2 and Route 5, in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. The stadium has easy access with one metro station on premises.-Early life:...
/ Coliseo Rubén RodríguezColiseo Rubén RodríguezThe Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez is one of the biggest indoor sporting arenas in Puerto Rico. The coliseum was dedicated to Rubén Rodríguez . It is located in Bayamón, Puerto Rico...
) - Bayamón (BayamónBayamón, Puerto RicoBayamón is a municipality of Puerto Rico located on the northern coastal valley, north of Aguas Buenas and Comerío; south of Toa Baja and Cataño; west of Guaynabo; and east of Toa Alta and Naranjito. Bayamón is spread over 11 wards and Bayamón Pueblo...
) (400 parking spaces)
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.
Rolling stock
Tren Urbano's fleet consists of 74 SiemensSiemens
Siemens may refer toSiemens, a German family name carried by generations of telecommunications industrialists, including:* Werner von Siemens , inventor, founder of Siemens AG...
, stainless steel
Stainless steel
In metallurgy, stainless steel, also known as inox steel or inox from French "inoxydable", is defined as a steel alloy with a minimum of 10.5 or 11% chromium content by mass....
-bodied cars, each 75 feet (22.9 m) long. Each vehicle carries 72 seated and 108 standing passengers. Trains have a maximum speed of 62 miles per hour (99.8 km/h), and average 20.6 miles per hour (33.2 km/h) including stops. All cars operate as married pair
Married pair
A twinset or twin unit is a set of two railroad cars or locomotives which are permanently coupled and treated as if they were a single unit. A twinset of cars or coaches can also be called a twin car.-USA:...
s and up to three pairs will run together at any time. Tren Urbano currently operates 15 trains during rush hours, while the remaining cars stand at the yards or serve as backup should a train experience problems.
Power is provided by AC traction motors
AC motor
An AC motor is an electric motor driven by an alternating current.It commonly consists of two basic parts, an outside stationary stator having coils supplied with alternating current to produce a rotating magnetic field, and an inside rotor attached to the output shaft that is given a torque by the...
, chosen over DC as they contain fewer moving parts and require less maintenance. The trains share many characteristics with the stock built by Siemens for Boston MBTA's Blue Line
Blue Line (MBTA)
The Blue Line is one of four subway lines of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority serving Downtown, East Boston and the North Shore. It runs from northeast to southwest, extending from Wonderland station in Revere, Massachusetts to Bowdoin station near Beacon Hill in Boston...
route.
Air-conditioning systems, have been specially designed to cope with the hot, muggy conditions which are the norm in San Juan.
Fares
Autoridad Metropolitana de Autobuses
Autoridad Metropolitana de Autobuses or by its initials in Spanish, AMA, is a public bus transit system based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is operated by the Department of Transportation and Public Works of Puerto Rico....
) 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 35 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
New York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
.
Security
All 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. 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.Expansion Plans
The Tren Urbano potentiality with its six–car train set and a minimum headway of 90 seconds, would give a maximum capacity of 40,000 passengers per hour per direction, and compared to the actual peak hour 8 minute headway of 3,000 passengers per hour per direction (actual daily ridership is roughly 40,000 commuters), the train is working at 13.33 per cent capacity, which is well under the 110,000 rail passengers it planned by 2010.In addition, with a fleet of 74 rail vehicles in the local yard to cover at least, “double” the 10.7 miles (17.2 km) system length, and with all the basic facilities and capital equipment needed for the functioning in place, it is indispensable that the train be extended as it was originally intended to include higher-density areas of the central district for it to be operationally successful and sustainable.
The Puerto Rico's Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) plans include:
Phase 1A
- Phase 1A of the project includes the extension of the original line westward from the current terminal at Sagrado CorazónSagrado Corazón / Monteflores, Puerto RicoSagrado Corazón and Monteflores are two contiguous neighborhoods with similar characteristics formerly known as the Alto de Ubarri and part of Santurce's 40 "sub-barrios"...
(Sacred Heart) through a medium to high density corridor in two stations: San Mateo to a new terminal at Minillas at the heart of SanturceSanturce, San Juan, Puerto RicoSanturce is a district of San Juan, Puerto Rico.-Summary:Santurce is one of the top ten most populated areas of the island holding Miramar, Loíza, Isla Grande, Barrio Obrero, and Condado as main cultural hot spots for art, music, cuisine, fashion, hotels, technology, multimedia, film, textile and...
