Red Metropolitana de Movilidad

Red Metropolitana de Movilidad
Name	Red Metropolitana de Movilidad
Native name	Red Metropolitana de Movilidad
Locale	Santiago, Chile
Transit type	Bus rapid transit, Metro, Commuter rail, Tram
Lines	multiple
Stations	several hundred

Red Metropolitana de Movilidad is the integrated public transport system serving the Santiago Metropolitan Region in Chile, coordinating bus, metro, commuter rail, and feeder services across the metropolis. It connects major urban nodes, linking neighborhoods to terminals and intermodal hubs while interfacing with national rail and aviation facilities. The system involves municipal, regional, and national institutions and interacts with planning frameworks and legislation shaping urban transport.

Overview

The network integrates services provided by companies and institutions such as Empresa de Ferrocarriles del Estado, Metro de Santiago, Ministerio de Transportes y Telecomunicaciones (Chile), Intendencia Metropolitana de Santiago, and multiple municipal administrations including Municipality of Santiago and Municipality of Providencia. It operates through fare and coordination mechanisms related to legal instruments like the Transantiago initiative and subsequent regulatory reforms influenced by studies from Universidad de Chile and Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. Major transport nodes linked to the system include Estación Central (Santiago), Aeropuerto Arturo Merino Benítez, Plaza de Armas (Santiago), and Parque O'Higgins.

History and Development

Origins trace to mid-20th century urban expansion and projects by planners associated with institutions such as Serviu and the Gobierno de Chile, with decisive reforms in the early 2000s under administrations of presidents including Ricardo Lagos and Michelle Bachelet. The 2007 restructuring that replaced older bus networks drew on precedent cases like TransMilenio and lessons from Metrobús (Mexico City), with evaluation by research centers including Centro de Estudios Públicos and international advisors from organizations such as the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank. Subsequent phases saw extensions of Metro de Santiago lines and integration with commuter rail projects executed by EFE and municipal partners.

Network and Services

The multimodal network comprises Line 1 (Santiago Metro), Line 2 (Santiago Metro), Line 3 (Santiago Metro), Line 4 (Santiago Metro), Line 5 (Santiago Metro), Line 6 (Santiago Metro), Line 7 (Santiago Metro), feeder bus corridors, express trunk services modeled after Bus Rapid Transit systems like TransMilenio, and commuter services connecting to cities such as Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, and Rancagua. Intermodal transfer points include hubs at Estación Central (Santiago), Los Héroes (Santiago Metro), and Tobalaba (Santiago Metro), with connections to long-distance terminals like Terminal Pesquero (Santiago) and regional terminals overseen by AMERIC (regional authorities). Special services have linked cultural venues such as Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (Chile) and sporting venues like Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos.

Infrastructure and Rolling Stock

Infrastructure components involve elevated viaducts similar to works in São Paulo, tunneled segments comparable to projects by Transport for London, and at-grade corridors akin to Buenos Aires Metrobus. Rolling stock includes multiple generations of trains procured from manufacturers such as Alstom (company), CAF (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles), and Bombardier Transportation, with bus fleets supplied by firms like Mercedes-Benz, Scania AB, and BYD Company. Stations follow design precedents reflected in stations like King's Cross St Pancras and Atocha (Madrid) for passenger flow and accessibility standards advocated by World Bank and International Association of Public Transport.

Operations and Governance

Operational oversight is shared among entities including Ministerio de Transportes y Telecomunicaciones (Chile), Subsecretaría de Transportes, Metro de Santiago, Empresa de Ferrocarriles del Estado, regional governments, and private operators under contract arrangements resembling concession models used in Lima Metropolitan Municipality and Bogotá. Governance arrangements are influenced by legislation such as municipal codes and transport laws debated in the Chamber of Deputies of Chile and the Senate of Chile, with stakeholder engagement from civic groups including Observatorio del Transporte Urbano and academic centers like Universidad de Santiago de Chile.

Fares and Ticketing

Integrated fare systems use contactless smartcards influenced by systems like Oyster card, Octopus card, and SUBE (Argentina), with pricing policies set by Ministerio de Hacienda (Chile) and regulatory bodies. Concession agreements and subsidy frameworks mirror models from Spain and France, and ticketing interfaces have employed technology partnerships similar to implementations by Visa and Mastercard in transit projects. Special concession rates and social tariffs reference programs administered by Servicio Nacional de Menores and social policy bodies.

Future Plans and Expansion

Planned expansions consider new metro lines and commuter corridors drawing on feasibility studies from firms like Systra and Arup (company), with financing models combining public investment, BancoEstado, and international loans from Inter-American Development Bank and World Bank. Projects under discussion include extensions to Maipú, Puente Alto, San Bernardo, and airport links to Aeropuerto Internacional Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez similar to airport rail links in cities like Madrid, London, and Paris. Urban mobility plans reference climate and air quality policies promoted by Ministerio del Medio Ambiente (Chile) and align with regional planning frameworks led by the Metropolitan Regional Government of Santiago.

Category:Public transport in Chile