Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but.......it's my understanding ridership is low on the first metro line.

How many of the 20 senators who voted for this will ride it ?

For half the price they could go the monorail route, besides it can double as a sightseeing venture.

I could see it now from Santo Domingo to Punta Cana and beyond with many stops along the way, and from Santo Domingo to Puerto Plata then east to Miches and beyond with many stops in between.

I guess it's just to simple........

@ riosm
it seem you do not leave in Santo Domingo, A Monorail,,,imagine how many voladora and carro publico will block the monorail from moving anywhere. that idea will only work in the Malecon or Zona colonial, but define not for the rest of the city that have over 2.5 million people and 5.3 million vehicles.........Just Try to move across the city at 4pm...it will take you 2 hour to get across

When the start of the second metro line was announced, the official statements where that it would be completely funded by private investors.
Most experts thought this was highly improbable, because the project is such an uphill business, and destined for huge losses, due to poor participation of commuters.
Now a few years later, things have changed, and new loans are needed for a project that will always be in the red. Nobody is saying "aha, but you said no more loans", and the new obligations puts our children's future in hock.
We Dominicans have such a short memory, that most people forgot what was affirmed just a few years ago, and could care less.

The lack of electricity is a problem. If we can't pay our electric bill, what makes them think that anyone in the government has any administrative skills to keep tabs on this. The first line is a flop, you can actually loose employment if you are stuck on a powerless train into work , the employers would tell you " QUIEN TE MANDA MONTAR EN ESE GUSANO". The iron fist of the slave master, prevents the usage of the train.

I have a gut feeling this project only benefits leonel and friends, once leo is out of office he will be the donald trump of DR. With his sudden wealth, Leo will purchase all shanties or get them evicted and build around the stations. Talk about laundering monies!!!!

SOMEONE PLEASE THROW LEO UNDER da BUS!!!!!

Go METRO....I can't wait for the "owners of the country" to go belly up. And who ever thinks the first METRO line was a failure does not know what they're talking about. Ridership on the METRO is very high.

I believe the metro line have it own power plant,,,no relation to the infimate CDE

I actually think they need this second metro line , the dominican republic is congested with people and vehicles , trucks and pollution , this is a great counteract to the problems of the overpopulation of the montoconshos and junk cars that take so much space in the streets.

i actually think this is a very good idea, ridership is very high. its what almost most of the students use daily and many people communiting to work, the capital is very overcrowded and for every citizen theres like 4 buses and conchos in the street so this wil help alot on easing up the congestion. although it is a very high sum of money for this project, but we all know th ereason for that which is that a few gov oficicials will be pocketing a good few dozen millions of those

As usual the so called "DR experts" talking their usual BS without a clue, the first metro line now transports 100,000 riders a day, even without the planned feeding bus lines which were delayed to prioritize the extension of the metro line 2A, initially going from Maximo Gomez Ave to Luperon Avenue, now it will go from Padre Castellanos Ave (La 17) all the way to Los Alcarrizos area where hundreds of thousands of people live, this will be a transfer station, crucial for the Passenger/Cargo train from SD to Santiago which would share the same location at Los Alcarrizos. Metros/subways in the world are subsidized by their respective governments, why is this a sin.

Telemeco,

Tell me about traffic I have driven many many times in Santo Domingo, I also live in southern California talk about traffic jams minus the smoke, exhaust fumes and humidity a perfect mix and great a treat for the lungs.

Last summer I was at Disneyland with the Family and wouldn't you know it the crowds were unbelievable guess what ? We took the monorail.

Moving around the whole Disneyland looking DOWN from about 20 feet up at the massive crowds was a relaxing feeling not to mention the sights.

Only in Santo Domingo you'll be looking DOWN at the traffic jams smiling and waving like we did.

Plus safety, maintenance and cost effect too.

WHY GO UNDER WHEN YOU CAN GO OVER ?

@riosm

I guess that safety will reduce when maintenance stops.

Martingarata,

Monorail maintenance is much easier and cost effect top side [exposed] then underground, not to add weekly visual inspections on mechanical stress.

Safety: one is less likely to become a victim of a crime top-side then underground, plus down pours and earth quakes.

