Rustam Minnikhanov gets familiar with Bogota’s public transport system

On November 5, at a presentation of the Bogota’s public transport system at the Transmilenio S.A. Company, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov said that organization of public transport in the capital of Colombia, Bogota is a good example that should be studied by Kazan specialists.

Being part of the Integrated Public Transport System (SITP), the company founded in 2000 specializes in planning, managing and providing public transport services to citizens of Bogota, and is responsible for the efficient and continuous service.

In her presentation to Rustam Minnikhanov and members of Tatarstan delegation, the adviser to CEO of Transmilenio Bertha Carbonell told about two projects being developed by specialists of the company. The system of light suspended trams should be put into operation in 2016. Its length will be 270 meters and it will include four stations. "Metrobus" (the so-called "heavy" metro) is a more long-term and expensive project with a length of 27 km, consisting of 27 stations. The metro will carry 800,000 passengers a day. The cost of this project is 7 billon US dollars. Both projects are implemented through public-private partnerships.

Minnikhanov thanked the management of the Transmillenio Company for an opportunity to get acquainted with organization of the transport system in Bogota.

Tatarstan President also asked how they motivate people to use public transport. Specialists of the company explained that public transport drives at a higher speed than the private one.

Tatarstan President expressed his hope that during their trip to Bogota members of Tatarstan delegation will be able to study the experience of the city in terms of transport and infrastructure development, contemporary urban planning and advanced trends in development of metropolitan cities in more detail.