[sustran] Transantiago - Is this a project of which we all need to know more?

[Eric Britton]

I have been getting a number of requests from people and groups asking if I
can help them get a handle on the Transantiago project, and recently
someone – might it have been you Lloyd? – said that it would be a good idea
if we created some kind of repository of information or references which
might help in an informed and neutral way.

One idea that comes to mind would be to invite all of those of you who have
good knowledge on what is going on to jump in and help make the entries in
both the English and Spanish versions of Wikipedia more authoritative,
accurate and complete.  The Spanish profile is at
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transantiago and looks to me to be a fine
beginning, and this despite the fact that one of the “editors” has
challenged it authenticity and neutrality (NPOV). I copy below the shorter
English version from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transantiago to give you a
whiff of what they think it’s all about.

At the very least it strikes me as a cautionary tale, and certainly one that
is worthy of the attention of those of us who may harbor ambitious ideas
about how to bring on the New Mobility Agenda.  And I am sure that some of
our friends in the sutp-lac group will have some interesting observations
and references to add to this.

Eric Britton











Transantiago


>From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transantiago#column-one> ,
search <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transantiago#searchInput>
 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Current_event_marker.svg>
This article documents a current event
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Current_events> .
Information may change rapidly as the event progresses.
An articulated bus of the new Transantiago system
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Transantiago_bus_articulado.jpg>
 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Transantiago_bus_articulado.jpg>
An articulated bus <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Articulated_bus>  of the
new Transantiago system
Transantiago is the public transport
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_transport>  system that serves Santiago
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santiago%2C_Chile> , capital city of Chile
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chile> . It was introduced on 10 February
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_10>  2007
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007> , replacing the previous chaotic system
run by thousands of independent bus operators. The system works by combining
local bus lines, main bus lines and the Metro
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santiago_Metro>  (subway) network. It includes
an integrated fare system, which allows passengers to make bus-to-bus or
bus-to-metro transfers for the price of one ticket, using a single
contactless <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contactless>  smartcard
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smartcard> .
Transantiago's implementation has been problematic. Some of the bus
companies have not put out the required fleet in operation, making the bus
headway irregular and generating large crowds and long queues outside Metro
stations and bus stops. The fleet management software (which includes the
use of GPS <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPS> ) has not been implemented.
Segregated bus corridors have also not been constructed and "paid zones"
have been improvised. The lack of trust by users in the bus system has
overcrowded the Metro. There is also criticism of a lack of line coverage in
the citiy's peripheral areas, which were well covered under the previous
system.

Contents

[ hide <javascript:toggleToc()> ]
*	1 Details <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transantiago#Details>
	*	1.1 Objectives <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transantiago#Objectives>
	*	1.2 New lines structure
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transantiago#New_lines_structure>
	*	1.3 New fare structure
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transantiago#New_fare_structure>
	*	1.4 Payment system and finance administration
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transantiago#Payment_system_and_finance_admini
stration>
	*	1.5 Users' information
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transantiago#Users.27_information>
*	2 Vehicles <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transantiago#Vehicles>
	*	2.1 Technical characteristics of the vehicles
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transantiago#Technical_characteristics_of_the_
vehicles>
*	3 Problems and criticism
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transantiago#Problems_and_criticism>
*	4 References <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transantiago#References>
*	5 External links
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transantiago#External_links>

[ edit
<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Transantiago&action=edit&section=
1> ] 1 Details

Transantiago's first stage of implementation began on 22 October
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_22>  2005
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005> , when a group of ten new companies took
control of the capital's bus <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bus>  system,
immediately introducing 1,181 new modern low-floor
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-floor>  buses (approximately half of them
being articulated <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Articulated_bus> ) made by
Volvo <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo>  in Brazil
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil> , replacing 461 yellow-colored buses
from the old system. The new buses will temporarily coexist with the over
7,000 existing older buses, that will be gradually withdrawn from the system
until 2010. In October 2006 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_2006>  a
users' information system was introduced.
Transantiago became fully operational on 10 February
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_10>  2007
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007>  by the introduction of a new route
system dividing bus lines into two complementary groups: main and local
lines. In addition, a new fare structure was implemented, allowing transfers
at small or zero fares between buses and metro, when using the new
contactless <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contactless>  smartcard
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smartcard> . 1,776 new buses will operate at
this stage. The older yellow-colored (now painted over) buses will only
operate through the secondary local lines in conjunction with new but
simpler buses. It is expected that by 2010
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010> , the older buses will be completely
replaced by over 4,600 new vehicles.

