Santiago's Tramway Project?

[Guatiao]

According to todays DR1 News via Diario Libre, Santiago is planning/ considering on building a tramway. Do you believe this is just another smoke and mirrors project or could this actually benefit the city of Santiago?

Paz,
Heketi formely known as CapoDominicano

BTW I would have rather see a tramway in Santo Domingo, while the rest of the country should have a interconnecting train system. Imagine all the "toursit cities" connecting, it would raise capital, increase tourism and trade in the island.

Originally Posted by DR1.com

Tramway in Santiago?
According to Diario Libre, Spanish technicians will be arriving in Santiago this week to carry out feasibility studies for the possible construction of a passenger tramway system and cargo transport line. Initial reports say that the project could cost at least half a million US dollars. The route would begin at the Cibao International Airport, passing along the Duarte Highway, through the Monument area, eventually finishing at the Free Zone Industrial Park of Santiago.

[Chirimoya]

On the whole I agree, a tram system is the sort of public transport system that makes sense, in that it doesn't involve the same degree of infrastructural upheaval, costs and potential hazards as an underground system like the Metro.

In either case, the real test is whether as well as catering for the carless, it succeeds in luring car users on to public transport, thus reducing congestion and pollution, which would be a terrific achievement in a society like this one. This is the weak point. A bus service like OMSA didn't pull it off, so what would be different about a tram network?

Why the name change, Capo/Heketi?

[NALs]

This tramway for Santiago is a proyect that has been in the works for months.

The newspapers are just now breaking the news to the public, but this has been in the planning stages since at least July, at least that's when I learned about this from family members in Santiago.

The capital for this proyect is entirely private, the same group that built the Cibao airport is involved.

Good to see they are beginning to move from the drawing board to actual construction (although it's only a feasibility study, it's a start).

-NALs

[Frank the Tank]

Tramway? You mean like a trolley?? certainly more feasible than a subway. As far as trains go, I'm amazed that there isn't an intercity passenger rail system in the country.

[NALs]

Originally Posted by Frank the Tank

Tramway? You mean like a trolley?? certainly more feasible than a subway. As far as trains go, I'm amazed that there isn't an intercity passenger rail system in the country.

There used to be a passenger rail line that connected Santiago with Sanchez (in Samana province). The rail line had train stations in all the major Cibao towns along the way (Moca, Salcedo, San Francisco, etc).

Rail service ended under Trujillo's dictatorship. He ordered several kilometers of the actual rail lines to be rooted up and placed in places in the east and south in order to haul sugar cane to the ports in those places.

In Sanchez the old train station is still standing (although it's quite run down) and in Moca there is even a small monument commorating what was the first passenger rail line in the DR at the time.

-NALs

[Hillbilly]

Sorry NALS, the train stopped running in the 60s!! A buddy of mine went from La Vega to Sánchez on it. He said it was an amazing trip...

when the Guzman administration came in in 78 the lines were torn up and much of the rails used for supports for pig pens for people connected with the partyand the chief family. They were even so stupid as to publish picture of the guyin his pig farm!! And inthe background, there were the rails!!!

HB

[NALs]

Originally Posted by Hillbilly

Sorry NALS, the train stopped running in the 60s!! A buddy of mine went from La Vega to Sánchez on it. He said it was an amazing trip...

when the Guzman administration came in in 78 the lines were torn up and much of the rails used for supports for pig pens for people connected with the partyand the chief family. They were even so stupid as to publish picture of the guyin his pig farm!! And inthe background, there were the rails!!!

HB

As is usually the case, several versions on how something occured surfaces time and again!

Of course, yours is alot funnier! He he he

Thanks for the clarification.

-NALs

[Don Juan]

Unfortunately, Trolleys have been dissapearing from the face of the earth at a very fast rate. I saw a program on PBS about the last surviving trolley in the Americas. It had its last run in the late 80's in the city of Asuncion, Paraguay.
For some reason, although pretty, quaint and probably fun to ride.They are deemed not cost-effective.
From what I understand, in a fast paced world, not enough people use them to justify their existance.
Nevertheless, hopefully Santiago will get its trolley. I think it's the ideal city for it.

[Texas Bill]

An overhead system would work better for the Santiago environs, given the propencity of Dominicans to disobey the traffic laws and drive like maniacs (shades of new York, LA, Houston, Miami, et al) without regard for public safety.
That, coupled with the traffic density of Santiago at all hours, will present a severe problem to the operators of the "trams" to avoid "accidents".
Granted, it would be more expensive, but wonderful opportunity for raking in on the "cash cow" such a project would represent.

Texas Bill

[Frank the Tank]

I know in northern new jersey over the last few years, especially in Hudson county, they have installed a light rail system. It's bigger and faster than a trolley, but smaller than a regular commuter train. It runs on the surface, but not in the middle of thr roadway like the trolley used to. Perhaps this is what could work in Santiago and also appears to be a much better and cheaper alternative to a metro/subway. Maybe some of our members who live in the Hudson county area of NJ and can provide more info on this.