According to TVN Noticias, the arrival of Line 3 of the Metro de Panamá will not include compensation for public transport routes in Arraiján and La Chorrera, the two districts of Panamá Oeste. The opening of the line is currently projected for late 2028.
The decision means the government will not replicate in Panamá Oeste the model used when MiBus was introduced in the districts of Panamá and San Miguelito. That process generated controversy among transport operators.
Why the line is being built
Nicolás Brea, director of the Authority of Transit and Land Transportation (ATTT), said Line 3 aims to ease mobility problems between Panamá Oeste and the capital. According to Brea, the goal is not only to move bus users onto the Metro, but also to encourage people who drive private vehicles to leave their cars at home and choose mass transit.
The official indicated that this could save drivers fuel and reduce the daily time they spend commuting, in a context of heavy traffic affecting people travelling from Panamá Oeste to the capital.
Routes that could be affected
According to the report, public transport routes that could be affected when Line 3 enters operation include:
- Hato Montaña
- Nuevo Chorrillo
- Arraiján
- Burunga
- Vista Alegre
What it means for operators
The absence of compensation creates a different scenario for transport operators in Panamá Oeste, as the planned start of the new rail system approaches. The source does not detail how individual routes will be reorganised, so passengers should follow updates from the ATTT for changes to their services.