The Socialist Group within the Tenerife Cabildo expressed disappointment yesterday over the mismanagement of over 13 million Euros in Next Generation European funds earmarked for enhancing the island’s road infrastructure and boosting public transport. The Canarian Coalition and Popular Party government coalition were blamed for failing to carry out projects planned by the previous administration under Pedro Martín.
This revelation was made by the Minister of Mobility for the island, Eulalia García, during the Council’s plenary session in response to questioning by socialist spokesperson Aarón Afonso. Afonso explained that the previous administration had prioritised these projects because “we believed that road improvements were crucial in effectively connecting the island, and also in promoting public transport through the implementation of bus lanes where feasible.”
Collaborating closely with the Canary Islands Government, led by Ángel Víctor Torres, efforts were made to secure a portion of the Next Generation funding – 4,079,483.57 Euros for a bus lane on the northern TF-5 highway, and 8,988,807.74 Euros for a bus lane with high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) designation in the south. These projects were initiated in 2022 and the confirmation of European funding came towards the end of the year.
The first project entailed the construction of a bus lane on the northbound TF-5 section linking the University Hospital of the Canaries (HUC) and the Las Chumberas junction. The second project involved setting up a bus-HOV lane within the existing left lane on the TF-1 leading to Santa Cruz, covering kilometres 1.4 to 20.
Pedro Martín expressed regret, stating that “within a year of taking office, Mrs. Rosa Dávila not only failed to address the island’s road issues within the promised 90 days, but also squandered crucial European funding that had been secured to enhance mobility on the island.” Martín noted that governments in the past, such as that led by Carlos Alonso, had advocated for bus-HOV lanes as part of the solution.
