TREN
URBANO INDUSTRY OUTREACH
OPERATE AND MAINTAIN PUERTO RICO’S FIRST MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM
The
Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority (PRHTA) sponsored an Industry
Outreach on November 27 & 28, 2007 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The purpose
of the Outreach was to provide an overview and to solicit ideas for an upcoming
Request for Qualifications to operate and maintain PRHTA's Tren Urbano system.
The Outreach Session was opened by an address from Puerto Rico's Secretary
of Transportation, followed by detailed technical presentations on the Tren
Urbano system, updates on new transit system extensions in the San Juan
region, and a presentation on the Authority's Joint Development Program.
The two day session offered a complete briefing on the Tren Urbano System,
including a guided tour of the system, the Operations Control Center (OCC),
maintenance facilities and stations.
Background
Tren Urbano is a state of the art system connecting the business and residential communities of Bayamón, Guaynabo, Río Piedras, Hato Rey, and Santurce with high volume daily metro service using a fleet of 74 air-conditioned, air suspension, electric trains in 4-car consists.
The Tren Urbano system commenced full revenue operations on June 6, 2005. It utilizes 17.2 kilometers of 3rd rail powered exclusive right-of-way with 16 passenger stations, and includes an operations and maintenance facility with complete shops and yard.
Tren
Urbano is integrated with the municipal bus system, and stations have bus
platforms and pick up/drop off areas for cars and jitneys (carros públicos).
Tren Urbano uses an electronic fare collection system with magnetic stripe
fare cards available in automatic ticket vending machines located at Tren
Urbano stations and at Customer Service Centers. Several fare options are
available, and fare cards are fully integrated with bus fare collection
systems facilitating and encouraging intermodal transfers.
An Expanding Intermodal System
A new
Transit Authority has been organized under AMA which integrates Tren Urbano,
the Metropolitan Bus Authority (AMA), and the AquaExpreso ferry system.
The Operator of Tren Urbano will report to the Authority. In addition to
overseeing the operations of metropolitan San Juan’s daily transit
service, the Authority is charged with the planning, development, and construction
of expansions to the existing system, including light rail, bus rapid transit,
water transit and inter-city regional transit across the island of Puerto
Rico.
Future System Expansion
Prospective operators may wish to be aware that planning and design for future urban and regional mass transit projects is currently underway and includes the following projects:
•
Caguas to San Juan Light Rail Project – construction starts January
2008.
• Línea Roja Tren Urbano Extension – Intercity Bus Rapid
Transit from Carolina to San Juan, connecting with Tren Urbano in Río
Piedras.
• Carolina Municipal Light Rail System – a circumferential line
that is planned to feed Línea Roja and meet intra-city transit needs.
• Hatillo to Bayamón – currently in alignment selection
and ridership study phases. An RFP for FTA-funded Environmental Assessment
is currently in procurement.
