Mobility in Tenerife has shifted from the primary to the fifth position among citizens’ concerns, thanks to an array of initiatives developed by the Tenerife Cabildo, which has committed to a significant transformation of island transport. These projects aim to perceive the mobility of Tenerife as a cohesive system and devise sustainable solutions that foster the connectivity of its citizens. Consequently, the Island Corporation has implemented a total of 70 measures that signify a genuine revolution in the Island’s mobility, enhancing the overall quality of life for its residents. To support this, the Cabildo will facilitate, in the upcoming six months, the establishment of a Grand Pact for Sustainable Mobility in Tenerife, involving participation from all social, economic, and political stakeholders on the island.
The president of the Tenerife Cabildo, Rosa Dávila, underscores the significance of reaching consensus with all social participants regarding the necessary actions to advance mobility and construct infrastructure that fosters connectivity and sustainability while alleviating traffic congestion. “It is time to move past solutions that merely focus on creating additional roads and to invest, decisively, in infrastructure and policies that connect our citizens in a safe and sustainable manner.”
Among these initiatives, a strong commitment to sustainability and environmental protection is prominent, aimed at safeguarding the island’s natural spaces. In this context, transforming the mobility model must be prioritised to promote environmental conservation.
In this regard, “the railway projects will contribute to reducing the number of vehicles on Tenerife’s roads, which is why we have reactivated the long-awaited Southern Train project. The processing of the Environmental Impact Statement and Mandatory Reports is underway for its construction, with work set to commence on the priority section designed to alleviate congestion, specifically the San Isidro-Costa Adeje segment, which is anticipated to begin during this term and will span four years.”
The president of the Tenerife Cabildo elaborates that five initiatives will be implemented to enhance mobility in sensitive areas like Anaga Macizo Park, which entails altering the types of vehicles permitted on site, restructuring traffic to minimise bottlenecks caused by improper parking, and refining visitor management in the Park. Furthermore, new signage has been installed on the main roads of Anaga to facilitate traffic flow and safety, mitigating improper parking issues. Beginning in January, we will prohibit the entry of large tourist buses into specific protected natural areas such as Anaga, where they contribute to traffic disruptions and congestion. Therefore, Dávila adds, in 2025 we will launch the new Anaga shuttle, designed to encourage organised visits to the Natural Park.”
Additionally, the Cabildo has commenced work on the Mobility Strategy in the Anaga Massif Biosphere Reserve, aimed at managing sustainable mobility in the area by enabling orderly access for visitors. “To facilitate this, in 2025 we will enforce restrictions on private vehicle access for visitors to the Anaga Rural Park and implement parking deterrents at the Park’s entrance in Las Canteras, thereby decreasing vehicle usage in this region.”
To achieve sustainable mobility, the Cabildo proposes a clear and decisive strategy that is resourced and reflected in the island’s budget allocations. At this juncture, Rosa Dávila highlights that in 2025 “a total of 234 million euros, representing 21% of the Cabildo’s budget (one in every five euros), which signifies a 6% increase compared to 2024 and an 8% rise compared to the last socialist budget, will be earmarked for Mobility.
Moreover, Dávila expressed the commitment to enhancing public transportation. “In the next six months, we will advance the signing of a Grand Pact for Sustainable Mobility in Tenerife, incorporating all social, economic, and political participants. These measures will significantly enhance public transport capabilities across Tenerife, with a particular focus on buses, augmenting the capacities of TITSA by improving its stopping infrastructure (prioritising high-capacity stops on major roads and promoting the use of buses for highway travel),” Dávila clarified.
Among the initiatives planned for the coming year is TITSA’s involvement in offering urban public transport by bus in two municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants: Arona and Granadilla, as well as the launch of a new shuttle service in northern Tenerife and the development of 2 park-and-ride facilities on the TF-1 and another 2 on the TF-5, which link the highways to local communities and encourage their use of public transport.
