RICO’s Q — The following is a post on social media by Alejandra Rodriguez Vega, on February 6, that highlights how traffic congestion in Costa Rica has escalated from a local issue mainly in the Greater Metropolitan Area to a widespread problem affecting every province.
The author calls for open dialogue, collective planning, and a unified national vision, stressing that overcoming these challenges requires shared responsibility beyond political divides to build a better future for the entire country.
Here is the translated and adapted post:
“Traffic chaos is no longer an isolated problem, nor is it exclusive to the Greater Metropolitan Area (GTA); today it’s a reality in every province, and it has clearly worsened in the last two years.
Yesterday, while returning to San José, I took this photograph in the middle of a traffic jam that was moving at no more than 5 km/h. Traffic jam began just past Las Juntas and continued right up to the port entrance.
This reality reflects something deeper than a simple traffic jam: it reveals a worrying lack of planning, a development vision, and long-term strategic decision-making. When there is no investment in infrastructure or traffic education, not only is mobility limited, but growth is also stifled, productivity is affected, and territorial inequality is exacerbated. Rural areas, once again, are left isolated.
I have long avoided speaking publicly on political issues, but there are times when remaining silent does not contribute to the common good. Thinking about the country we want involves acknowledging the problems that affect us all, regardless of ideology.
Costa Rica needs dialogue, planning, and teamwork. Only through unity, shared responsibility, and a national vision can we move forward—not just on the roads, but as a society.”
You can read the original post here.