The European Union (EU) and the French Agency for Development (AFD) support the Dominican Republic in the implementation of the Plan Mobility Sustainable Urban Greater Santo Domingo and Santiago with loans and subsidies that exceed 138 million euros, equivalent to about RD$8,832,000,000.
The AFD has invested 128 million euros (RD$8,192,000,000) in technical assistance with experts in transport massive like Santo Domingo Metro and cable cars. Also, to strengthen and develop the capacity of line 1 of the Santo Domingo Metroin the expansion of the five air stations to improve their capacity and in the purchase of more wagons.
While since 2017 the European Unionthrough its funds, has provided the country, under concessionary or donation conditions, with 10 million euros, about RD$640,000,000, which are used in studies to improve the sustainable mobility.
In a second phase of cooperation, another 10 million euros are contemplated for the urban mobility that have been achieved through agreements with the Government that involve the National Institute of transit and Transport Terrestrial (Intrant), the Office for the Reorganization of the Transport (Opret) and the Trust for the Development of the System of Transport Massive from the Dominican Republic (Fitram).
Katja Afheldtambassador of the European Union in the country, reported that in the case of that organization, studies on the transport collective, digital transition, social transition, comprehensive tariff system, electromobility and the Transportation System Transport Integrated in Santo Domingo and Santiago.
The EU supported the Intrant in the restructuring of the bus runners in it Greater Santo Domingoincluding the formalization of the corridors, works on the design of a road plan for the Greater Santo Domingo and in a feasibility analysis for the electric bus corridor on Ecological Avenue.
“Our work is preparatory, it is work that accompanies the investment in infrastructure financed by the funds of the French Agency,” he said.
The second phase of EU cooperation, for another 10 million euros, includes studies for the construction of the Metropolitan Train that will connect to Greater Santo Domingo and San Cristobal.
Part of the work of the European Union in the country is to mobilize and promote investments from European public and private funds and support its Dominican partner in improving the transportbut also in facilitating the triple transition: digital, green and social with European technology.
The EU’s challenge is to face the growing need for urban mobility and at the same time promote modalities of transport more sustainable.
“For us it is very interesting that here in the Dominican Republic the European technologybecause as I have already said, it is a high-quality technology that, in five, ten years, will still work, it is a long-term investment, we can support the country in sustainable transport urban and contribute to the sustainable economic growth of the country, because that is our interest,” said the diplomat.
Satisfied
The European Union agrees with the use of the resources provided by its member countries in matters of transport. “Yes, we are very happy because we already see results and it must be said when I visited the MetroI was very impressed because it was much cleaner than in Brussels, the people were much more disciplined and that connection between Metro and the Cable car It works very well, it feels very safe and I think that is also important, that people feel safe in the public transport“Afheldt said.
