The Executive will pay more funds if the 81 million are insufficient and sets the minimum to be a regular traveler at 15 monthly trips
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Dec. 29 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The President of the Government of the Canary Islands, Ángel Víctor Torres, and the Presidents and Transport Councilors of the seven councils have signed this Thursday the protocol that certifies the free public land transport on the islands -by bus and tram– in 2023.
The measure will come into force as of January 1 and will be limited to regular users who make at least 15 trips per month –although the door is opened for some councils to admit fewer trips according to their computer system– with an approximate cost total of 81 million that will be reviewed in case it is insufficient.
Both Torres and the Minister of Transport, Sebastián Franquis, have pointed out that since the 50% discount came into force by the State, the average increase in passengers has been 14% and now 4% more is expected.
The president has shown his desire for the service to be “the best possible”, something that is supported by the increase in personnel and the purchase of buses that some councils have made, and the “coordination” between administrations.
He has recognized that the measure is taken as a result of a CC amendment to the General State Budgets (PGE) and that it is an “improvement” for the use of public transport, mobility and the “decarbonization” of the islands.
Franquis has pointed out that there may be a “significant increase” in passengers on certain lines or islands and to see how it evolves there is a permanent commission that is going to analyze the development and impact of free.
Access to free will be through the Canarian resident voucher or the modalities that each council has and first-time users will only have to pay for the issuance of the voucher –for those already underway there is a transition process until the 28th of february–.
The counselor has urged citizens to “take advantage of this opportunity” to change mobility and the councils to preserve that the service “is of quality” to avoid the opposite effect of users not using transport.
He also believes that the 81 million budgeted by the central government may be sufficient, although a first evaluation will be made at the end of the first quarter, given that if the costs are not covered, the regional Executive undertakes to provide more funds.
There will be two annual payments to the service operators since they have no income and 20% of the funds will be distributed based on criteria related to the number of trips and the losses of the transport companies.
PEDRO MARTÍN URGES “TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY”
The president of the Cabildo de Tenerife, Pedro Martín, has indicated that an “exciting challenge” for mobility is opening up and he understands that we must “seize the opportunity” to consolidate quality public transport and that covers demand.
In the case of his island, he has pointed out that “more personnel than ever” have been hired at Titsa, the company that operates the bus service, and an order for 120 new buses is underway.
Martín believes that the use of public transport “is here to stay” and has had an impact on improvements for mobility and environmental sustainability.
Sergio Lloret, president of the Cabildo de Fuerteventura and head of the Canary Islands Federation (Fecai), has assessed that a measure be taken “for the benefit of the population”, since it will lower their mobility costs at a time of high prices derived from the war in Ukraine and inflation, and will also impact the environment.
