Sustainable Mobility Plan Approved for Tenerife
The Sustainable Mobility Plan for Tenerife was initially approved yesterday by the Insular Government Council. The document outlines projects and measures valued at €5 billion until 2035, with financing from both the central and regional governments. It grants the Cabildo a decade to address the island’s transport issues.
The completion of the Island Ring road, rail corridors, tram expansion, and a restructuring of the bus service are key components of this document, which will now enter public consultation, as announced by the Cabildo President, Rosa Dávila, during her presentation yesterday to report on the agreements of the Insular Government Council.
Main Components of the Plan
The Island Ring includes sections from San Juan de la Rambla to Icod de Los Vinos, Los Realejos to San Juan de La Rambla, and El Tanque to Santiago del Teide (currently under construction). These are considered “strategic sections” to ensure a north-south connection without exclusively relying on the TF-5. Additionally, the plan proposes adding a second lane to the TF-1 from Las Manchas (Santiago del Teide) to Erques (Guía de Isora) and burying this motorway through the tourist area of Costa Adeje to mitigate its impact on a densely populated region. Also included are the BUS-VAO lane between Guamasa and Los Rodeos airport, a variant of the TF-5 to improve airport access, and the connection between the TF-13 and Mesa Mota through the Gorgorana tunnel.
Rail Services as a Key Focus
Trains are presented as a crucial part of the development. The first railway line will connect Santa Cruz with Adeje, with plans to extend it to Fonsalía. The initial phase will cover the section from Tenerife South Airport to Costa Adeje, spanning 30 kilometers to be traversed in 25 minutes, as reported by the Insular Government. With a cost of €800 million, this line will link key areas such as the Port of Los Cristianos and the Southern Hospital. Dávila anticipates its tender to be issued in 2028, considering the complexities involved. Meanwhile, the Northern train, currently in the technical and administrative advancement phase, will connect Santa Cruz to Los Realejos, with expectations to expand to Icod de los Vinos.
Transforming Public Transport
The plan outlines a complete restructuring of the bus service, including adaptable schedules, increased frequencies, better coordination among lines, and improved connections with interchange stations and other modes of transport. It also aims to expand the tram network.
Call for Consensus
Rosa Dávila advocated for “a significant agreement” involving economic, social, and political stakeholders, whom she will invite to discuss the document that “forms the basis of the Grand Mobility Pact, initiated with the establishment of its drafting team.”
