The entry into force this Thursday of the land transport subsidy by the central governmentthat goes up from 30% to 50% in buses and tramshas triggered the sale of subscriptions in all its forms with more than 6,000 top-ups on the first day.
This has been pointed out to Europa Press by the vice president of the Cabildo and Minister of Transport, Enrique Arriagawho has detailed, by way of example, that the ‘Canary Resident Bonus’ registered this Thursday, compared to the same day last year, an increase in sales of 708%, going from 389 to 3,113 titles, 708% more.
The increases have also been detected in the ‘young subscription’, which increases sales by 360% to 2,654 recharges, among retirees, with 182 subscriptions sold on the first day (+32%) and the disabled, who go from 11 to 115 , 945% more.
In total, on September 1, 36,353 users were registered on the tram and 136,348 passengers on Titsa, amounts that represent an increase of approximately 10% with respect to the number of users registered on the last day of August.
In addition, the number of passengers who used a monthly pass to travel on public transport grew by 25%.
Arriaga has been “confident” that sales will grow more as the month progresses and the start of the school year in Secondary and University approaches and he does not hide that in some routes, there may even be a certain saturation.
For this reason, it has advanced that some bus lines will be reconfigured once it is detected where there is a greater incidence of travelers, warning at the same time that “there is not an unlimited number of drivers or buses.”
He has commented that in Titsa have a job bank of 100 drivers but “the number of buses is more problematic” because “they are not bought from one day to the next”, in fact, at the end of the year an order of 100 vehicles arrives, which was requested last year.
Arriaga believes that the use of public transport is going to increase both in the buses and in the tram, but especially in the long routes to the north or south, which already had some with growth above 30% before the entry into force of the new bonuses.
Regarding the future of the bonuses, he has appealed for them to remain in force beyond December 31.
In this case, he has confessed that he “misses” the Government of the Canary Islands because it has become a “mere processor” of the subsidy but has not provided funds, something that he could do at least from next year.
Arriaga has indicated that the Cabildo, with its own funds of 10 million, will take the subsidy up to 34% in 2023 and trusts that another administration can cover up to 50% in order to maintain prices.
The Cabildo cannot face gratuity
He has recognized that transport in La Palma will be free until the end of the year – the only island that will do so – but he understands that the situation “is not comparable” given that Tenerife has 60 million travelers for two million on the beautiful island.
“We already inject 60 million in Titsa every year to cover the deficit, and if the Cabildo has to put 150 million every year, it cannot assume the gratuity”, he indicated.
With the entry into force of the new bonuses, the Canarian resident season ticket will cost 19 euros per month and the youth, ‘senior’ and people with disabilities tickets will cost 15 euros while the 5-trip tram ticket will be paid at half price , as well as social bonds.
