Those who have attempted to navigate to or from Santa Cruz de Tenerife in recent days, since the commencement of the Christmas season, will have observed that traffic jams are increasingly frequent and prolonged both within the city centre and at its entry points. While increased congestion is common during the festive period, this year has seen a significant escalation in traffic “chaos”. This situation has been highlighted by the Socialist group in the Tenerife Cabildo, who have also expressed disappointment regarding the lack of public transport in the metropolitan area, particularly in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, attributing this to poor planning by both the island’s authorities, the Cabildo, and local government, the City Council.
All this is occurring nearly eleven months after the tram strike and in the midst of the Christmas shopping frenzy, as noted by the Socialist group.
The island PSOE believes there have been few Christmas periods as “chaotic” as the one currently faced in the capital, with thousands of vehicles caught up in efforts to enter, exit, and navigate through the centre, alongside a public transport system that, due to a lack of foresight, has failed to provide a viable alternative to private vehicle use, exacerbating traffic into a challenging ordeal.
Additionally, it must be noted that the festive events organised by both the Cabildo and the City Council have not been complemented by transport arrangements that would enable attendees to return home later.
“The tram situation is particularly dire, with a lack of foresight, planning, and commitment to resolving the strike resulting in wait times exceeding fifteen minutes during peak hours. This has led to a density of passengers so significant that it frequently becomes exceedingly difficult to board or alight, causing inconvenience for tens of thousands of users,” the PSOE adds.
Consequently, the Socialist group has urged the island president, Rosa Dávila (Canary Coalition), to take action in the days ahead and for the next Christmas season, highlighting that this holiday “always occurs on the same dates, which makes planning significantly easier.”
Moreover, they have asked her not only to arrange an “extravagant celebration” at the Cabildo but also to consider the needs of residents as a whole, who would “welcome” the opportunity to move freely around the city and complete their shopping “without facing a barrage of hurdles,” avoiding entry and exit queues, which were expected to be resolved within 90 days, in reference to her electoral promise regarding local traffic issues.
Aarón Afonso, the socialist spokesperson in the Cabildo of Tenerife, recalled that nearly eleven months have passed since the tram strike began, with no solution reached, adding further to the organisational challenges faced by public transport, which he attributes to the City Council of Santa Cruz and the island’s authorities.