One metro for the price of two monorails plus maintenance.

LOL let's hope the riders and metro conductors aren't claustrophobic.

Good point, i believe you are right.

The high population density of SD and the future growth of the area indicate that building the Metro System is both wise and fuel efficient. Cost overruns and all these other problems are not without precedence in DR. I would only like to see the same commitment to education. That will provide immense dividends for the future prosperity of the DR.

Martingarata,

Thank you.

Passengers / tourist will be able to see our beautiful beaches and country and would create badly needed jobs and be profitable as well.

I for one would like to see this idea turned into reality.

The idea of traveling at high speeds underground sends chills down my spine.

Take care.

The metro is the greatest act of corruption designed by the most corrupt gov in the history of DR. Lieonel is able to build these projects with the peoples money without telling them how much they truly cost,thieving genius. You have got to give it to Lieonel has his gang pocketing milliones by taking advantage of all these fools. The complet cost of the first one is a state secret and Lieonel true to form lies at every turn about the second one, first it was funded now it needs money. What we do know is that the first one is running at a deficit monthly. What I want to know from all the members of the PLD and LIeonels fans on this site is. How come there is money for these Metros but there is no money for the 4% for education? Does this mean that the metros are more important than educating the people? Theres no way Lieonel would favor some projects to educating the people. I just can't beleave that.

humm, the 2nd metro line was cut so badly, the places where it was going to be truly beneficial, is not going that way anymore.... what's the whole point of this crap! They want to do too much crap at the same time, then they run out of money for one project and cut it in half. Do it right, or don't do it at all!

@OGNYC,

Dude, they are so corrupt, but I don't know if they are the most corrupt, I mean, PRD is waaaaayy more corrupt, yet Hipolito Mejia, the man that put the country in the bottom of the blender and shredded it to pieces is running again for presidency!! Dominicans, we're too forgetful...all we do is complain, complain and complain and no one makes a stand. When it comes to the moment to make a difference, no one does it, supporting Mejia again???
Come on, let's remember the chaos he left in our country!!!

ings0389 ALL gov in DR have corrupt. But you are the one who has forgotten or you don't know how to count Lieonel has been President of DR 96-2000 and 2004 until now. In those years he has created more PLD millionaires than any other party has created millionaires they went in with nothing and come out rich. How have they made all that money? All together taxes from gasoline sales and this MULTI MILLION euro and us money metro projects along with all the loans and he has managed more funds than any gov in history and put it all in the parties pockets. I know that you think that we complain I guess it's because you want silence while this gov performs so well. It's people like you who prefer that we suffer in silence, smile while Lieonel has created a GATE drug state. We are surrounded by corruption there is no leader to lead us there is no hope. Even if you don't like it I will continue to point out the corruption.

@OGNYC
Dude, chill out, first is Leonel. I'm not saying that he is not corrupt, he's corrupt as hell, everybody knows it, everybody is saying it... I'm not sayin he should stay and in fact I don't think any of the candidates are good... but what are you saying? That we should go back to Hipolito, because who else is gonna go? All the other candidates are too idiotic to really compete, I feel bad for them. Hipolito is the only one that's "charismatic" (if you wanna call it that) enough to have people vote for him. There was A LOT that My family couldn't do thanks to people like you who voted for him. I'm not saying that you should shut up (even though I think YOU should). It's ok that people complain, but complains without actions mean nothing... people that complain and complain are like dogs that only bark and don't bite.... you do nothing. Actions lead to solutions, complaining just leads to more corruption. If dont do anything, you are collaborating (Stop complaining and do somethi

@OGNYC,
That's the difference btwn 1st world countries and 3rd world countries. In the US, and such people do something, people create movements, organizations, and stuff that do stuff. Even when I was in school in Santo Domingo, I tried to fight for a cause that a lot of people agreed with and complained about, they didn't do anything, didn't support it or anything. Why? Because all Dominicans ever do is complain, they don't really mean what they say. They complain and say "I'd do this or that..." but along with that there's always an IF, and that's the problem. People don't stand for what they believe in, they just get together to complain, and when smart people like me decide they need to actually take action, nobody backs you up and so what's the point... there's no one man cause! Dominicans are people of BS and fear, a lot of blah blah, and no action (Sorry to break it to ya buddy!! I know it hurts to hear the truth, but if it helps, I'm Dominican too..)