, a distance of 1,500 meters, with a possible transfer from Minillas to a future tram line from the historic district of Old San Juan to the Luis Muñoz Marín International AirportLuis Muñoz Marín International AirportLuis Muñoz Marín International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located in Carolina, Puerto Rico, three miles southeast of San Juan. Over 4 million passengers board a plane at the airport per year according to FAA reports . It is owned and managed by the Puerto Rico Ports...
. Phase 1A was approved by the United States Environmental Protection AgencyUnited States Environmental Protection AgencyThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
. - By the end of fiscal 2008, the legislature identified federal funds for the expansion of the train in its second phase. It was expected that during fiscal year 2009 the legislature would begin to issue bonds for this purpose.
Phase 2
- Upon opening of the Tren Urbano, there were further proposals to extend the rail system to other municipalities such as CarolinaCarolina, Puerto RicoCarolina is a city located in the northern part of Puerto Rico, bordering the Atlantic Ocean; it lies north of Gurabo and Juncos; east of Trujillo Alto and San Juan; and west of Canóvanas and Loíza. Carolina is spread over 12 wards plus Carolina Pueblo...
. A two-way tunnel, 136 ft (42 meters) in length, south of the Río Piedras Station is already built for a future expansion along heavily transited 65th Infantry Avenue.
Medium capacity transit system
- In addition, the DTPW plans to build TU Conexión, a medium capacity transit system that will go into service along Roosevelt Avenue by 2002, linking the De Diego, Domenech, and Hato Rey Centro stations of Tren Urbano with the Plaza Las AméricasPlaza Las AméricasPlaza Las Américas is a shopping mall in Hato Rey, San Juan, Puerto Rico, located at the intersection of Routes 18 and 22. It is near the Roberto Clemente Coliseum, the Hiram Bithorn Stadium, and the WKAQ-TV's studios. "Plaza", as it is known to many Puerto Ricans, was the first indoor mall built...
shopping mall.
Other projects
There are several projects to improve public transport connectivity:- Also being considered (2008) is a tramway from Sagrado Corazón station to colonial Old San JuanOld San Juan, Puerto RicoOld San Juan is the oldest settlement within Puerto Rico and it is the historic colonial section of San Juan, Puerto Rico.-Location:...
in Puerta de Tierra where many of Puerto RicoPuerto RicoPuerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
's state government buildings are located. It will run partially on an existing right-of-way on Fernández Juncos Ave. Construction was originally projected to start in 2009, but the FortuñoLuis FortuñoLuis Guillermo Fortuño Burset is the governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a territory of the United States of America. Fortuño is also the president of the New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico , a member of the Republican National Committee, and will be president of the Council of State...
administration is exploring other financing options, such as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, abbreviated ARRA and commonly referred to as the Stimulus or The Recovery Act, is an economic stimulus package enacted by the 111th United States Congress in February 2009 and signed into law on February 17, 2009, by President Barack Obama.To...
. The first line of the tramway will be built by the Municipality of San Juan (MSJ) and will be known as the Sistema de Asistencia, Transportación y Organización Urbana (System of Assistance, Transportation and Urban Organization) (SATOUR).
- The proposal to build a second tram lineTramA tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
to Carolina, possibly with a station at the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport.
- The extension of a line to Caguas by the existing Urban Train from the Centro Médico o Cupey stations,
- or a second plan for the development of a line to Caguas with a new "light railLight railLight rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
" network system with future extensions throughout the island.
See also
- Transportation in Puerto RicoTransportation in Puerto RicoTransportation in Puerto Rico includes a system of roads, highways, freeways, airports, ports and harbors, and railway systems, serving a population of approximately 4 million inhabitants year-round...
- Rail transport in Puerto RicoRail transport in Puerto RicoRail transport in Puerto Rico currently consists of a passenger metro system in the island's metropolitan area of San Juan and a small short-line freight railroad in the southern city of Ponce. Its history can be traced back to the mid-19th century with the construction of a limited passenger line...
- List of Puerto Rico railroads
- Rail transport in Puerto Rico
- List of metro systems
- Rail transportRail transportRail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
- Metro systems by annual passenger ridesMetro systems by annual passenger ridesThe most-used metro systems in terms of passenger rides per year:# Tokyo Subway 3.161 billion # Moscow Metro 2.348 billion # Seoul Subway 2.048 billion...
- List of United States rapid transit systems by ridership
External links
- Tren Urbano – Official Website
- Urge darle vida al Tren Urbano – Editorial de El Nuevo Día
- Urban Transport Technology – San Juan Tren Urbano Heavy Rail System, Puerto Rico
- Puerto Rico Public Art Project – Tren Urbano – Photos and information related to the artwork located on each of the train route's stations.
- En Rieles – Campaign to promote San Juan Tram