Teleférico de Santo Domingo

27
Feb

2018

First Section of Santo Domingo Cable Car Scheduled to Open in May

Santo Doming Cable Car. Image from PresidenciaRD.

Media and special dignitaries were invited last week on a trial run of the Santo Domingo Cable Car’s (Spanish: Teleférico de Santo Domingo) first section. Passengers got a taste of the urban gondola’s efficiency as it glided smoothly above traffic and buildings for six minutes between Sabana Perdida (station 3) and Charles de Gaulle (station 4).

Between March and April, the system will provide guided tours that are meant to help users familiarize themselves with the urban cable car. During this time, local personnel will also be trained with respect to the system’s operation and maintenance procedures.

President Danilo Medina onboard the Caribbean’s first urban gondola. Image from PresidenciaRD.

Santo Doming Cable Car. Image from PresidenciaRD.

Based on reports last year, the gondola was supposed to open in December 2017 but is now scheduled to begin commercial operations in May 2018. However, the opening of the entire 5 km, 4-station system has yet to be publicly announced.

The gondola line is designed to enhance transport options and support economic development in the historically disadvantaged areas of the National District and Santo Domingo North. The Cable Propelled Transit (CPT) line is expected to benefit an estimated 287,000 residents by offering riders an inexpensive option (DOP20/US$0.40) to reach the Metro line at Gualey Station. The cable car’s seventy 10-passenger cabins can transport up to 3,000 persons per hour per direction and may save users up to 30 minutes in commute time each day.

Latin America continues to lead the way for urban ropeway solutions worldwide as more than a dozen lines have been built since the iconic Line K (Medellin Metrocable) was inaugurated in 2004.

Opening May 2017 (first section)
Length (km) 5
Capacity (pphpd) 3,000
Speed (m/s) 5.0
Cabin capacity 10
Travel Time 20 mins


Want more? Purchase Cable Car Confidential: The Essential Guide to Cable Cars, Urban Gondolas & Cable Propelled Transit and start learning about the world's fastest growing transportation technologies.

09
Feb

2018

Photo of the Week: Testing Teleféricos in Santo Domingo

A post shared by Informando (@informandord7) on

A post shared by Adonis Gomez (@adrecordsrd) on



Want more? Purchase Cable Car Confidential: The Essential Guide to Cable Cars, Urban Gondolas & Cable Propelled Transit and start learning about the world's fastest growing transportation technologies.

13
Nov

2017

Construction Works Continue to Advance on Santo Domingo Cable Car

Civil works appear to be nearing completion at one of the cable car’s four stations. Image from Listin Diario.

Since Santo Domingo broke ground on the Caribbean’s first urban cable car two years ago, locals have been patiently waiting for the system to open its doors for passenger service. Despite a few delays, construction works for the Santo Domingo Cable Car (Spanish: Teleférico de Santo Domingo) have been accelerated in recent times.

Empalme del primer tramo #telefericosantodomingo #movilidadsostenible

A post shared by Jhael Isa (@jhaelisa) on

Dominicanos trabajan en el primer empalme de cable #telefericosantodomingo #movilidadsostenible

A post shared by Jhael Isa (@jhaelisa) on

Reports and photos from the Dominican Republic’s capital suggest that construction crews are labouring day and night in order to complete all civil, electromechanical and implementation works by year’s end.

Once finished, the cable car is expected to benefit up to 287,000 locals, of which 65% do not own a personal vehicle. The 4-station, 5km cable car will reduce commute times by 30 minutes and provide users with a direct connection to the Eduardo Brito Metro station at the Gualey terminal.


Opening Dec 2017
Length (km) 5
Capacity (pphpd) 3,000
Speed (m/s) 5.0
Cabin capacity 10
Travel Time 20 mins


Want more? Purchase Cable Car Confidential: The Essential Guide to Cable Cars, Urban Gondolas & Cable Propelled Transit and start learning about the world's fastest growing transportation technologies.

04
Oct

2017

Caribbean’s First Urban Gondola to Open in December — Santo Domingo Teleférico

Cabins on the Santo Domingo Cable Car (Teleférico de Santo Domingo) sport the national colours of the Dominican Republic — red, white and blue. Image from PresidenciaRD.

With all the celebrations happening last week for the Orange Line in La Paz, we nearly forgot about another exciting cable car project currently underway — the Santo Domingo Cable Car (Spanish: Teleférico de Santo Domingo).

Located in the Dominican Republic’s capital city, reports online suggest this new Cable Propelled Transit (CPT) line is now 75% complete. This week the pilot cable is being pulled and if everything goes according to plan, the cable car will officially open its doors to passengers in December.

At 5km in length, this aerial lift will be one of the longest CPT systems in the world — on par with La Paz’s 5km Blue Line. The ropeway was first conceptualized in 2014 as part of President Danilo Medina’s Rehabilitation program which aimed to improve quality of life for those living in Barquita and its surrounding neighbourhoods.

While the urban gondola was designed to solve a multitude of problems, its primary objectives were to decrease social segregation, enhance mobility and to incorporate disadvantaged neighbourhoods into the city proper.

Technicians performing tests on cable car to ensure maximum safety and reliability. Image from PresidenciaRD.

The Santo Domingo cable car employed over 500 local workers. Image from PresidenciaRD.

Due to poor road connectivity and conditions, land based transport was ineffective and commuters faced long travel times. In particular, traffic bottlenecks at the Jacinto J Peynado and Sabana Perdida bridges exacerbated congestion. Officials estimate that out of the community’s 287,000 residents, 65% do not own a vehicle while 80% are reliant upon  unregulated local transit modes such as motorcycle/car taxis.

To solve these problems, the government released a tender for the construction of the cable car in early 2015 where French ropeway manufacturer, POMA, secured the US$65 million (RD$3 billion) project. Unfortunately, while the system broke ground in January 2016,  construction works experienced a number of delays due to land acquisition difficulties. Luckily though, it appears most of these disputes have now been largely resolved.

Once construction and testing is complete in December, the 4-station cable car will span the Ozama river and serve three districts: Santo Domingo Norte, Santo Domingo Este, and Distrito Nacional. At the Gualey terminal, users will be able to directly connect to the Eduardo Brito Metro station via an underground tunnel. Users are projected to reduce their daily commute times by 30 minutes while spending 70% less on a transit ticket (US$0.40/RD$20).

Opening Dec 2017
Length (km) 5
Capacity (pphpd) 3,000
Speed (m/s) 5.0
Cabin capacity 10
Travel Time 20 mins


Want more? Purchase Cable Car Confidential: The Essential Guide to Cable Cars, Urban Gondolas & Cable Propelled Transit and start learning about the world's fastest growing transportation technologies.

24
Oct

2016

First Cabin Mounted on Santo Domingo Cable Car

A sneak peek at the first urban cable car in the Dominican Republic!


Notable stats and information (translated from Spanish):

  • Connects more than 30 districts and residential areas of three municipalities in the Greater Santo Domingo.
  • Capacity of 3,000 pphpd
  • Natural ventilation system to ensure greater airflow. Double roof for better heat insulation system , radio communication and outdoor lighting LED.
  • Cabins designed in blue, white and red, the colours of the Dominican flag.
  • Cabins support 800 kg load
  • Built to withstand winds up to 250 km / hr (Hurricane category 4). However, the system control automatically and safely adjusts cable car operations when it detects and measures wind speeds of 60 km/h.


Want more? Purchase Cable Car Confidential: The Essential Guide to Cable Cars, Urban Gondolas & Cable Propelled Transit and start learning about the world's fastest growing transportation technologies.