The mobility councilor of the city of Arrecife, Mario González, has revealed some details of the new plan to improve and streamline public bus transport in Arrecife during an interview with the radio program Buenos Días Lanzarote of Radio Lanzarote-Onda Cero.
Asked about his mobility plan for Arrecife, now that the legislature is past the halfway point, the councilman estimates that he will be able to start implementing it "in 2026, once all the new buses" and their corresponding staff are in place.
González emphasized that "public transportation had suffered a neglect not of one year, or two, or three, but as happens with many things on this island that are left to die in some way."
The mobility councillor of the Lanzarote capital, who has just tendered the acquisition of two new buses for 1.15 million euros, with which he adds a total of six vehicles of new acquisition, acknowledges that his predecessor in the previous term already began with the remodeling of the fleet, "which was more than necessary."
Gonzalez explains that, so far in his term, he has invested between 4 and 5 million euros just on buses. "It is criticized that the only thing I am doing in Arrecife's public transportation is buying new buses, but the fact is that, apart from the new ones, the one with the least amount of years has 16. I don't think houses are started from the roof."
Once he has all the necessary vehicles, the councilor will implement a new mobility plan. Some of the reports he has on the table mention seven bus lines for the city.
“The technicians are reviewing it. It seems excessive to me. I think that probably with four lines, or five, the service could make a quantum leap compared to what we have now.”
The councilor anticipates that "one of them will be circular," crossing "the Medular and the seafront with a possible entrance through Gómez Ulla to reach the area near Cuatro Esquinas and return to the Medular, probably with a higher frequency and smaller vehicles to be able to make the turning radii."
The idea is for radial networks to the neighborhoods to depart from the central and upper part of the bus station. The councilor explains that if they reduce a line that is 15 kilometers long to 7, the waiting time "is reduced by half."
Asked about coordination with the new contract being prepared by the Island Council for buses throughout the island, the Arrecife councilman explains that he does not know it in depth, but he has suggested to the Island Council, for example, that if their new specifications ensure a high frequency in the Cable and La Concha area, it would not be necessary for the city to duplicate that service.
The councilor also confirms that the workers will remain municipal employees and that the six new buses from his term, including the two that have just been tendered, "are all electric."
