TWO METRO SYSTEMS TO BE INTEGRATED WITH BOGOTA TRANSMILENIO BRT
Luis Bernardo Villegas, Columbia’s transport secretary has announced that Bogota’s mass transport system, Transmilenio, will be enhanced with two urban train systems. They will both be connected to the Transmilenio BRT system and authorities are working on the logistics aspects of this integration.
The Transmilenio is a bus rapid transit system that serves Bogotá, Colombia. As of June 2007, the system runs on eight lines. The system opened to the public on December 2000, initially covering Av. Caracas and Calle 80. Other lines were added gradually over the next 5 years, and the total length of the system is now 84 kilometres (54 miles). The project consists of seven phases: Phase III is to be contracted shortly. According to Villegas, authorities have decided to equip the city with a light metro system in the central urban area and a second train system which will travel along its urban perimeter. Local authorities have held a number of meetings with national government officials to discuss funding for both initiatives. While the light metro system is being promoted mainly by the city government, the perimeter train will be supported by the national and regional governments, a government official said.
