Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico – Work on Guadalajara’s 13.3bn-peso (US$674mn) line No. 4 of the Mi Tren light rail system will start during the second half of 2021, according to a transport official of Mexico’s Jalisco state.
Other works planned for this year involve a US$35mn tender to install a signaling system for lines No. 1 and 2 and complete the US$635mn Mi Periferico BRT project by October, the head of Jalisco’s urban transport operator Siteur, Rolando Valle Favela, said recently during a webinar.
These projects had to be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, “but let’s hope that in the post-COVID stage we can reactivate some of them,” he said.
Siteur, which also operates bus routes and BRT corridors, is also planning an electric bus corridor to Guadalajara’s airport.
LINE NO. 4
According to the work calendar Valle presented, construction will take three years while the testing stage is expected to finish by March 2024.
Governor Enrique Alfaro, who leaves office in three years, has tried to obtain funding from the federal government.
“We are in the phase of preparing the executive project and the acquisition of land. In particular, the land for the intermodal transfer center,” Valle said.
The line will be built at ground level and parallel to an existing freight rail line that is concessioned to Ferromex. The company agreed almost a year ago to give away part of its rights-of-way for the project and assist in supervision, according to a collaboration agreement between Ferromex and the national communications and transportations ministry (SCT). Yet, the light rail line will require the construction of several confined upper and lower overpasses, Valle said.
The 22 kilometer line will connect central Guadalajara and Tlajomulco de Zuniga municipality and serve eight stations, creating a link with line No. 1 and the Mi Macro Periferico BRT beltway line.
OTHER PROJECTS
Valle also said Siteur is planning the modernization, expansion and other improvements for lines No. 1 and 2. Some works include restoring damaged locomotives, replacing outdated rail and technology systems, widening the lines and infrastructure and launching a tender to install a signaling system.
Financing comes from the Banco Nacional de Obras y Servicios lender and Jalisco state, according to Valle.
Meanwhile, works continue for the 41km Mi Periferico BRT project around the 60km Manuel Gomez Morín beltway that surrounds Guadalajara’s urban area and links the municipalities of Zapopan, Guadalajara, Tonala and Tlaquepaque.
The project registered progress of 65%, according to infrastructure and public works ministry SIOP. But operations should start by October, Valle said.
The corridor will consist of 42 stations and 314 units will circle the beltway daily, reaching an estimated goal of 300,000 trips. The new system will also enable a link to Mi Tren lines No. 1 and 3 and another BRT corridor called Mi Macro Calzada.
In addition, Valle said there are plans to add 8.5km to the BRT system to reach the capital’s airport. The stretch, dubbed Mi Macro Aeropuerto, would extend southeast from Tlaquepaque municipality to Guadalajara international airport, crossing El Salto municipality.
The project is still in the planning phase and estimated investment has not yet been determined, he said. But the next administration might pick up the proposal.
Siteur also has plans to launch a 32km bus corridor for 55 electric units. It would link to Guadalajara airport via the Mi Macro Periferico line.
According to Valle, the operator will receive the units, obtained through a US$15mn leasing contract, in the coming days.