Transportation issues Greater Santo Domingo

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planner Dominican Republic Expert

Member since 27 December 2010

Dominican Republic Expert

plannerDominican Republic Expert08 April 2022 13:02:11

17122

This deserves a discussion and regular updates. Those of us who in in Greater Santo Domingo, or visit Santo Domingo, understand the traffic issues here.

A city, of somewhere between 5 and 6 million people and growing continuously, has major traffic issues! Of course there are multiple issues. The city road system cannot handle the growth, it was never planned for! There is no control, currently, over the status of the vehicles on the roads! Some of these vehicles are constantly breaking down, causing more than usual issues on the road. Changing routes and not considering what it does to surrounding areas etc etc etc!

One of the biggest issues here in GSD of course is public transportation, specifically Carros Publico. For those who don't know these are generally beat up, crappy cars and small vans that run a specific route. The go from one end of the route to the other, turn around and do it again. The drivers are horrendous, racing to the next client, ignoring traffic rules etc. They break down often because they are not maintained. I know this is not just an issue in GSD!

The governments are working on this. Currently they are changing specific routes to buses! No more carros publico only buses! What a change this has made on those routes! Incredible. Currently there are 4 of these implemented with plans to grow these corridors to 16! What a difference this will make. They have actual bus stops that are enforced. The buses are brand new and drivers seem to be reasonable! Lets see if that continues.

Guest2022 Guest

Guest2022Guest08 April 2022 13:50:21

214245

Lack of building planning control to control the density of the population area by area multiplies the traffic problem grossly.

In recent years villa plots with one or two cars have been replaced with high rise apartments with 100 cars all immediately next to each other.

No amount of bus routes, which are a good idea to free up some routes with bus lanes, will solve the problems created by such population and car density increases and it is only going to get worse as apartment building continues unabatted. Only paid traffic zoning can help whereby you pay fees to enter certain areas. More Metro will also help. There are very few options to widen roads or add new roads and the rivers limit routes too.

The reality is that life in Santo Domingo (and Santiago) is becoming more and more miserable due to traffic issues. It is stressful to drive there even if you are familiar with routes because of the constant traffic jams.

They are trying to ease problems but are actually only shifting the problems. They allow HGVs to use the ring road free but more traffic means more accidents and with no way off the long jams as a result are impossible.

In 5 years living in SD I saw a city slowly grinding to a stop.

Glad I moved. Visits twice a month often on a Sunday for essentials is enough.

Tippj Serial expat

Member since 12 February 2022

TippjSerial expat08 April 2022 14:26:36

563

Time for a government subsidies Bus system… or maybe a nice subway system 🚂 and if they build it like New York it should only coast yer about $ 1.3 billion for one line maybe yer get 4-5 stations …… ahhh it’s time to float a bond offering …..lol more taxes , maybe the traffic problem doesn’t look so bad 🤔

Guest2022 Guest

Guest2022Guest08 April 2022 14:41:09

214245

Tippj, Santo Domingo has a developing and good Metro system.

https://images.app.goo.gl/njcGbPck8aNPR5b66

If you open the link, Line 1 and part of Line 2 between km9 and Mega Centro exists with cable car connections to stations in the east.

For $500m they are extending Line 2 west by 5 stations with a cable car route into Los Alacarrizos.

The fare one way is 20 pesos and with return 40 pesos or a day pass is 80 pesos.

https://www.metrosantodomingo.com/tarifas-metro-santo-domingo.html

There are plans to extend the Metro to SDQ too.

If you visit Santo Domingo and arrive currently at Km9, cross the road bridge and get the Metro for 80 pesos plus the 15 pesos card and you are set for a days shopping. It gets you near most big Malls

planner Dominican Republic Expert

Member since 27 December 2010

Dominican Republic Expert

plannerDominican Republic Expert08 April 2022 15:47:14

17122

So the metro is working and it links to the new bus lines, included in the 80 peso day pass I think or it might be higher to use them both. I need to ask. In addition we have the cable cars that now connect to the Metro lines.

Lennox is right, lack of planning has caused most of this. Add to all the congestion really crappy water drain system that is constantly clogged and flooding and you have an absolute mess.

Some companies, mine included, are going to flexible hours, My accountant starts at 7 am. My programmers all work from home and use the office as backup when needed!

Going from Santo Domingo East to center of the city is a nightmare. They announced building another bridge over the river from east to center. Great but it will take 3 years. By then the problem just grew.

Fastest growing area of the country is Santo Domingo East! NO plan in place to manage it

ptrclyons New member

Member since 10 March 2022

ptrclyonsNew member18 April 2022 23:39:52

@lennoxnev After 30+ years living in Santo Domingo, I have seen the city spiral upwards in the last 15 years to uncontrolled building of apartment towers. This is a result too of money laundering. The traffic gets more chaotic by the day. Which is why I am selling up here and moving to Punta Cana/Cap Cana.

I can imagine what traffic will be like in 5 to 10 years! A nightmare!

Guest2022 Guest

Guest2022Guest19 April 2022 00:33:16

214245

@ptrclyons, I was in SD in 1983 and my memory was of a small compact central area. Duarte was a winding road north.

In 2006 it was much larger and traffic was problematic in places. By 2009 traffic was horrible in places and my daily drive to work in Piantini from north of Villa Altagracia could take one to three hours. I needed a break from that in Las Terrenas.

I would not think of such a commute these days. One could get stuck on Duarte, 27th or JFK for hours. A weekday trip from Monte Plata to the city can be stressful and draining even though I know the city roads and route options well.

I fully understand your decision to relocate.

planner Dominican Republic Expert

Member since 27 December 2010

Dominican Republic Expert

plannerDominican Republic Expert19 April 2022 10:53:08

17122

I moved close to my office to remove the commute and traffic issues. From Santo Domingo east to Bella Vista was 3 to 4 hours daily. Now it's even more. No thanks!

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