Bogotá Metro

The Bogotá Metro (Spanish: Metro de Bogotá) is a rapid transit line under construction in Bogotá, Colombia that is currently projected to be in operation in 2028.[1] Construction started in November 2020.

Bogotá Metro
Overview
Native nameMetro de Bogotá
LocaleBogotá, Colombia
Transit typeRapid transit
Number of lines1 (planned)[1]
Number of stations16 (planned)[1]
Operation
Operation will start2028 (projected)[2]
Technical
System length27 km (17 mi) (planned)[1]
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 12 in) (standard gauge)

History

Background

The construction of the Metro de Bogotá has been the subject of debates and studies since the 1940s when the collapse of the Bogotá Tramways made the need for a modern form of mass transport for the fast-growing metropolis evident. It has been suggested that the track routes of the defunct Bogotá Savannah Railway be utilized for the city's new metro system.

Planning

In 2007, Samuel Moreno won the elections for Mayor of Bogotá with the promise of building an underground rapid transit system to increase the mobility of people in the city, reduce commute times and increase the comfort of the trip by reducing the number of people per car. At that time Moreno suggested that the train's first line run from the locality of Kennedy along the Avenida del Ferrocarril up to the Estacion de la Sabana on Calle 13 or Avenida Jimenez and from there northwards along the Avenida Septima up to Calle 72, then along Calle 72 to end up in Engativá.[3] However, the final design was to be decided by the winner of a public tender for feasibility studies of the project.

In August 2009, the feasibility studies, which include economic resources, best line route, and urban and environmental impact, were started by Sener-TMB. The result was to be announced on July 20, but was delayed until August 31. The announcement was: running from Transmilenio's Portal de las Américas in Kennedy, the subway will reach the Estacion de la Sabana near downtown, first underground, then by road-level tracks. From there it will run underground to Tercer Milenio Park, turn north following 13th road and 11th road. It will end at Calle 127 with NQS Highway, in northeast Bogotá.

In September 2009, Bogotá's mayor Samuel Moreno, announced that the system might be in operation by 2016.[4] However, fiscal troubles besieged the city during Moreno's tenure, and in 2010 he was arrested for improprieties in the appropriation of city contracts for public works projects.[5] This threw the fiscal feasibility of the Metro project into doubt. As of 2011, the administration of the new mayor Gustavo Petro announced that it would push for construction to start in 2013.[6]

As of 2014, the advanced engineering studies for building the metro were scheduled to be released in September 2014, after which time bidding for the construction contract for the metro would open.[1] Little progress was made until 2019, when six consortiums were shortlisted for international bidding for the metro project.[7] The deadline for the consortiums to present their proposals was announced as 3 October 2019,[8] with the winning consortium announced as Apca Transmimetro; comprising China Harbor Engineering Company and Xi'an Metro Company. The consortium won the bid for a $US 5.16bn contract to design, build, operate and maintain Line 1 of the Bogota metro. [9]

See also

References

  1. "¿Cómo va el metro en Bogotá? - En septiembre se entregarán los resultados de los estudios de ingeniería avanzada. Después se abrirá licitación para la construcción" [How goes the subway in Bogotá? - In September the results of the advanced engineering studies would be given, and construction bidding would open.]. Semana (in Spanish). March 26, 2014. Retrieved 2014-07-26.
  2. https://caracol.com.co/emisora/2020/02/29/bogota/1582982938_651948.html
  3. Martínez, J. (November 19, 2007). "En 2010 se iniciará construcción del metro". Revista Dinero (in Spanish).
  4. "Gobierno Nacional autoriza 300 mil millones de pesos anuales para metro y TransMilenio". El Tiempo. June 28, 2010.
  5. "Samuel Moreno, suspendido por tres meses del cargo". 2011-05-03.
  6. "Radio Nacional de Colombia".
  7. "Bidding to open this month for Bogotá's metro". Global Construction Review. 18 June 2019. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  8. "Deadline for Bogota metro proposals extended". Reuters. 18 September 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  9. "Chinese consortium selected for Bogota metro contract". International Railway Journal. 21 October 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2019.

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