titsa has moved all over Tenerife to 35,000 passengers who have paid with a bank card in the month that this way of paying for the ticket has been in force. The Cabildo’s public transport company registers an average of almost 1,300 trips a day paid for with this innovative system. The Island Councilor for Mobility and President of Titsa, Enrique Arriagaexplains that the use of this payment method is on the rise compared to cash, not only among tourists, but also among residents.
The exact average number of users who pay by bank card each day on the different routes is 1,262 since this modality was introduced last March. First it was in certain lines such as those of airports or tourist areas and then, after a small and successful period of tests, they were extended to the rest
Enrique Arriaga describes these first data as “very positive”. He considers that “they demonstrate the success in implementing the measure throughout the company’s fleet.” He also details that “it has been especially beneficial for those occasional users of the public transport».
The Mobility counselor values that “according to the calculations we have, the trend in the use of card payment is on the rise compared to cash.” In a few weeks, he adds, “it has become a widely used method not only by visiting tourists but also by residents.”
The insular director of Mobility, José Alberto León, points out, for his part, that the lines that register a greater use of this form of payment continue to be those that connect with the tourist areas and with the two airports, “although very important on other routes» of the transport company.
As of April 24, 2022, a total of 35,330 passengers paid for their trip with a bank card. The greatest use was recorded between April 11 and 17, coinciding with Holy Week, when 10,575 card payments were registered.
By lines, the 40, which connects Costa Adeje with the South airport, is the one that registers the most card payments, accounting for 3,054. The second route with the most trips paid in this way is the 467, which connects Costa del Silencio-La Caleta, with 3,043, while the 111 (Interchanger of Santa Cruz de Tenerife-Aeropuerto del Sur-Costa Adeje) adds 2,927 payments.
The day that most card payments were recorded was April 16 with 1,800, which is equivalent to 9,130.95 euros. The total cost of trips paid from March 28 to April 24 is 176,023 euros.
The most immediate initiative of the company is the incorporation of new hybrid buses within the line of working for sustainability and respect for the environment. A group of drivers will also be added to the workforce, both permanently and temporarily to increase services and frequencies of passage. The goal is public transport “efficient, fast and as cheap as possible,” says Enrique Arriaga. He also appreciates “that the buses reach all corners of Tenerife.”
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In terms of infrastructure, in addition to the latest reforms in the Buenavista del Norte and Granadilla de Abona interchanges, there are two “major” projects that Arriaga considers “essential” for connectivity, basically in the south of the island. the stations of Los Cristianos, in Arona, and San Isidro.
In the first case, the president of the company considers it “incredible” that the third largest municipality on the island “does not have an adequate facility and people have to wait for the bus lying on an avenue.” As for the nucleus of Granadilla, it is key “especially for tourists and workers in the area.” A communications node will be built there that includes the renovation of the adjacent roundabout.
In both cases the projects are quite advanced. Even more so after the step taken with the Ministry so that it considers them not only as stations for trains as planned, but also that they can include buses.