[ edit
<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Transantiago&action=edit&section=
2> ] 1.1 Objectives

*	Encouraging the use of public transport
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_transport> .
*	Enhancing the quality of public transport, eliminating the on-the-street
competition and replacing the existing bus fleet.
*	Palliating the city's high air pollution
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_pollution>  and sound pollution
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_pollution>  levels by reducing the
number of buses from over 7,000 to about 4,600, and by reducing the emission
levels of the buses.
*	Reducing travel times.

[ edit
<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Transantiago&action=edit&section=
3> ] 1.2 New lines structure

Bus services were divided into two subsystems. The first subsystem
corresponds to the main bus lines
<http://www.transantiago.cl/web2005/imagenes/troncales.jpg> , which
complementing the metro <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santiago_Metro>
network allow long trips between different zones of the city. The second
subsystem corresponds to the local (or feeder) bus lines, which allow short
trips and feed the metro and main bus lines. Local services are organized in
ten units <http://www.transantiago.cl/web2005/imagenes/locales.jpg> , each
of one corresponding to one or more municipalities
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Municipality>  of Santiago.
A
Santiago Centro <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santiago_Centro>
B
Conchalí <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conchal%C3%AD> , Huechuraba
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huechuraba> , Independencia
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independencia%2C_Chile> , Quilicura
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quilicura> , Recoleta
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recoleta_%28municipality%29> , Renca
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renca>
C
Las Condes <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Condes> , Lo Barnechea
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lo_Barnechea> , Providencia
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Providencia_%28municipality_in_Chile%29> ,
Vitacura <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitacura>
D
La Reina <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Reina> , Macul
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macul> , Ñuñoa
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%91u%C3%B1oa> , Peñalolén
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pe%C3%B1alol%C3%A9n>
E
La Florida <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Florida> , La Granja
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Granja_%28municipality%29>
F
Puente Alto <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puente_Alto>
G
El Bosque
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Bosque_%28municipality%2C_Chile%29> , La
Cisterna <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Cisterna> , La Pintana
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Pintana> , San Bernardo
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Bernardo%2C_Chile> , San Ramón
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Ram%C3%B3n_%28municipality%29>
H
Lo Espejo <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lo_Espejo> , Pedro Aguirre Cerda
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_Aguirre_Cerda_%28municipality%29> , San
Joaquín <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Joaqu%C3%ADn> , San Miguel
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Miguel_%28municipality%29>
I
Cerrillos <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerrillos_%28municipality%29> ,
Estación Central <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estaci%C3%B3n_Central> ,
Maipú <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maip%C3%BA_%28municipality%29>
J
Cerro Navia <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerro_Navia> , Lo Prado
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lo_Prado> , Pudahuel
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pudahuel> , Quinta Normal
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quinta_Normal>
Map of the zones of Transantiago
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Transantiago.svg>

The details of both the main bus lines and the local bus lines can be seen
in the official maps and route descriptions
<http://www.transantiagoinforma.cl/listaRecorridos.do> .

[ edit
<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Transantiago&action=edit&section=
4> ] 1.3 New fare structure

An integrated fares scheme was introduced for buses and metro, allowing to
transfer for free or paying a small transfer charge. During the first six
months of operation, up to three transfers are completely free. The
definitive fare scheme considers two basic fares (local and main fares), in
addition to the transfer fares.
The local fare will allow local trips inside a local area, also allowing
free transfers between local services in that area. The main fare will be a
little higher and will allow trips both in the main bus lines and metro,
including free transfers between them. Finally, a transfer fare will have to
be paid when transferring between a main bus service (or metro) and a local
service. This transfer fare will be much smaller than the basic fares. As
was before, students will be allowed to pay reduced fares, at 35% of the
normal ones.
Fares will be adjusted periodically, according to the changes in the main
input prices (fuel, etc.) of the operators. The way in which the fare
adjustments is calculated has been established in the operation contracts.
Therefore, neither operators nor the authorities are able to change the
fares at will.

