By Elizabeth Garrido A. for La Prensa - The Ground Transit and Transportation Authority (ATTT) continued today with the activation of traffic signals that will be part of the new centralized system. However, during the day there were some setbacks. For example, at the entrance of Llano Bonito, on the road towards San Pedro, a truck crashed into and destroyed one of the new traffic signals that were installed in the area. Similarly, the two lights that are installed near the Stone Church in Rio Abajo, also experienced difficulties today at midday and were not in operation, as had been announced. ATTT personnel were at the scene to complete the relevant repair work and to direct traffic at that intersection. Last week Amarilis Ulloa, Director of Traffic Operations of the ATTT, explained that with the installation of new traffic lights they are not trying to do "trial and error" tests, but rather they are tailoring and making the necessary adjustments to the system. "You make a schedule and then you adjust it," until the new smart system is in place and functioning property, he said. PENDING TASKS - According to the ATTT timetable, tomorrow they expect to activate the other "traffic light intersections" located in Santa Elena, along the Vía Cincuentenario (near the statue of Morelos) and at the entrance to Costa del Este. Transit officials called upon the public to be aware of the activation of the new lights and to avoid violations of existing traffic laws.

By Denise Lara for Telemetro - The two people aboard the sedan, died. Two people died in a traffic accident this morning in the area of Las Cumbres. Apparently the driver of a sedan lost control of the vehicle and went into the ditch that divides the two lanes of traffic, crossed over the ditch, and ended up going the wrong way and facing oncoming traffic, where they hit an Izuzu pickup truck with license plate 262377 head-on. The driver of the sedan and his companion (a woman), died at the scene of the accident. The pickup driver was taken by ambulance to the Santo Tomas Hospital. (Editor's Comment: In many ways, the most dangerous thing you're likely to do while in Panama is drive. Thanks to the rainy season the roads are always wet. Thanks to slack enforcement vehicles often have slick tires, faulty brakes, or some other kind of mechanical problem. Thanks to poor planning, roads are often dangerous by their very nature, allowing for accidents like this one to occur. Panama is still not up to speed with issues of drinking and driving so there are often drunk drivers on the roads, especially after working hours, weekends, and holidays. Anyway, be careful out there...)

Panama America - The Comptroller of the Republic, Carlos Vallarino, endorsed on Wednesday the contract subscribed between the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the company Proyectos Ejecución y Control de Obras S.A, for the review and evaluation of the financial management and accounting, with the purpose of proving the recovery of the investment and profits earned by the concessionaire of the Southern Corridor, ICA Panama, in the period 1996 to June 2009. The contract was signed by Minister Alberto Vallarino and the legal representative of the company and allows for the payment of $325,000 dollars to cover all costs for the service provided, confirmed a spokesman for the Comptroller, Fabio Pino Martinez. Under the contract, the company will have 110 days to complete the work, started from the delivery of the order to proceed. At the end of this period the auditor must submit a report on the audit results. The government will pay 40% of the total contract amount, ie, $130,000 dollars, when the company has completed half of the audit. Once the remaining 50% is delivered and when the final audit report is accepted by the MEF, the remaining $195,000 will be paid. The concession was awarded to ICA Panama in 1996 to study, design, build, maintain, manage, and operate the Southern Corridor for a period of 30 years, which could expire before or after the date of termination once the recoverable amount is reached.

TVN Noticias - Drivers who use the Northern and Southern corridors are crying out for a solution to the unbearable traffic jams that occur constantly on these highways. Far from escaping the traffic congestion of other routes, in effect drivers are paying to sit in traffic jams caused by toll booths. Most believe the government should take over management of these highways, and some suggest the highways should be free during rush hour and that tolls should be charged only during non-peak times of the day. Users also questioned the contingency plans of the high administrators for accidents. In this regard, the Manager of the company ICA, the company that build the Souther Corridor, explained that on several occasions they have met with Panama's Ground Transit and Transportation Authority (ATTT), where they have requested support in the form of two police patrol cars to help deal with accidents, a request which has gone unanswered. The manager of the Southern corridor added that some people prefer to use the corridors to avoid traffic jams, but on the Southern corridor traffic flow has increased by more than 40% from 2006 to 2009, which is why they are studying plans to expand the route.

By Kathyria Caicedo for Telemetro - The bus ended up in the Jardin Tocumen. According to passengers the driver lost control of the bus. Dozens of people were injured when the bus they were riding flipped over in Mañanitas, in the Eastern part of the province of Panama, near the Jardin Tocumen. The bus was carrying about 50 people, of whom 25 were injured, two seriously. One of the seriously injured was a young man who was riding in the door. The bus, with license plate number 250391, of the Mañanitas - Tumba Muerto route, was headed towards Panama City when it suffered a mechanical failure, according to reports.

La Critica - The bus lost control due to an oil slick on the pavement. One 76 year old Colombian woman, Emma De Jesús Továrez Acevedo, was killed, twenty others were injured, and the driver was arrested as the result of a tragic accident involving a bus with license plate number 3B-46 that crashed near mile nine of the Madden-Chilibre highway. Screams, tears and hysteria was the result when the bus, driven by Luis A. Rodriguez, which was coming from Colon en route to Panama City, skidded due to a fuel slick on the pavement and overturned. The driver has a history of 24 violations.

