By The Star Staff
The Integrated Transportation Authority (ATI by its Spanish initials) has scheduled public meetings for April 15 and April 16 to discuss the proposed extension of the Urban Train (Tren Urbano).
Transportation and Public Works (DTOP) Secretary Eileen Vélez Vega and ATI’s Josué Menéndez Agosto said earlier this week that the objective of the two sessions is to promote citizen participation in public transit issues and offer the population an opportunity to ask questions and share opinions.
“Active community participation is essential for developing public transportation projects that respond to our society’s needs,” the DTOP secretary said. “We are committed to listening to citizens’ voices and working together toward a more sustainable and efficient mobility future for San Juan and Puerto Rico.”
During the Urban Train extension analysis meetings in San Juan, officials will provide information on the preliminary concepts of the project, followed by a detailed explanation of the evaluation process and the results achieved to date.
The Tren Urbano: Northwest Extension Alternatives Analysis study will evaluate various transit options to extend the Urban Train from the Sagrado Corazón station in Santurce to the northwest. The analysis examined modes such as bus rapid transit (BRT), light rail transit (LRT), or heavy rail transit (HRT) similar to the currently operating Urban Train, and evaluates their feasibility and effectiveness based on factors such as travel time, demand, operating costs, environmental impact and community needs.
ATI and a task force designated for the extension have developed and evaluated plans to expand train services to the northwest of San Juan.
The meeting on April 15 will start at 6 p.m. in the José “Pepito” Figueroa Room at the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music in Miramar. The April 16 meeting will start at 5 p.m. and will take place in the Arts Pavilion, Barat Sur Building, at Universidad de Sagrado Corazón in Santurce.