News

Panama’s government is already moving forward with the designs for future phases of Panama City’s groundbreaking metro.

Last week a proposal went out to recruit a firm to provide master planning for an expansion of the system, including lines four and five. That’s big news for Punta Pacifica–– Line 4 will connect Pedregal with Punta Pacifica, while Line 5 will run between Costa Del Este and Obarrio.

The “pre-feasibility” study will examine the “physical, socioeconomic and urban development variables,” as well as determine the best locations for stations, according to a report in Global Construction Review.

The first line of the metro—the first in Central America–opened in 2014 and has been deemed a rousing success. Initial forecasts expected the line to handle 120,000 passengers a day; instead it is carrying closer to 260,000.

Construction started in 2015 on Line 2, despite continued and well-publicized scandals with Odebrecht, Brazilian contractor. The 21 kilometer Line 2 will run from San Miguelito to San Antonio. (And, for the record Odebrecht has reportedly been banned from bidding on work on the next segment.)

The government of Japan has already announced that it will provide $2.6 billion in funding for Line 3 of the Metro, which will be the largest development in project in Panama since the expansion of the Panama Canal. The 26.75 km segment will start at Albrook and cross the Panama Canal as part of a new bridge construction, and include more than 14 stations.

The announcement of the contract for the study for Lines 4 and 5 demonstrates that the government is not waiting around to build out the entire system, which will help turn Panama City into a model for modern transportation systems. Current plans call for a nine-line system that will be completed by 2040, including 90 stations.