SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE 28 APR. (Press Europa) –
The Cabildo de Tenerife and the Federation of Transportation Entrepreneurs of the Canary Islands (FET) have formalised an agreement aimed at enhancing the operations of discretionary transport vehicles for travellers in the rural parks of Anaga and Teno, set to take effect on May 15.
The signing, featuring the president of the Cabildo, Rosa Dávila, and the president of the FET, José Agustín Espino Flores, occurred during the VI Mobility Meeting, attended by representatives from the island’s business, economic, and social sectors.
The agreement outlines specific measures to organise the flow of discretionary transport buses, including restrictions on vehicle lengths and the establishment of one-way access routes.
In the Rural Park of Teno, Las Guaguas—with a maximum length of 10 metres—will approach Masca solely from Buenavista del Norte (TF-42) and will depart towards Santiago del Teide (TF-436 and TF-82).
Conversely, in the Rural Park of Anaga, Las Guaguas—up to 12.2 metres long—will travel from San Andrés (TF-11) to Taganana, Abicor, and Cruz del Carmen (TF-12), ultimately exiting from Mercedes to La Laguna.
These measures aim to alleviate road congestion, enhance safety on particularly narrow and vulnerable routes, and ensure orderly and respectful access to the natural environment. Additionally, active management of deterrent parking areas on major access roads (TF-11, TF-12, TF-123 and TF-134 in Anaga, and TF-42, TF-82 and TF-436 in Teno) will be coordinated with the Provincial Traffic Headquarters, as noted by the island corporation.
The implementation of these measures on May 15 will allow both transport companies and users to prepare for the new routes and limitations, supported by informative campaigns that will be rolled out in the coming days. Following the meeting, stickers will be distributed for the transport vehicles to highlight the collaboration of companies in the advancement of sustainable mobility.
“Today marks a significant milestone for Tenerife,” remarked Rosa Dávila during the signing event, which included the Vice President of the Cabildo and Minister of Tourism, Lope Afonso; Minister of Mobility, Eulalia García; and Minister of Roads, Dámaso Arteaga, along with the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure from the Government of the Canary Islands, Francis González, and José Agustín Espino.
For Rosa Dávila, “this agreement embodies our steadfast commitment to sustainable mobility and the safeguarding of our natural assets. Regulating access to Anaga and Teno has been a pressing necessity, and we have reached a responsible consensus with the transport sector.”
With this agreement, Dávila added, we are addressing a long-standing demand from residents, visitors, and tour operators, as the regulation not only enhances mobility but also protects the environmental and landscape value of two precious areas in Tenerife.”
The vice president of the Cabildo de Tenerife and Minister of Tourism, Lope Afonso, underscored the significance of the agreement and valued the discussions with social and economic stakeholders on the island.
“Our protected natural areas are crucial to the success of tourism. Over time, this success has led to congestion in mobility; thus, this agreement with the transport sector is a decisive step towards a balanced strategy that maintains continuous yet respectful tourist activity in harmony with the environment and the needs of the local population residing in natural spaces,” he stated.
José Agustín Espino emphasized that the transport sector is “taking on the responsibility of adjusting its operations to this new framework, recognising that the quality of service and the future of the island’s emblematic natural sites are at stake.”
Smart Traffic Lights on TF-5
The VI Mobility Meeting, led by the Cabildo de Tenerife, gathered Professional Colleges, CEOE-Harife, Ashotel, Fepeco, Femete, the Regional Federation of Taxis, the General Directorate of Traffic, the Civil Guard, the University of La Laguna, municipal representatives, and the transport sector, aiming to coordinate efforts to ease congestion on the island’s roads through public infrastructure development, advancements in rail projects, and the implementation of initiatives to enhance mobility and sustainability.
The president of Tenerife briefed attendees on the progress made in recent months, highlighting plans to establish a smart traffic light system on the TF-5, between Guamasa and the Sauzal. This system, based on ‘Ramp Metering’ technology, will facilitate the regulated entry of vehicles onto the highway through intelligent traffic lights, preventing all cars from simultaneously accessing and congesting the main lanes.
Additionally, Dávila shared draft proposals such as enhancing public transport with 320 new buses added to the Titsa fleet, supported by a total investment of €113.4 million, and an agreement to stagger entry times on campus starting in the 2025-2026 academic year, expected to reduce up to 500 vehicles during peak hours.
Francisco González, the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure of the Government of the Canary Islands, highlighted ongoing works aimed at expanding the TF-1 highway by adding a third lane between San Isidro and Las Américas, one of the island’s most congested segments. With anticipated investment of €23.3 million, the road platform will be enhanced, linkages remodelled, and access improved to benefit over 64,000 vehicles daily, alleviating traffic jams and improving flow in this vital area of southern Tenerife.
