SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 18 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Tenerife Island Council has tasked Metropolitano de Tenerife with revising the environmental impact assessment for the southern railway at a cost of 89,600 euros, with an expected completion time of eight months.
This announcement was made by the president, Rosa Dávila, during a press briefing to discuss the agreements reached by the Government Council alongside the Minister of Culture, José Carlos Acha. She emphasised that the project’s progression has been re-initiated, which had been “stalled” due to the “lack of momentum” and “ambition” from the PSOE and CS Government which failed to monitor the planning and re-evaluation of the environmental impact study.
The president highlighted that this study is “a crucial step” towards revitalising this infrastructure, necessary for “alleviating traffic congestion” on the island’s roads and decreasing CO2 emissions.
The southern railway will link Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Costa Adeje in 39 minutes, operating at a maximum speed of 180 kilometres per hour and having the capacity to transport approximately 67,000 individuals daily. Once the environmental impact assessment concludes, the new declaration can then be processed.
Dávila reiterated that the construction of the railway will occur in phases so that by the end of 2027, the segment connecting San Isidro to the tourist region of Costa Adeje, a site that experiences more than half a million vehicles daily, can be put out for tender.
Furthermore, she indicated that this segment “does not traverse any protected environmental regions”, so she does not anticipate any complications with the environmental declaration.
The president stated that the Cabildo has the “support” of the Canary Islands Government and the Ministry of Transport, with whom it is collaborating to ensure that the project becomes part of the national infrastructure network – notwithstanding the fact that Minister Óscar Puente previously questioned the management capabilities of the Canary Islands administrations regarding such projects in an interview.
Consequently, if the project is included in the state network, it may receive funding from the Spanish Government and the EU, potentially covering up to 70% of the investment, which is projected to be around 800 million for the initial phase.
The Council has also greenlit the introduction of a complimentary on-demand transport service in Fasnia, Arico, and Güímar to enhance the mobility of approximately 13,700 residents living in more isolated areas and communities in these municipalities.
Rosa Dávila stated that the contract to provide this service has been awarded to NEX Continental Holdings for a sum of around 449,000 euros for a one-year period.
The aim of the complimentary on-demand transport service is to improve connectivity for residents of these towns with the public transport system, particularly in rural locations with challenging access, and it is intended to be fully operational by November of this year.
There will be four minibus-type vehicles with capacities between 9 and 16 seats to deliver the service, operational on weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., with routes adapting according to passenger demand.
In the sector of Historical Heritage, the tender for the restoration works of Casa Lola, or Casa de La Cueva, in Guía de Isora, was approved, with an estimated cost of around 1.6 million euros and a duration of 18 months.
The objective is for this building to serve as the Interpretation Centre for Ethnographic Resources linked to the ‘Water Routes’ project.
ADVANCE OF 2.3 MILLION FROM THE AGREEMENT WITH ACUAES
In the areas of Natural Environment, Sustainability, and Security and Emergencies, a payment of 2.3 million euros was sanctioned as the second advance of the agreement that the Cabildo has with the state-owned enterprise Aguas de las Cuencas de España, SA (ACUAES) regarding the execution and management of ‘Sanitation and purification actions on the island of Tenerife’, with a total estimated budget of 233.5 million euros.
José Carlos Acha noted that, in the tourism sector, the tendering of works included in the ‘Wastewater connections and supply of the Taoro Complex and Pumping Station (Phase 2 and 3)’ project in Puerto de la Cruz is for an approximate cost of 467,000 euros.
In the field of Culture, the Governing Council has approved a budget of 365,728 euros for the expansion of the “Federico Pérez Hernández” multi-purpose building located in El Tanque.
This project, which is funded 90% by the island council, aims to enhance facilities for cultural and community activities in the region.
Additionally, a sum of 204,967.50 euros has been approved for the outfitting of the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council library. Both initiatives are part of the Cultural Infrastructure Plan 2016-2026.
