Gov’t details public transportation plan for Sanse festival
- The San Juan Daily Star
- Jan 15
- 7 min read
By THE STAR STAFF
The Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP by its acronym in Spanish) has unveiled a special operational plan for the metropolitan area’s public transit system, to be executed by the Integrated Transportation Authority (ATI), as part of the central government’s efforts to ensure safe, efficient and organized mobility during the 2026 San Sebastián Street Festival, which begins today.
According to estimates, the organizers of the “fiestas” expect a floating population of over one million people during the four days of celebration.
DTOP Secretary Edwin E. González Montalvo, while noting that the plan was developed in coordination with the Municipality of San Juan, emphasized that public transportation remains the most effective option for those planning to visit Old San Juan during the four-day celebration.
“Our focus is to provide safe and organized access to San Juan’s historic district, reduce traffic congestion, and promote the use of public transit,” he said.
Under the plan, the Urban Train (Tren Urbano) and ferry services will operate on extended schedules to accommodate the expected surge in passengers.
ATI Executive Director Josué Menéndez Agosto highlighted that fares for land-based services will remain free of charge.
“This measure aims to encourage public transit use and provide a more accessible and convenient experience for everyone,” he said.
Urban Train operations
Regular service until 11:30 p.m., with access to Sagrado Corazón station, where riders can connect to municipal or private shuttles to the Isleta.
Return service from Sagrado Corazón will be extended as needed, potentially until 2 a.m.
More than 2,400 free, monitored parking spaces are available at stations including Martínez Nadal, San Francisco, Torrimar, Jardines, Bayamón and Cupey.
Special bus routes
T-3: Sagrado Corazón → Covadonga Terminal (with intermediate stops) until 2 a.m.
E-10: Sagrado Corazón → Covadonga until 3 a.m.
E-30: Caguas Public Bus Terminal → Cupey Tren Urbano Station until 2 a.m.
AMA buses will also operate free of charge on regular schedules:
Thursday & Friday: 5: a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday: 5 a.m.-8 p.m.
Direct routes to Covadonga include: 9 (Cupey-San Juan), 21 (Sagrado Corazón-San Juan), 5 (Iturregui-San Juan), 53 (San Juan-Airport), 37 (Bayamón-Cataño), and 4 (Piñero-Cataño).
Ferry Service: Cataño-San Juan
Thursday: 5:30 a.m.-2 a.m.; Friday: 5:30 a.m. -3 a.m.; Saturday: 7:30 a.m.-3 a.m.; Sunday: 7:30 a.m.-2 a.m.
Tickets will be sold exclusively at the Cataño terminal. Advance purchase is recommended via puertoricoferry.com or the City Experiences app.
DNER implements security plan
Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER by its initials in Spanish) Secretary Waldemar Quiles Pérez on Wednesday announced the actions that the agency has implemented during the festival.
“As part of our commitment to the safety and protection of the environment and citizens, we have developed an Action Plan to support the efforts of the Municipal Police of San Juan, in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies of the Central Government,” Quiles said in a written statement. “This is a comprehensive project that includes preventive patrols by land and sea, as well as the establishment of a Command and Coordination Center in the port area, among other initiatives.”
Starting today, members of the Ranger Corps assigned to the Action Plan will be in 10-hour shifts, which will run until Monday.
The DNER has assigned three vessels to carry out preventive patrol rounds in the area of the docks and the bay of San Juan, as well as the bay of Cataño.
A ground unit was assigned, with three guards, to provide security on the premises of the Luis Muñoz Rivera Park, El Escambrón and the Third Millennium Park. Another land unit has been deployed in the Condado Lagoon area, as well as in the Isla Verde beach area.
A modern patrol, with a detachment of three guards, will offer security in the area of Miramar and the Convention District.
“Our Command Center, located in the port area, will be assisting the Municipal Police, as well as the State Police and federal agencies,” Quiles added.
Cruise traffic plan in place
San Juan Cruise Port has activated a special traffic plan to facilitate access to the cruise ship docks with homeport operations during the festival.
The plan was coordinated with the Municipality of San Juan, the Ports Authority, and the Tourism Company, given the high volume of traffic expected in the area during one of the most attended cultural events in Puerto Rico.
On Saturday, the cruise ships with homeport operations from Old San Juan will be Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady and the Emerald Azzurra, while on Sunday, the Ritz-Carlton Ilma, the Viking Sea, and Princess Cruises’ Grand Princess will depart.
