City Hall says new line will reduce commuting times from Tenayuca, State of Mexico, to Etiopía in the Narvarte neighborhood by 40 percent, with an estimated 120,000 daily users
By BRONSON PETTITT
Mexico Weekly / Feb. 8, 2011
Carnation pedals and popped balloons littered the floors of the new Metrobús units, packed to the brim on Tuesday afternoon as riders commuted along the 17-kilometer express route for the first time.
Hosts, as they were called, were giving out flowers, green and white balloons and brochures explaining the new system to riders as they boarded the 32 stations of the capital's third line of the Bus Rapid Transit system, inaugurated on Tuesday.
For some commuters, like Fernando Mendoza, the new line makes getting to work safer, more efficient and quicker.
“No more microbuses, which are always packed and unsafe,” said Mendoza, an accountant who was heading south from the Tenayuca station.
The Metrobús units are “cleaner and more orderly … they make getting around more efficient,” said administrative worker Ricardo Martínez, who was boarding at the Juárez station Tuesday afternoon.
More Efficient and Ecofriendly
The city government says the Bus Rapid Transit line will reduce commuting times from Tenayuca in the State of Mexico to Etiopía in the central Narvarte neighborhood by 40 percent. Each day, an estimated 120,000 people will use the new line, which connects with Metrobús lines 2 (at Etiopía) and 1 (at Buenavista II, Circuito and La Raza).
The southern half of Line 3 runs parallel to Line 3 of the Metro, and both systems share 10 adjacent stations. The Suburban Train, the Ecobici bike rental system and the Zero Emmissions Route are easily accessible from Metrobús Line 3 stations as well.
“The new line has clearer information than other lines of the Metrobús on other connecting transportation systems in the city,” said Verónica Tapia, a mother of three children who was riding north.
Some stations even have posters explaining microbus routes that intersect Line 3, and the new Metrobús cards have line maps on one side.
Line 3 also marks the removal of hundreds of worn-out, polluting microbuses, replaced by 54 low-emissions articulated buses.
Left Turns a Problem
One of the biggest complaints by drivers is that they will no longer be able to make left turns at almost all of the intersections where the Metrobús is located. Instead, drivers must turn onto sidestreets that flow into the opposite direction of the main avenue. It might take a few days for commuters to get used to the change of traffic flow, Metrobús officials said: The city had 220 transit officials, 50 patrol cars, 20 motorcycles and 10 tow-trucks on hand for Line 3's inauguration day.
Mexico Weekly observed two to four transit officers at every second or third intersection, where some drivers appeared confused at the new rules.
In addition, some people living and businesses located along the route say that the sidestreets are not equipped to handle the influx of traffic, and that crossing the street will become more difficult.
A sign near the northern terminal station Tenayuca praises the city government for completing Metrobús Line 3. (Mexico Weekly Photo/Bronson Pettitt)
Outside of one auto-body shop near the Tenayuca station were signs that said, “Thanks Marcelo. Because of your project, there aren't any more clients,” and “Thanks, Marcelo, for the lack of jobs in Vallejo.”
Other signs praised the project. “Thanks, Mayor, for the finished projects,” one said.
Officials Mexico Weekly spoke with said there were no major problems in the line's first day of service, but downtown demonstrations (the norm in this city) affected traffic in the early afternoon.
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