ings0389 I'm convinced that you aren't reading what I am saying ALL GOV IN DR HAVE BEEN CORRUPT I've said that twice there are no leaders in DR I wrote that to, that includes Hipolito Mejia. Let me write it because your not smart enough to figure that out that means that I don't want Hipolito Mejia either. In all the BS you wrote you didn't refute my main point LIEONEL has lead the most CORRUPT gov in history of DR. Also you dont know me but you know whom I voted for, your the one that needs to calm down thats that air of PLD superiority. Your a coward because all that BS you wrote are the words of a LIEONEL lover, you give orders as if you think you are somebody when your just a coward. We are talking about DR don't compare it to any other country. You are a waist of time you are a LIEONEL defender in the disguise as a jerk. I have stated the facts they can not be refuted by a thinking mind everything else you write is BS,you are a waist. You should be happy LIEONEL should be back.

@ognyc
You're definitely dumb, that's why the DR is a third world country, bcuz of people like you that we are digraced enough to have in our land. I didn't say anything about the most corrupt or not bcuz that's beside the pont, and that might be true. But it's also true that the PLD governments AT lEAST give the population something, like the projects, PRD and PRSC all do is take and they don't give anything back, idk, like getting the dollar up to 50 dominican peso to 1. If you had a bit of brain (and I know you don't)n you'd know that that's terrible for the economy of the country and that was the beginning of the digging of the hole we're all into and can't get ourselves out. Don't be stupid you Hipolito lover, you. PRD people are all the same. And btw, I didn't vote for anyone, bcuz I don't like any of them. If people would make a stand ad not vote if they don't like the candidates, then we'd be forcing them to change something. Thanks to dumbasses like you that wont happen

ings0389 not only are you a coward but now I can prove that you are stupid or a liar I think both are true.When I first wrote that LIEONEL has lead the most corrupt gov in the history of Dr your response was "Dude they are so corrupt, but I don't know if they are the most corrupt".
But in your last posting you said"I didn't say anything about the most corrupt or not bcuz that's beside the point". Ofcourse for someone like you the cooruption isn't the point because you arepart of the group who enjoy and cover it up to defend your beloved LIEONEL.This is further proof of your membership in the PLD which your such a coward to admit. When you defend your beloved LIEONEL you display the same lieing ways of LIEONEL. I'm not surprised that you don't even know what you write and I don't care about what you think you have no real value to society and I have waisted to much time on you. Politicians OF ALL DR PARTIES and people like you are the reasons for all of DRs problems.

@OGNYC,

Let me guess... you are a retard aren't you? Probably, that's why you don't know how to spell the president's name, or why you can't find any other argument than "they are the most corrupt!"
You didn't refute my argument that people in the DR don't do anything but complain, you know why, because you are one of them. You sit on your sorry ass and complain all day long. If you're i the DR I bet you're one of those idiots that doesn't have a job, doesn't work hard, doesn't do anything and expect everyone to come and give them food, money, a good lifestyle. I know the governments in the DR do nothing to offer a good lifestyle for their people, but dude, stop being sorry for yourself and do something about it! Work to better yourself! I bet you don't even have an education, go get one and stop complaining. I know that higher education in the DR is crap and I know it's too hard for you to get into a school in the US, but something is something!

