| Panama will soon get its second railway in 150 | | | | set up businesses. This mix of possibilities, coupled |
| years. Panama Metro Line 1 is expected to relieve | | | | with the current depression of the high end of the |
| the growing traffic problems caused by growing | | | | real estate market, may provide unique |
| prosperity in the capital city. Unlike the Panama | | | | opportunities for business and real estate |
| Canal Railway which almost exclusively carries | | | | investment in the city. Real estate prices have |
| freight across the isthmus the new metro will be | | | | been growing as much as 30% a year again but |
| designed to carry 40,000 passengers an hour | | | | there are still depressed/distressed properties. |
| between 4:30 am and midnight seven days a day | | | | These properties are new and waiting for buyers. |
| through the most congested areas. It is projected | | | | Depressed properties along the new metro line |
| to be sufficient for public transportation needs on | | | | could be excellent investment opportunities. |
| its route through 2035. What is also of interest is | | | | The fourteen kilometer, sixteen station route will |
| that the metro may change the commercial and | | | | start at the National Bus Terminal adjacent to the |
| residential face of Panama. | | | | Albrook Mall, pass above ground to the proposed |
| Current Status of the Metro | | | | government office complex in Curundú and then |
| The number of bidders for Panama Metro Line 1 | | | | underground to Plaza Cinco de Mayo and under |
| has been culled down to three. All three remaining | | | | Via España to Via Brazil. From Via Brazil the |
| bidders have passed a number of tests including | | | | route will pass to Vía Fernández de Córdoba |
| having demonstrated the ability to construct and | | | | from where it will run above ground to Los |
| provide rolling stock for a working train service. | | | | Andes. |
| The Cima consortium is made of companies from | | | | The system run on conventional steel rails and |
| Spain, Japan, and Mexico. The Consorio Línea | | | | the trains will be powered on high voltage electric |
| Uno has companies from Brazil and Spain. Grupo | | | | grid derived from the public electric system. Cars |
| Italiano Metro Panamá is all Italian. All three of | | | | are expected to be 2.7 meters wide by 18 |
| these consortia are recognized throughout the | | | | meters long with flexible couplings. The finished |
| world as builders of metro type transport | | | | Metro will have the capacity to carry 40,000 |
| systems (as well as high speed/bullet trains). | | | | passengers an hour between 4:30 am and |
| What is of great interest to residents of the city | | | | midnight seven days a week, and is expected be |
| is that an efficient metro system will easy the | | | | sufficient for public transportation needs on this |
| traffic congestion that has come with middle class | | | | route through 2035. As metro hubs traditionally |
| success and the addition of up to 4,000 new cars | | | | become mini commercial and apartment centers |
| month to city streets. | | | | the map provided by the metro authority is of |
| What is of further interest to those living and | | | | interest and also available upon request to the |
| investing in Panama is how an efficient metro will | | | | author. |
| change where people choose to live, shop, and | | | | |