[ edit
<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Transantiago&action=edit&section=
5> ] 1.4 Payment system and finance administration

The main payment system of Transantiago is a contactless
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contactless>  smartcard
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smartcard>  called tarjeta Bip! similar to the
Multivia <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multivia>  card, which was previously
operated by the metro. This card is used both in buses and metro as a
prepaid card. The access to the reduced or free transfer fares is only
possible when using this card, as the electronic system associated to the
card automatically recognizes if the user is starting his trip or just
making a transfer. In this way, the system can decide if the basic fare has
to be charged or if a transfer or free fare applies. Passengers who do not
have the card may pay in cash (only in feeder buses), but a higher fare
without possibility of reduced transfers.
The operation of the payment system was tendered to a private company. Its
main tasks are the distribution and charging of the card, the administration
of the revenues and the payment to the operators, according to the rules
established in the contracts.

[ edit
<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Transantiago&action=edit&section=
6> ] 1.5 Users' information

Another component of the system is the information manager and users'
information provider, which was tendered and awarded to the private company
Tata Consultancy Services Chile <http://www.comicrom.cl/english/>  in 2006.
Its main tasks are: provide information for the users both before and after
the implementation of the system, provide information about the localization
of the buses to the operators and coordinate emergencies with the relevant
bodies.

[ edit
<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Transantiago&action=edit&section=
7> ] 2 Vehicles

Until 2010 there will be both new Transantiago-standard
<http://www.transantiago.cl/web2005/imagenes/busesgra.jpg>  and old buses in
operation. In comparison to the old buses of Santiago, at least half the new
ones have a low floor, and all have a blocking system that does not allow
the movement of the bus before all doors are closed. Since 2003, all new
buses in Santiago fulfill the emission norm Euro III
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euro_III> .
After the implementation of the new lines structure, the main bus lines will
be operated with articulated (18 meters long) and normal buses, while the
local services will be operated with normal buses and minibuses.

[ edit
<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Transantiago&action=edit&section=
8> ] 2.1 Technical characteristics of the vehicles

Most of the low-floor buses for Transantiago were built by Volvo
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo> . Several operating companies of
Transantiago bought 1,157 articulated buses B9SALF
<http://www.volvo.com/bus/brazil/en-br/products/city+buses/Volvo_B9_SALF_art
/>  and 510 normal (12 meters long) buses B7RLE
<http://www.volvo.com/bus/brazil/en-br/products/city+buses/Volvo+B7R+Low+Ent
ry/> .
The articulated B9SALF Volvo bus has a capacity of approximately 160
passengers, four double doors, 100% low floor, a length of 18.5 meters and a
width of 2.5 meters. The engine is on the left side between the first and
second axles (i.e. behind the driver) and 340hp hp
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_power> . (More technical information can
be found in the technical specifications of the Volvo B9SALF
<http://www.volvo.com/bus/brazil/en-br/products/city+buses/Volvo_B9_SALF_art
/specifications.htm> .)
The Volvo B7RLE bus, with a capacity of approximately 80 passengers, has
three double doors and low floor between the first and second doors. It has
a length of 12 meters and a wide of 2.5 meters. The engine is in the back of
the vehicle and has 7,000 cm³. (Additional technical information can be
found in the technical specifications of the Volvo B7RLE
<http://www.volvo.com/bus/brazil/en-br/products/city+buses/Volvo+B7R+Low+Ent
ry/specifications.htm> .)