@OGNYC,

If you're actually in the US (and not just pretending like most people)... I bet you live in Washington Heights in the NYC, peeing on people's walls, spitting on the street, stinking up the sidewalks, and being everything that the gringoes hate about latinos. Go to a community college and get a techincal degree at least man, do something with your life, and if you really wanna help out in the DR, work on it. Your complains just annoy everyone (Especially when they are dumb as hell like your face).
Stop sitting on your sorry stinky ass complaining about life and better yourself.

telemeco,tonito:
telemeco;
There is no other electric power but ac or dc ! How it is generated is something else.The only self propelled trains are the diesel trains ,converts fuel to traction power by means of a dc motor (dynamo) and at the same time generates electricity as needed.What you might have heard and
misundestood is that the trains have rectifiers built in to convert ac to dc for the traction power,which have a greater turk / kw,and therefore are feisable to use.
As to tonito statement :
All subways and metros are subsidized by their respective gvt. around the world, i agree with that statement, but you failed to point out which gvt. is it the nat. govt.municipal gvt.or borrowed money from abroad? The latter seems to be the propper one, since the project got started with loans to built the first line and now the 2nd line. What is been done is borrowed money to built and subsidized construction as well as operation. Has it been paying for itsel at a long run ?no way!

Mr Almeyda Rancier:

Since you agreed that "All" metros/subways around the world are subsidized, then you have to conclude that they all operate at a loss.

Governments don't build public schools, highways, etc to profit and nor should they.

Will it pay for itself in the long run, Yes, maybe not financially but in a social way. Decent and affordable transportation is crucial for human develpment. Would you rather be at the mercy of the so called "Country's Owners", Juan Hubieres and Perez Figuereo with no hope to ever rid them ?

Is it being built with "borrowed money from abroad" ? Who cares, it is the people who will ultimately benefit and pay for it, whether it is done by the municipality or the central government. To give you an example, I see you live in NJ, Municipalities all across the US often place bonds for projects "Munies", these bonds (loans) are then acquired by investors from all over the world, especially China who now seems to be the US biggest creditor.

Cont.

Will the politicos get their chuck, sure they will. But at least on this one it is the most needed who will be using it, I don't anticipate the upper middle class or politicos in the DR using the Metro anytime soon, at least not on a regular basis (contrary to NYC, where you can see a Wall Street broker riding on it every day (Not a bad thing either).

Right now these people have to pay sometimes 3 fares "pasajes" just to get to work, not to mention the lack of confort, the time they have to wait and dangers that they expose themselves everyday on "carros publicos" operating with propane and no AC, also not knowing if tomorrow there will be a "surprise strike" by the "countries owners".

Tonito:
Very well put with the exeption Washington does not build public transportation for the masses,It is up to every State in the Union to build its own and pay for the operating funds. The statement of "who cares if it gets build with borrowed money" is an impropper statement since the only City
beneffiting by it is Santo Domingo DE GUZMAN at the expence of the rest of Provinces,because the entire nation is serving as collateral.
Subways are built as the population needs them and in this case it is needed inSD,remembering
it is only one place in need therefore the municipality of Sto Dgo should bear cost "Ayuntamiento Distrital" Don't involve the other Ayuntamiento Provinciales.
This is what happens when you have a central gvt that decides for the rest,where the provinces
don't have autonomy ,this is called dictatorial,such is the case of Venezuela and even they have their own governmental elections not appointed by the central gvt. for how long? only HUGO Chavez knows.

Tonito:
Your last statement at 10;01pm on the 30th, makes sence to me and I agree with you 100%.
Do you know why executives rather use the NYC subways? #1-Safer,fastesr and cheaper than driving into Manhattan and pay $8.00 GW or Lincoln tunnel or the path which is the cheapest at $4.00 into lower Manhattan from NJ plus $6.00 round trip subway ride ,no parking space or rent per 8hrs at a cost of $20.00 in a municipal parking. It is federal,State,Municipal suibsidized at 25% each,therefore they take advantage of the subways alonfg with masses and the services provided 24/7 punctual.
The Dominican Metro could operate the same way 75% subzidy and 25% riders and apply the same rule as in NYC and get rid of the motor conchos or have the option of a Taxi at high cost.The example would have to be given by the gvt functionaries along with LF
It is also true that all the subways in the world are in the red, if was not for the gvt.subzidies.

Mr Rancier, SD metropolitan area has about 40% of the population of the entire country, if you add Santiago to the equation, it's over 50%. The Opret master plan includes a rapid cargo/passenger train system between Santiago and SD. Work for those has already begun without most people knowing it. Here's the link where you can find more info:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1000151&page=17

When you embark in these type of massive infrastructure projects, it only makes sense to start where it's needed the most. With the new rapid train, people who live in Santiago, La Vega, Bonao, Moca, etc. could very well work in the capital and go back home in the afternoon and viceversa, as the rapid train will be connected to the Metro de SD at the Los Alcarrizos station.