DIAaDIA - On Tuesday, the acting director of the Ground Transit and Transportation Authority (ATTT) who is also the Vice Minister of Government and Justice, Ricardo Fábregra, will meet with the Association of Transport Solidarity, so that he might study the possibility of legalizing the operations of the "pirate taxis" who offer service in the areas of La Chorrera and Arraiján. Fabrega told RPC Radio that he is available to discuss alternatives to improve service to users of these communities, but stressed "we can not sponsor anyone who fails to comply with the law" because they must guarantee the safety conditions in the vehicles - with life insurance for the occupants - for example. The announcement of this meeting comes after several protests were held in Calle 25 during this week and also because yesterday the users of the "pirate taxis" participated in a public consultation, in which 95% who went to the three polling stations positioned at different points, were in favor of this service and they hope it could be legalized. "Things are resolved by talking rather than through protests," said Fabrega, who is also coordinating with a technical team to present alternatives to the ATTT in order to improve the services at the different locations and terminals where this service is being offered, be it through more frequent departures from the Albrook bus terminal, and legislating that users don't have to wait until a bus is full before they can depart for their homes.

Editor's Comment: This issue of the "pirate taxis" has been in the news for the past couple of weeks now. These are just guys with privately owned cars or vans who take people where they want to go for a fee. Most of these guys run between Calle 25 in Calidonia and the residential areas of La Chorrera y Arraiján. Right now if you are in Panama City and you want to catch a ride to either La Chorrera y Arraiján, you have to go to the Albrook bus terminal and then wait for a bus. Many times later at night there are no buses running. And, at peak times often the buses are full. And, when you get here, the bus drops you off at a bus stop that might be far from your home. These "pirate taxis" will pick you up in the city (eliminating the need to go to the terminal) and they will often drop you off at your door. They charge a little more, but the people who use this service pay it gladly. And who is opposed? The bus owners who are trying to protect their monopoly. Anyway, this is what's going on if you should see it in the news. Apparently the government is willing to find a middle ground somewhere, and allow these guys to continue to operate or to find a way to allow them to legalize or normalize their operations.

By Joe Pike - Travel Agent Central - PATAGONIA, Chile -- During our coverage of TravelMart Latin America 2009, Travel Agent learned that Panama is roughly three weeks away from announcing new, direct Copa Airlines flights from New York, Los Angeles and Miami. The flights will be Copa’s first direct flights from those cities to Bocas del Toro, Panama, says Fernando E. de Leon de Alba, deputy general administrator for the Authority of Tourism of Panama. Although the announcement will come in less than a month, it is unknown when the flights will actually launch. (Editor's Comment - I'll believe it when I see it. Copa flying direct from New York to Bocas del Toro? Yeah, right... I'm skeptical because I don't think there would be enough traffic to sustain the route. But who knows, maybe I'm dead wrong...)

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - According to Ing. Fabrega of Panama's Civil Aviation Authority (AAC), they have modified their original plans to accommodate the concerns of the community regarding a construction project to improve the airport facilities on Isla Colon in Bocas del Toro. Ing. Fabrega said "safety has to be of the utmost importance, and originally we intended to close the airport completely for four months while this construction work was being completed. In any other airport in the world that is exactly what would be done, however we have heard and we understand the concerns of area residents and business owners. Accordingly we have reached an agreement with the contractor who will be doing the work on the runway and there will be one window every day in the morning until 9:00 am to allow for flight operations. Of course this will cause problems for the construction crew as this movement of aircraft and passengers through what in reality is an active construction area every day obviously creates some serious and significant safety concerns. However the contractor has agreed to sweep the runway at night when they finish work and aircraft will be allowed to enter and leave until 9:00 am, after which time the airport will be closed to air traffic for the rest of the day." He reiterated the parking areas will be greatly expanded, shoulders will be added to the existing runway, and they will be laying the groundwork for a future program to install lights for nighttime operations. "We're going to lay all of the physical groundwork and install things such as the tubes and connections, so that later we can come back with another contract to quickly and easily install the cables and lights," in order to complete the project, he said. There is nothing to indicate this project includes an extension of the runway out into the water, nor is there any dredging or destruction of mangroves involved. This project will obviously constrain air traffic into and out of the Bocas del Toro airport for about four months. This project is expected to start now and will probably run through January 2010, so plan accordingly. There will be much fewer seats available, and both Air Panama and Aeroperlas probably just doing one daily flight with a quick turn-around.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.

(Source: Panama's Civil Aviation Authority Press Release - 21 Sept 2009) - Panama's Civil Aviation Authority will spend a total of $1.3 million dollars for improvements to the airport in Bocas del Toro on Isla Colon which will translate into benefits for tourists, both domestic and foreign, and for local and international commercial airlines operating to that province, and eventually to the community in general. The new administration of the CAA is carrying out these infrastructure improvements in order to make this showcase of national tourism more appealing and to inject a revival to the economic and social activities in the region. The work will involve the construction of shoulders around the runway, as well as an expansion of parking areas for aircraft, and improvements to taxiways and turning areas. In addition, the project includes the first phase of a program to install runway lighting and the reconstruction of the access road used by the fire department, and this project is expected to be completed in four months. This project has been retaken by the new administration of the CAA, after the company that was supposed to be doing the work failed to complete the job as specified in the statement of work.