The Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council, through the Mobility Department and in coordination with the Local Police, will reorganise urban public transport due to the visit of Pope Leo XIV to the island’s capital, scheduled for this Friday, 12 June.
This initiative will impact services provided by TITSA, trams, and taxis, including an increase in frequency during peak hours, the introduction of shuttle buses to compensate for line suspensions, and the creation of an exclusive lane for these vehicles on Avenida Tres de Mayo and Calle Fomento.
The pontiff’s visit will necessitate changes to mobility in various areas of Santa Cruz, particularly in the city centre, around the port, the Interchange, and access routes to the capital. Therefore, residents are advised to use public transport for any necessary travel.
Exclusive Bus Lanes on Tres de Mayo and Fomento
One of the key measures will be the establishment of a reserved lane for buses on Avenida Tres de Mayo and Calle Fomento, around the Interchange. The aim is to facilitate the movement of public transport vehicles on a day when traffic disruptions, diversions, and restrictions are expected throughout the city.
This measure seeks to prevent buses from becoming stuck in potential traffic congestion caused by the security measures and the influx of thousands of people to Santa Cruz. The City Council advises prioritising public transport and avoiding the use of private cars, especially for journeys towards the city centre and port area.
Suspended Lines Due to Closure of Francisco La Roche and Changes to Anaga Lines
Traffic closures in the vicinity of the port, particularly due to the closure of Avenida Francisco La Roche, will necessitate the temporary suspension of lines 914, 920, and 921 from 06:00 to 17:00 hours on Friday, 12 June.
Additionally, the routes for Anaga lines 916, 917, 945, 946, and 947, as well as line 910, will be modified. All will start and end at the Muelle Norte stop during the special operation.
Connections to the Santa Cruz Interchange will be made via a shuttle service established at the Muelle Norte stop. This service will operate with an estimated frequency of 10 to 15 minutes along the Rambla de Santa Cruz.
The shuttle will maintain the link between the port area and the Interchange while restrictions on nearby roads remain in place.
Bus Routes Modified Between 09:00 and 12:30 Hours
Pope Leo XIV’s route through Santa Cruz will also cause modifications to numerous urban lines between 09:00 and 12:30 hours.
The lines affected by these changes will be 901, 902, 904, 905, 906, 908, 909, 912, 919, 934, 935, 936, 937, 940, and 941.
Cancelled Stops in the Port, Salud-La Salle, and Centro-Ifara
The service reorganisation will also include temporary cancellations of stops near the port and in the Salud-La Salle and Centro-Ifara districts.
In the port area, stops on Avenida Francisco La Roche, between the Monumento a la Victoria and the Interchange, will be cancelled from 06:30 to 17:00 hours. This measure will affect lines 909, 910, 916, 917, 945, 946, and 947.
Between 10:00 and 12:30 hours, stops on Avenida San Sebastián and Calle José Hernández Afonso for lines 014, 026, 228, 232, 902, 908, 909, 919, 934, 935, 936 and 937 will also be closed.
The same will occur with stops located on Avenidas La Salle and Méndez Núñez, which will be out of service for lines 902, 905, 912, and 935 during the time affected by the procession.
Disruption Due to Closure of the TF-5
On another note, buses needing to access the TF-5 and subsequently join the TF-1 heading south will have their service interrupted between 13:00 and 14:00 hours, due to the anticipated closure of the northern motorway. The closure will affect those travelling from Santa Cruz to the southern part of the island, so it is advisable to plan journeys well in advance and consult updated service alerts.
Changes on Tram Line 1
The Tram Line 1 will also be affected by Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Santa Cruz de Tenerife. From 06:00 hours, coinciding with the start of service, the operation will be limited to the section between the Trinidad and Guimerá stops.
Starting from 10:30 hours, the route will again be shortened, and the service will end at the La Paz stop.
The frequency of service will be 15 minutes between 06:00 and 07:00 hours. From 07:00 hours until 22:00 hours, the interval will be reduced to 10 minutes.
Service recovery will be carried out in a progressive manner, so it is advisable to consult MetroTenerife alerts before starting a journey and to allow additional time for travel, especially if coming from La Laguna or stops near the city centre.
Temporary Taxi Stops During Events
The mobility plan will also affect taxi services in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. During the events, temporary stops will be set up from 00:05 hours on Friday, 12 June, until the conclusion of the events.
One of these temporary stops will be located on Avenida San Sebastián, in the parking bays on the right-hand side. Another provisional stop will be set up on Calle General Gutiérrez, after the junction with Calle Doctor Allart.
Taxi stops situated on Calle El Pilar and Calle Doctor Antonio Perera Reyes, as well as those at Plaza del Cabildo and Avenida de la Constitución, will be suspended from 00:05 hours until the events conclude.
