No Charge To Ride New Metro Subway System During Initial Testing Phase

Panamanians will be able to travel on the new Panama Metro subway system when it opens at no cost, said the Secretary of the Metro Roberto Roy. Once the system is opened and in a testing period, passengers will not be charged to ride. With this Roy confirms the statements made earlier by President Ricardo Martinelli, who said riding this new and modern transport system would be free during the adjustment period, which could start before July 2014. However, the Secretariat of the Metro will not establish the fares that will be charged for the subway system until next year. Roy said on TVN News they would have to create a trust, because the charges will be integrated with the Metro Bus system, so if there is a single company responsible for the collection of fares for these two systems it would be easier. He said in 2013 they would decide where Line 2 would be built, either to the East or the West of Panama City. The decision would be made depending on the number of potential passengers, said Roy. (Estrella)

Editor's Comment: Right now people using the new Metro Bus public transportation system have a rechargeable electronic swipe card they have to use in order to pay bus fare. The plan is to integrate the payment systems for both the Metro Bus and the Metro Subway systems, so riders can use just one card. Like, take a local bus to the subway system, ride to a subway station, get off and take another bus, etc. This way they can give discounts for transfers and riders will be charged for distance, for example. They are still working out the details. Integrating the two payment systems was not part of the original plans for either the Metro Bus or the Metro Subway, but it's a good idea and it makes sense, so now they are figuring it out. Good for them.