Within the framework of the new agreement between the La Laguna City Council and Titsa, the City Council will propose a series of improvements such as “the expansion of routes and frequencies, services that can be reinforced for 2023 and areas that are not covered”. This was stated by the Councilor for Sustainable Mobility, Rubens Ascanio, who pointed out that, “once the debt of more than four million that the previous government had in the municipality with Titsa has been settled, now we can face improvements that until now could not” , subject to “the budget forecast available at any time,” he said.
For example, the mayor explained that “current urban transport has a great challenge in the northeast region, which only has one line that covers the coastal area”, and also pointed out that it is necessary to reinforce areas of “high demand at certain times , as in La Salud, where lines that take them directly to the reference health center are demanded”, or in Anaga, where solutions are being sought with the Cabildo.
These improvements respond to the demands collected in the Mobility Consultation study. Lines and bus stops in La Laguna, developed between April and October, and in which more than 1,100 people have participated, as the first step to start a comprehensive program to improve the urban public transport network.
“It is a snapshot of the specific needs of the residents, and that gives us a much more effective tool than what we had up to now,” Ascanio highlighted. In addition, “it allows us to analyze the situation of each neighborhood and town, of the age groups and also of other specific needs, such as the elderly, the disabled, the unemployed, etc.”
Based on the results of the study, “the most urgent aspects to improve are related to schedules, frequency, efficiency of routes and punctuality. The canopies, the information on panels or screens and the lighting are the aspects that worry the most in the case of stops”, explained the mayor.
“We are going to make an effort from the City Council to ensure that these improvements that they propose become concrete facts in the negotiation with Titsa,” said Ascanio. La Laguna has the powers in the public service of urban passenger transport. Since October 2019, it has been provided by order to Titsa, with 14 vehicles of which 4 are owned by the City Council.
electrical
In this process of improving public transport, Ascanio indicated that work is being done to replace the urban network fleet with electric buses, with a first phase that includes two vehicles and complementary facilities and that has been endowed with 1,139,000 euros. .
In addition, the councilor added that they are also working to improve the accessibility of vehicles, so “until we have that fleet fully accessible, we are proposing complementary alternatives” and explained that they are working with the entities “for accompanying formulas”.