Our country is small and is already divided in more provinces than we really need, therefore the government must act. Except for Santiago and SD, no other city needs a mass transportation system.

Cont.

Now remember all 7 lines of the MSD and the rapid train system will materialize if Danilo and the PLD continue in power, otherwise if Hippo wins, we'll have to wait another 4 years (maybe more, since hippo will probably bankrupt the country again) for the project continue.

As to Washington, forget about them, they also build public transportation for the masses, as a matter of fact Obama is now promoting rapid train system as a way to stimulate the economy. Washington also pays for billions of dollars a year in so called "Ear Marks" or special interest projects, they also spend 10 billion dollars a month in a senseless war in Afghanistan and waste even more in Pakistan and other middle east countries and of couse since the US does not have the money they borrow it from China and others "using the country as collateral".

I agree with all that ,but where are the industries in the the capilal for the rest of thre country to go to from ex. El CIBAO . I had said lines are constructed to carry the poor working class to their respective jobs and back no matter what shift they are in.

True we spend 10billion dollars monthly if not more in war that goes no place,but the war machinerey gets something out of it at the expence of our brave soldiers and keep Israel from been attack by neighboring Islamic States plus our aids to those countries is as much if not more.

As I had mentioned to you before in NYC the BMT lines were made up of 15 diferent private lines untill the State of NY bought them in 1890 then in 1903 the IRT was going thru the same process as the DR Metro,ripping up streets and excavating at the expence of private sector untill they could not go on any more and the State bought them out. Again as the need was there the IND was built
in 1938 with the GW bridge and Lincoln Tunnel connecting.

tonito:
I can see that must Dominicans think Sto Dgo is the same as DR,needdless to comment any further your pasion as well as your position in this argument for the Capital does not let you reason .
I am A Cibaeno therefore don't see it your way. If and when a meggaport gets built in the north of the Island same as Punta Caucedo and Puerto Plata would have then been the must important
port having Manzanillo so close by,then your belover capital would have been a gost town. You think like Trujillo did, also being from the South, San Cristobal.
Any fool knows that Puerto Plata is closer to EEUU as well as Canada and the EU by 600 nautical miles and could have served as the Cibao focal point since it is only 60 km or 40 miles from Santiago,the capital of the Cibao region. At a cost of a fraction of what is costing you to build such a Metro. That is ok for now wait untill a guy like Hipolito a Cibaeno de Cepa gets in again. Not only will be built it but witht foreign investment.

Mr Rancier, you sound like a frustrated cibaeno, just to let you know I was born in Salcedo, so I'm also cibaeno. The Caucedo port is a foreign investment therefore paid by private capital, they must have seen something in Caucedo they did not see in the north. However "Una Cosa No Quita La Otra", if foreign investors want to build 20 megaports in the north, so be it, I'll be the happiest guy on earth and it will benefit the entire region, but that's private money (Not government money) and they can do as the please with it.

Now rest assure that if the Government wants to build a megaport or upgrade the existing ones in the north, or decide to build a big infrastructure project such as "Autopista del Coral" going to Punta Cana, I will be the first one to support it and not whine about it saying that it's being built with everybody's money and that I don't live there.

Continue...

We have already had our fare share of Cibaeno presidents in recent history (Balaguer, Guzman, Jorge Blanco, Hippo), none of them built your megaport in the North. Don't hold your breath, Hippo is not known for building anything for that matter, nor will the capital be a ghost town anytime soon. If he wins I will support him since he will be the president of all Dominicans but don't count Danilo out just yet, look what just happened in Peru, that's how quickly things can change.

The over-concentration of resources in the Capital City of SD is a concern. But as Tomito states, DR has had a number of Presidents from the Cibao region and none that I can recall has ever significantly addressed the prevalence or bias in favor of SD. And with the several long-term Mega infrastructural investments still in the pipe-line, this bias will for the foreseeable future hold.