QCOSTARICA — In 2001, only 600,000 owners of vehicles paid the Marchamo, the annual circulation permit. By December of last year, Instituto Nacional de Seguros (INS), which is responsible for the collection, reports receiving payment for 1.6 million Marchamos.
This is almost triple growth in just over 20 years, which explains the serious traffic congestion problems drivers suffer today.
The growth of the vehicle fleet also has as an accomplice a public transportation system that has already reached “unacceptable levels” according to the Laboratorio Nacional de Materiales y Modelos Estructurales (Lanamme) de la Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR). – National Laboratory of Materials and Structural Models of the University of Costa Rica .
And, Costa Rica has a mass transportation model regulated by laws written in the 1960s with many patches and that does not promote the modernization of public service, according to experts on the matter.
“We have more than 30 years of diagnoses and studies, but we have never been able to execute a true integrated (public) transportation system and urban planning and as long as that does not happen, there will be more private vehicles on the streets causing congestion, and no matter how many roads are built congestion will continue because it is a problem in the public service model, which makes it more attractive to buy a motorcycle or car than to get on the bus or train,” said Silvia Rojas, executive director of the Asociación de Movilidad Eléctrica (Electric Mobility Association).
Congestion not only waste drivers’ patience and time, but also create a strong impact on drivers’ pockets.
For example, a person making a daily trip of 32 kilometers during the hours of greatest congestion between La Sabana and Cartago can spend about ¢1,700 on gasoline on a round trip, while that same trip, during early morning hours and respecting all traffic laws, is one third the cost, according to an analysis carried out in January by the Cámara de Empresarios del Combustible (Chamber of Fuel Entrepreneurs).
The problem is that drivers in Costa Rica continue to think that to get to their places of work and study faster, the best solution is the car.
Almost 80,000 people visited the last Expomóvil, the largest automotive industry fair in the country, and considered the most successful since 1986.
“The only way to solve the problem of traffic jams is by improving and prioritizing public transportation, since if you think about building more roads, the only thing that will be done is to promote the purchase of more vehicles,” according to David Gómez, an expert in sustainable mobility.
“The absence of a public transportation system that surpasses private motorized transportation in speed, safety and convenience causes the vehicle fleet to grow. It is necessary to systematize public transportation and remove it from the dams as soon as possible. Systematizing means sectorizing, eliminating duplication of routes, modernizing units, integrating fares, linking buses with trains and with pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, and complementing the system with modern and convenient infrastructure,” said Gómez.
What can be done to reduce the impact of congestion on our roads?
With different measures in the short and medium term, the impact of traffic congestion can be reduced. These are 7 measures that can be applied, according to experts:
- Promotion of Public Transport. Improving the frequency, coverage and comfort of buses, trains or trams can make more people opt for these means instead of using their cars.
- Promoting Bicycle Use. Creating and maintaining safe infrastructure for cyclists, such as bike lanes and parking, encourages people to choose to cycle.
- Carpooling and Vehicle Sharing. Encouraging carpooling and car-sharing services can reduce the number of cars on the road.
- Congestion charging. Implementing low emission zones and urban tolls can discourage the use of private vehicles in congested areas.
- Flexible Work Schedules and Teleworking. Promoting flexible work schedules and the adoption of teleworking reduce the demand for travel during peak hours.
- Sustainable Urban Development. Plan and develop cities so that services and workplaces are close to residential areas
- Prioritize public transportation. It is urgent to establish exclusive lanes for buses, so that they can move faster and thus motivate people to leave their cars.
Public transportation is the key
The experts agree that to stop the growth of the vehicle fleet and thus avoid more congestion, the country must focus on improving public transportation so that users prefer to leave their cars at home and travel by bus, train, tram, or even by bicycle.
It is necessary to invest in the modernization of a modern, efficient, decent and attractive public transportation system that connects the population with work and commercial centers.