[ edit
<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Transantiago&action=edit&section=
9> ] 3 Problems and criticism

There are several problems with the design and implementation of the plan.
Bus owners' contracts offer no incentive to improve service; they receive a
fixed payment no matter how many passengers they transport. The centralized
system for controlling frequency of buses is not working (the GPS system is
non-operational), which was a main point in the original design. Passenger
fare evasion is high (30% or more). Many people consider the service to be
poor and are not willing to pay for it. Others are taking advantage of the
situation. Routes were poorly defined. For example, when the system
launched, there weren't bus stops by many hospitals.
Although polls have shown the citizens of Santiago were overwhelmingly in
favor of a new transport system [1]
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transantiago#_note-0> , its implementation was
heavily criticized for not meeting up to people's expectations. The system's
first days in operation were chaotic at many of the bus stops, since there
were not enough buses to cope with the demand. Additionally, many complained
that the old bus routes were easier and faster, a claim confirmed to an
extent in an investigation by El Mercurio
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Mercurio> , which found that most of the
new routes took more time than the ones in the older system. Politicians in
both sides of the political spectrum —from Communist Party
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_Party_of_Chile>  Secretary General
Guillermo Tellier
<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Guillermo_Tellier&action=edit>
to right-wing UDI
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Democratic_Union>  deputy Iván
Moreira
<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Iv%C3%A1n_Moreira&action=edit> —
criticized the implementation of the new system, labeling it "improvised"
and "unprofessional."
Support for President Michelle Bachelet
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Bachelet> 's government in Santiago
fell from 55.2% in February <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February>  to
42.7% in March <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March> , after the Transantiago
began operating, according to the monthly Adimark polls. Political analysts
attributed the fall solely to the Transantiago, saying that there is no
other possible cause for the dramatic fall in support [2]
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transantiago#_note-1> . A poll taken by
Benchmark agency, requested by the opposition, showed that 47% did not
approve of the implementation of Transantiago, 64% labeled the
implementation as "improvised", and 53% disapproved of the way President
Bachelet handled the situation. Many people have also blamed former
president Ricardo Lagos <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricardo_Lagos> ,
because it was his government that was responsible for the system's design.
One consequence of Transantiago is that the Metro system, which was to be a
backbone of the system, has been overwhelmed with over six users per square
meter. The increase in usage was reported by La Tercera
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Tercera>  on 21 March
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_21>  2007
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007>  as having increased from 1,300,000 to
2,200,000 and Metro president Blas Tomic was quoted as saying: "The capacity
of metro has reached its limit" and recommended that the elderly and users
with medical conditions stay off the system.
The government has defended the plan as necessary for a better transport
system, adding it will improve as people become more used to it, adding
everything is being done to improve it.

[ edit
<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Transantiago&action=edit&section=
10> ] 4 References

*	Gschwender, Antonio (2005)
<http://www.civil.ist.utl.pt/thredbo9/proceedings/proceedings/Tuesday/WSA/2n
d_Session/1094.pdf>  Improving the urban public transport in developing
countries: the design of a new integrated system in Santiago de Chile. 9th
Conference of Competition and Ownership in Land Transport (Thredbo9),
Lisbon, Portugal.
*	Minteguiaga, Jorge (2006)
<http://www.uitp-pti.com/img/cover6_2006/18-21-en.pdf>  Transantiago:
redesigning public transport in Santiago, Chile. Public Transport
International, 55, 6/2006, 16-19. ISSN-1016-796X.
1.	^ <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transantiago#_ref-0>
http://www.atinachile.cl/content/view/4713
2.	^ <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transantiago#_ref-1>
http://www.emol.com/noticias/nacional/detalle/detallenoticias.asp?idnoticia=
248232

[ edit
<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Transantiago&action=edit&section=
11> ] 5 External links

*	Official site of Transantiago (Spanish) <http://www.transantiago.cl>
*	Transantiago Chile: Educational and Analytical Information (Spanish)
<http://www.transantiagochile.com/>
*	Full Official map of Transantiago (Spanish)
<http://www.transantiagoinforma.cl/pdf/Mapa_General.pdf>
*	Official site of the contactless smartcard tarjeta Bip! (Spanish)
<http://www.tarjetabip.cl>
*	Study from CEP Chile - Santiago Buses: From Public Enemy to Public Service
(Spanish)
<http://www.cepchile.cl/dms/archivo_3425_1704/r96_diazyotros_micros.pdf>


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