CAF to Disburse USD 36.6 Million for First Phase of Santa Cruz BRT System

CAF—development bank of Latin America—will partially finance (with up to USD 36.6 million) the first phase of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system for the city of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, according to the contract between the Ministry of Development Planning, the Municipal Autonomous Government of Santa Cruz and the international financial institution.

The project is the first rapid transit bus system in Santa Cruz, and calls for developing an integrated, massive, efficient, sustainable and affordable public transport system, with shorter travel times, thus helping reduce congestion and pollution.

Thus, the loan issued to the Bolivian State will be implemented by the Urban Mobility Secretariat (SEMURB) of the Santa Cruz municipality, which will be responsible for the infrastructure works and for securing other requirements to implement this transport system.

The first phase of the BRT involves paving a exclusive 7-km lane for public transport, a drainage system in the first ring, the construction of 26 stations, a centralized collection and traffic monitoring system as well as the horizontal and vertical signalling of the entire intervention, in addition to an 8-km bicycle lane network and improvement of the urban environment. The project includes also pre-investment studies on the North-South corridor, a section that completes the first phase of the system. This project is the first of four phases that will usher in a new modern and safe urban mobility system for the city of Santa Cruz.

The project also includes support, monitoring and institutional strengthening of the Santa Cruz municipality for the training of the SEMURB team and the other areas involved in the implementation of the system and the subsequent management and control, according to the terms agreed between the parties.

The operation is fully aligned with CAF’s strategy in Bolivia, which seeks to help develop Bolivian cities by promoting sustainable mobility that improves the quality of life of the population and protects the environment.

In an increasingly urbanized region, CAF has created the “Cities with a Future” program to support its shareholder countries in achieving sustainable urban development.