“We have worked and we work every day to have free quality public transport starting next January 1, 2023. This is how we guarantee it to the public.” It is confirmed by the Councilor for Mobility of the Cabildo de Tenerife, Enrique Arriaga, who recalls that “free will be for those habitual and frequent users of buses and trams.” In other words, the faithful, “those who have or acquire the four types of bonus – Canarian resident, young people, the elderly and people with disabilities – and make use of the ticket or voucher with a minimum number of trips that we think should be between 15 and 20 ». This will be decided on Wednesday (tomorrow) in a meeting of the Cabildos with the Government of the Canary Islands. It is the main conclusion of one of the four extraordinary island plenary sessions held yesterday, in this case at the request of the Canary Islands Coalition.
Arriaga anticipates that the Cabildo plans to allocate 104 million to public transport next year, three times more than in 2018 (34) and with an increase of 45 million compared to the previous year. He anticipates that “we are going to include another 61 million to face the gratuity, because the 81 that the Government of Spain for all Canary Islands It is a clearly insufficient amount. In the draft budget there are 104. To this we will have to add the cost of gratuity, which will reach 165. From this figure will be subtracted the part paid by the State Government of the 81 million and in the same The cost of acquiring new vehicles is included.
Among the measures being worked on are three lines of action: ensuring the availability of vehicles, hiring sufficient staff for bus and tram drivers, and updating computer systems.
The model
The initiative that subsidizes 100% of the transport price will affect the mentioned titles, whose current cost ranges between 15 and 19 euros. As of January 1, holders of any of these titles will automatically access the promotion when renewing their voucher. On the other hand, those who have not previously had these vouchers will also be granted free of charge for the first month, although they must pay the costs of issuing the personalized card (5 euros), an amount that current holders already paid in their day.
“We work to guarantee free with the best service from January 1”
check
At the end of each month it will be verified that the minimum number of trips stipulated has been used to be considered a frequent, habitual or faithful user. If so, when the subscription is due to be renewed, the free fee will be applied again. In case of not reaching the stipulated number of validations, when renewing the subscription they must pay its current price with the 50% discount already applied, from 15 to 19 euros.
Meeting
The island councilor will meet with the Department of Transport of the Government of the Canary Islands and those responsible for the area of the rest of the councils to determine what will be the minimum number of trips that will grant the user the consideration of frequent traveler. It is valued that it will be between 15 and 20, but it will be specified in this meeting. Arriaga denies that the government group ever spoke of 40 or 44, “as has been said by the opposition.” The Minister of Mobility assures that “a significant effort is being made to be able to assume the service with guarantees and the increase in demand calculated by 20% more.” He explains that “it is agreed with the Ministry that at the end of the first quarter the costs generated by this measure to the Cabildos and that are not covered by the endowment of 81 million euros will be analyzed.”
Unanimity
The counselor encourages all the political groups to show “their unanimous support for the negotiating position of the Cabildo, so that in the end the people of Tenerife do not end up bearing most of the cost of this measure, but rather, as is the case with the train in the peninsula, that cost is shared among the Spanish ».
On the other hand, Arriaga explains that to guarantee the quality of the service “work is done in two main ways: the availability of vehicles and drivers.”
61
Millions of euros
This additional amount is provided by the Cabildo in the budget for 2023, without counting the acquisition of new vehicles, in order to face the free public transport.
Regarding the increase in the Titsa fleet, which will provide more trips to the lines with the highest demand, the Cabildo will allocate 88 million euros to launch the Renove 10 Plus Plan. This initiative, which will go out to tender before the end of the year, will make it possible to acquire 248 buses that not only increase the current fleet, but also renew vehicles that are more than 10 years old, which are more polluting, consume more fuel and more prone to breakdowns.
In addition, the insular Government will receive this week the first vehicles of the consignment of 60 that will arrive in stages until March and, from that moment, the second part of the reception will last until December 2023 and will provide the transport operator of another 60 buses. To this, we must add the 45 acquired through a rent with the right to buy. In this way, in January, the forecast is that Titsa will have 20 new vehicles that will be complemented by another 25 in April.
Regarding the improvement of the workforce, Between March 2021 and March 2022 Titsa will recruit 230 people, mostly drivers. Metrotenerife will reinforce services during rush hour to deal with peak demand and the rest of the day will continue its usual offer. The available capacity is more than enough to deal with further increases in passengers.
disbelief and opposition
Arriaga’s appearance was contested by the opposition. From incredulity to criticism from the Popular Party because “the processes could have started since August, when the government team denied the option of gratuity.” Or from the absurdity of proposals, in the opinion of Coalición Canaria, such as “not using public transport at peak hours.” Everyone remained “vigilant” so that on January 1 there will be public transport and that the citizen will be provided with the appropriate services.
Motor Circuit, on display
The first plenary session held yesterday answers the nine questions from CC, formulated in writing and not answered after two months, which remained pending in the November session. From the usual discussion about the primary sector between the directors Javier Parrilla and Antolín Bueno, focused on who dialogues more or less with the sector, to social issues where there is a clash with Marián Franquet regarding the elderly, victims of gender violence, caregivers or telecare. From the disastrous current management to the inheritance received. Scholarships or school dropouts have their space, just like the obligation by the Transparency Law to make agendas known. Regarding the Circuit Engine, Enrique Arriaga –umpteenth scuffle with the nationalist Verónica Meseguer– guarantees the investment this year. He demonstrates this with the announcement of the public exhibition of the four infrastructure projects last Friday in the Official Gazette of the Province (BOP), for 56 million euros. On the 22nd will be the final approval and then it will be tendered. Arriaga emphasizes: “There is no rush and we have to do things right in the file to guarantee legal certainty.” He sentences: “The works will be tendered at the end of the month or the beginning of January.”
