An Executive Decree published on February 3rd on the modernization and sectorization of the bus public transport, generated criticism among buses and legislators.
However, Deputy Minister of Transport Liza Castillo defends it and although it mentions that it is a “continuity” of decree 28337 of year 2000, she claims that it is not the same.
Consolidation and Implementation of Policies and Strategies for the Modernization and Sectorization of Bus Public Transport in the Metropolitan Area of San José and Surrounding Areas Decree aims to reaffirm the public interest of the integral process of modernization of public transport and Sectorization.
Luis Diego González, a spokesman from CANABUS, said that it does not make any additional or significant contribution when compared to the previous decree. He criticized that it does not take into account the bus sector or the user.
Marcela Guerrero, legislator from Citizen Action Party (PAC), also pointed out that it is necessary to separate the issues of modernization and sectorization, which are seen as one.
However, Deputy Minister Castillo defends the decree, explaining that the one from 2000, was the public policy and legal instrument that tries to implement the sectorization, while the latter, takes all the legal and technical input to consolidate the plan.
Article 2 of the new decree plans the implementation of a primary route network with a priority step for buses of public paid lines, integrating them with other means of transport such as the inter-urban train.
It also establishes the creation of a technical team, integrated and coordinated by Deputy Minister Castillo, a technician from the Public Transport Council (CTP) and 3 professionals with experience in the field, appointed by the Vice Minister.