The installation of the terminal for the new Mexico-Querétaro-Irapuato railway line in the Los Alcanfores area could cause irreversible damage to one of the last green spaces in the Querétaro capital, environmentalists warn.

The lack of clear information and dissemination of environmental impact studies on the possible installation of the train terminal in the Los Alcanfores area of ​​the Querétaro capital has united citizens and environmentalists who created the #ParqueAlcanforesNoSeToca collective, as so far nothing justifies the location chosen by the Rail Transport Regulatory Agency.

ParqueAlcanforesNoSeToca pointed out that without these studies, it is impossible to determine where the impacts would be least significant or to evaluate the project’s viability.

“We need studies. For any location. Urban, ecological, and social impacts, whether there’s a means of transportation. How many people will come to Querétaro, what the flow will be like, these are things we need to understand, and this will ultimately impact wherever it’s located.”

He indicated that there is no clear information or environmental impact studies on the potential train terminal in Alcanfores, nor are there any known analyses for other locations.

The group has pointed out that, to date, no official documentation has been received regarding the project’s location or the studies justifying the choice of Alcanfores as the terminal.

“We have no information, the project hasn’t been received, which is why we’re talking about assumptions, and it would be absurd to base it on Alcanfores.”

Opposition to the construction of the train station is based on the fact that Los Alcanfores Park is one of the city’s last green spaces. It is an achievement of social participation, and a presidential decree grants ownership to Querétaro. Clear information about the project is lacking. Furthermore, they demand dialogue with the authorities to determine an alternative location.

Vizcaíno explained that to evaluate the project’s viability, it is necessary to submit the corresponding permits to the Ministry of Urban Development, the Ministry of the Environment, and municipal public services, as well as technical and environmental impact studies to determine the scope of the project.

The environmentalist added that without studies on the urban, ecological, and social impact, as well as on mobility and passenger flow, it is impossible to predict the impact the terminal would have on the surrounding area. The lack of information, she said, makes it impossible to know how many people would arrive in the area and how the existing infrastructure would be managed.

The group emphasized the need for comprehensive studies before any decision is made regarding the terminal’s location, stressing that specialists must analyze urban, environmental, and social variables.

Only with this information, they indicated, can the most appropriate area be determined and the real impact on public spaces and the community assessed.

Source: oem