Friday, July 24, 2015

Carrera Septima's Warning


The new Septima is taking shape...but still has a ways to go.
Is anybody surprised? The pedestrianization of the few blocks of Carrera Septima between the Plaza Bolivar and Jimenez Ave. was supposed to be finished by February. But the project has been prolonged three times now, and is now projected to be completed in August. Undoubtedly, the project's price tag has similarly elevated.

Workers prepare the street's foundation. The excavation
uncovered the part of the old streetcar tracks.
Certainly, the pedestrianization will be a huge improvement, of course, transforming a chaotic, noisy, polluted avenue into a pleasant place for walking, shopping and watching street performers.

But the project's price tag should serve as a warning for advocates of building a subway in Bogotá. Such as project will be infinitely more complex and expensive. Does anybody really believe that it won't take lots longer than the official projections, or cost a whole lot more.

A metro, just like the pedestrian-friendly Carrera Septima, will be great to have. But Bogotá shouldn't embrace the metro based on false or unrealistic premises.




The new street will be nice - once it's completed.






By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours

1 comment:

luis E, medina said...

Gracias por la información tan detallada y ante todo, por hacerme ver la diferencia de cuando y dónde nací, sin poder olvidar el almacen TIA, la procesión de Semana Santa,las marchas matutinas de la banda de la PM y el cambio de guardia en Palacio.
De igual manera el gentio en calle 14 y Avenidas Jimenez y Sexta,los buses Metropolitana,Olaya,y Municipales (desviados de la Septima algunas veces) exclusivos del área sin lugar para Sidauto, la poco mencionada Casa De La Moneda,Estudiantes León Trece Salesiano,Albert Einstein,La Salle,Señoritas Secretariado,carros esferados entregando pedidos, y los `inteligentes ´ de Germania haciendo alarde de sus angarillas, y nuestros paseos a visitar el monumento del General Hermógenes Romero.
Thanks again, great job!
Luis E. Medina