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Panama’s metro authority, El Metro de Panamá, S.A. (MPSA), has taken a significant step towards realising a new urban transport solution with the launch of the pre-qualification process for the Teleférico de Panamá y San Miguelito. Announced in December 2024, the international call (MPSA-01.2024) invites companies to vie for a concession to finance, design, build, operate, and eventually hand back the cable car system. The process, which kicked off with a site visit on 8 January 2025, drew over 30 interested firms, marking steady progress for the ambitious project. The teleférico aims to address chronic mobility challenges in the districts of Panamá and San Miguelito, where steep, narrow streets and limited access hinder traditional transport. Spanning 6.6 kilometres, the system will feature six stations—two in Panamá and four in San Miguelito—connecting in its first phase to Line 2 of the Panama Metro. Designed to move up to 3,600 passengers per hour in each direction, it promises to slash travel times for residents, particularly those in hard-to-reach areas. Each cabin will carry 10 passengers, with backup power ensuring operation during outages for up to 10 hours. The project has garnered support from local leaders. Mayer Mizrachi, mayor of Panamá, and Irma Hernández, mayor of San Miguelito, have endorsed the teleférico as a vital step towards modernising urban travel. Hernández highlighted its potential economic benefits, noting that residents could play a role in its development and construction, boosting local jobs. Both leaders see it as a transformative addition to Panama’s transport network, drawing inspiration from successful cable car systems in cities like Medellín, Colombia. Challenges for the Teleférico Project While enthusiasm is high, the project has faced scrutiny. Some residents and online commentators argue that San Miguelito’s pressing issues—water shortages, poor waste management, and inadequate pedestrian infrastructure—should take precedence. Others question the teleférico’s cost-effectiveness, though studies by the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank (BID) have deemed it viable. The chosen route, confirmed as Route 3, will link Balboa, Cincuentenario, Samaria, Mano de Piedra, Valle de Urracá, and Torrijos Carter, with environmental impact assessments already underway, costing between USD 136,000 and USD 174.000. The pre-qualification phase saw two consortia—Consorcio Teleférico SPE and Consorcio Teleférico San Miguelito—submit bids on 10 March 2025. A commission will evaluate these within 10 days, with a possible five-day extension, before shortlisting firms for the main tender, expected between late April and early May. Construction, once started, is projected to take 24 months. For now, Panama’s teleférico remains a bold vision, balancing promise and debate as it inches closer to reality. |
