Replacing one of world’s worst transportation systems

(newsroompanama.com) Panama’s Metro authority will disburse $200 million within the next five months to the successful bidder for the rail component of the new transportation system.

The project is aimed at upgrading Panama's system, which is ranked among the world's worst and largely consists of noise and air polluting diablos rojos with a disastrous history of causing death or injury to passengers and pedestrians.

Roy said the bidding for the rail component of the project is on schedule, and the winning contractor will receive two payments of $100 million each to begin purchasing equipment.

"The goal is to begin the work by end of year," Roy said.

But, he said, the agency still needs to award the contract, negotiate the terms of the agreement and receive the endorsement of the Comptroller General of the Republic.

The first buses that are part of the Metro system are expected to go into service later this year.

******

Original Source: http://www.newsroompanama.com/business/1695-replacing-one-of-worlds-worst-transportation-systems.html
Date Retrieved: September 18, 2010.