DA/EFE.| The Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council announced this Wednesday the introduction, commencing in 2026, of a paid parking system divided into blue zones for general use and green zones for residents, alongside the addition of 1,800 parking spaces throughout the city.
The system will be applicable across all districts and neighbourhoods of Santa Cruz, aiming to facilitate better turnover in parking usage. It is anticipated that this will be introduced via a concession model based on a fee, which will be detailed in the two regulations currently being developed by the City Council.
These regulations will outline the hourly charges and annual fees, the intended use of the parking facilities, user categories, and the penalty system, among other items. The plan indicates that 70% of spaces will be allocated to residents, while 30% will be for rotation use.
This announcement came during a press conference led by the mayor of Santa Cruz, José Manuel Bermúdez, who asserted that this model is already in operation in many Spanish capitals. He emphasised that this measure aims “not to generate revenue, but to act as a deterrent.”
“Santa Cruz has a long history where planning errors have occurred, influencing the city’s layout. This has resulted in challenges that necessitate solutions that are effective in other capitals and that we should implement promptly,” summarised José Manuel Bermúdez.
To conclude, he added that mobility will focus “on the utilisation of public transport, preserving pedestrian rights, and leveraging existing transport systems.”
The municipal councillor highlighted that the implementation will utilise automated and digital systems to streamline the penalty process, reinforcing that the goal involves a concession that invites the participation of specialised companies.
The Mobility Department of the Chicharrero City Council has already begun preparing the two ordinances that will guide the new master plan, stating that parking charges in the capital will vary between 1 euro/hour (blue zone) and an annual fee for residents (green zone) estimated at around 60 euros.
The consultant and director of the master plan, Fernando Davara, indicated that, based on their research, approximately 400,000 vehicles travel through Santa Cruz each day.
These 400,000 vehicles include both residents’ cars and those from individuals in neighbouring municipalities, reflecting the need for 173,000 parking spaces. However, this figure does not indicate that there is a need for 173,000 individual spaces, because the same parking areas may be utilised multiple times; thus, enhancing turnover is crucial, he explained.
Indeed, one of the primary concerns identified following an analysis of vehicle movements is the turnover of registration plates, which creates significant pressure in certain locations.
“The intention is to deter long-term parking and provide residents with priority access. Although it poses a challenging solution, this will benefit local businesses, as increased turnover stimulates local commerce within a more structured environment and also generates financial resources that will stem from mobility initiatives,” noted Davara.
He also pointed out that such systems have been shown to positively influence the reduction of both environmental and noise pollution.
In relation to the construction of new spaces, the City Council plans to increase the initially planned 1,800 spaces from 2025 to 2029 to 4,100 by 2032. These will be developed in elevated, surface, and underground areas such as El Toscal, La Salud, along the hillside adjacent to the Ofra health centre, or in Chamberí.
Ultimately, the mayor remarked that in the city “the space allocated for parking does not correlate” with the needs of pedestrians, expressing that it is “difficult” to sustain the notion of free parking in a city that faces challenges regarding this issue.
“What we need to do is ensure a greater turnover of the parking spaces we have, and this can only be achieved by restricting time limits,” said Bermúdez, who also recalled that there is a general lack of awareness surrounding the availability of affordable parking options in the city.
“The largest and most economical car park in Santa Cruz remains underutilised, typically operating at half capacity, despite being just a 15-minute walk from the city centre and offering discounts for those who combine its usage with public transport,” the mayor cautioned, referring to the interchange car park.