San Juan Cruise Port urged passengers to leave for the docks well in advance and to have their printed boarding pass available, a document that will allow access to the controlled areas of Old San Juan and facilitate guidance from assigned personnel.
As part of the mobility plan, the designated pick-up and drop-off point for Uber and Lyft will be the Escambrón parking lot in Puerta de Tierra, from where free transportation will be offered directly to the docks. Taxis will have access to the Treasury (Hacienda) Department parking lot, an area used for dropping off and picking up passengers at the port.
For cruise ships departing from the Pan American Pier, exclusive lanes have been coordinated for transportation from Luis Muñoz Marín Airport, using the Baldorioty de Castro Expressway toward Lindbergh Avenue.
San Juan Cruise Port noted that identified personnel will be available at strategic points to assist passengers throughout the weekend.
LUMA activates preparedness plan
LUMA Energy announced the activation of its annual preparedness plan in Old San Juan to ensure the reliability of the electrical system and support the safe, orderly development of one of the island’s most iconic cultural events.
According to the company, the plan -- implemented every year -- includes coordination meetings and collaborative work with municipal agencies, as well as proactive maintenance and planned upgrades to the electrical grid in the historic district. LUMA reported that over the past year, and in preparation for the event, its crews have carried out multiple interventions aimed at strengthening the stability and redundancy of Old San Juan’s electrical system. Those efforts include repairs to the underground network, such as the transmission line serving area substations, and feeder repairs near Teatro Tapia, a high-demand zone during the festivities.
Additional work was completed at nearby substations to ensure redundancy and operational security, along with maintenance and construction tasks that included replacing utility poles and inspecting critical components of the electrical infrastructure.
Capitol District ready to welcome thousands of visitors
Capitol Superintendent Jazmín Y. Orengo Pacheco announced Wednesday that the Capitol District is fully prepared to receive the thousands of visitors who will arrive in San Juan during the festival.
The Capitol District serves as the main gateway to Old San Juan, being the arrival point for buses and trolleys transporting attendees to the festivities, as well as the place where visitors board transportation systems again to return to the various parking areas once the daily activities conclude.
“The Capitol District is ready to fulfill its role as the grand entrance to Old San Juan, guaranteeing a safe, orderly, and welcoming experience for all visitors who come to enjoy one of the most important cultural celebrations in Puerto Rico,” Orengo Pacheco said.
Preparations in the District begin annually in October and include planning the Christmas decorations, as well as the renovation and maintenance of strategic areas in anticipation of the main events of December and January. As part of the operational plan, the District maintains its Christmas decorations until the end of the festival and implements a rigorous security protocol, which includes electronic surveillance through more than 300 cameras distributed at various points under the supervision of the Internal Security Bureau, a support team from the Emergency Management Bureau, and personnel from the Landscaping and Maintenance Departments, responsible for preparing the areas daily for the public’s arrival and enjoyment.
“This effort reflects the joint commitment of the Legislative Assembly, the [leaders] of both chambers, and the Capitol Superintendent’s Office to the success of the San Sebastián Street Festival and to the safety and well-being of all our visitors,” Orengo Pacheco added.
Sister celebration in Cataño
The municipality of Cataño will celebrate the “Del Malecón pa’ las Fiestas” event from Friday to Sunday, featuring live music, gastronomy, artisans, and enhanced security measures, during one of the busiest tourist weekends of the year.
“‘Del Malecón pa’ las Fiestas’ is an open invitation to enjoy a great cultural event in a safe and accessible space, but it is also a platform for economic impact for our merchants, entrepreneurs, artisans, and local businesses,” Mayor Julio Alicea Vasallo said in a written statement.
The artistic program spans three days and includes performances throughout, including Pleneros del Truco, La Criolla and Gisselle on Friday; La Familia Sanabria, La Mulenze and Oscar Serrano on Saturday; and Pico a Pico de Trovadores, Tributo al Gallo and El Moreno Tony Tun Tun on Sunday.
The waterfront area will feature nearly 200 artisans, in addition to a variety of food vendors and nearby tourist attractions such as the Villa Pesquera (Fishing Village) and the Bacardí distillery.
The event will have a security plan coordinated with the municipal police and emergency agencies, aerial and maritime surveillance, real-time monitoring, and medical services. In addition, the ferry service between San Juan and Cataño will operate with extended hours to facilitate access for residents and visitors.
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