Bogotá Metro

The Bogotá Metro (Spanish: Metro de Bogotá) is a proposed rapid transit line in Bogotá, Colombia that is currently projected to be in operation in 2021.^[1]

The construction of the Metro de Bogotá has been the subject of debates and studies since the 1950s when the collapse of the Bogotá Tramways made evident the need of a modern form of mass transport for the fast-growing metropolis. It has been suggested that the track routes of the defunct Bogotá’s Savannah Railway be utilized for the city's new metro system.

Overview

In 2007, Samuel Moreno won the elections for Mayor of Bogotá under the promise of building an underground rapid transit system to increase the mobility of people in the city, reduce the commute time and increase the comfort of the trip by reducing the number of people per wagon. At that time Moreno suggested that the train’s first line be drawn 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.^[2] However, the final design was to be decided by the winner of a public tender for the feasibility studies of the project.

On August 2009, the feasibility studies, which includes economical resources, best line route, urbanistic and environmental influence, were started by Sener-TMB. The result was to be announced on July 20, but was delayed to 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-leveled tracks. From there it will run underground to Tercer Milenio Park, turn north following 13th road and 11th road. It will end in Calle 127 with NQS Highway, in northeast Bogota.

In September 2009, Bogotá's mayor, Samuel Moreno, announced that the system may be in operation by 2016.^[3] 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.^[4] This threw the fiscal feasibility of the Metro project into doubt. As of 2011, the administration of the new mayor Gustavo Petro has announced that it will push for construction to start in 2013.^[5]

As of 2014, the advanced engineering studies for building the metro are scheduled to be released in September 2014, after which time bidding for the construction contract for the metro will open.^[1]

See also

• Trams in Bogota
• Bogotá’s Savannah Railway
• Train for the vicinities of the city of Bogotá
• TransMilenio
• Metro de Medellín

References

External links

Media related to Bogotá Metro at Wikimedia Commons

• Metro de Bogotá Official Web Site
• Metro en Bogotá A web site featuring news about the Bogotá Metro