Santa Cruz is set to gain approximately 4,100 new parking spaces over the next twelve years. This distribution and extension of available space aims to establish new parking areas, both surface and multi-storey, as well as underground facilities, commencing in 2026 with the introduction of 1,800 paid parking spaces.
This is evident from the municipality’s Parking Management Master Plan, presented yesterday by the capital’s mayor, José Manuel Bermúdez (CC). Together with other local officials from departments involved in executing this strategy, he highlighted that “this represents one of the most significant projects for the city, leading to a structured approach to manage current parking facilities alongside the establishment of new ones across all districts.”
The parking initiative is envisioned to unfold in three phases between 2026 and 2032, with an estimated budget of around 78 million euros for the creation and development of approximately twenty car parks. Additionally, it will involve the establishment of green zones (for residents) and blue zones (for non-residents), each with varying rates for those wishing to park. “This measure is not aimed at generating revenue but rather serves as a deterrent, intending to foster a new, more orderly and sustainable form of mobility,” the mayor added.
The objective is that through this system, individuals will pay for parking in 15,382 of the 65,141 current spaces available on the streets. This initiative will regulate 9,948 spaces in areas such as Residencial Anaga, El Toscal, La Salle, Salamanca, El Chapatal, Duggi, and Los Lavaderos between 2025 and 2028. In a final stage, from 2029 to 2031, it will be expanded to 5,434 spaces in La Salud, El Perú, and Villa Ascensión-Cuesta Piedra.
To identify parking requirements, an extensive study was conducted which analysed the allocated space for parking over a year, considering streets, lots, private garages, public car parks, or shopping centres. The analysis recognised a total of 173,087 parking areas, of which 65,141 are on streets; 11,886 in shopping centres, Parque Marítimo, and Santa Lastenia; 94,589 in private garages; and 1,471 in informal areas on lots. Bermúdez emphasised that “this total is insufficient, thus the plan aims to allocate the additional parking spaces to be constructed as efficiently as possible, with the first phase predicted at around 1,800 across 14 high-rise, surface, or underground parking locations.”
In the capital, the vehicular fleet comprises 168,877 vehicles, equating to 806 per thousand inhabitants, in addition to the 178,000 vehicles that enter daily from other regions and the 178,500 that leave the municipality each day. This considerable volume of traffic is not matched by parking availability, resulting in a daily shortfall of 2,600 spaces during peak hours.
