Public transportation drivers on routes connecting Tijuana and Playas de Rosarito threatened to block the two new bus lines recently announced by the Institute of Sustainable Mobility (IMOS).
“They didn’t issue the call for applications or follow the proper procedures. By law, they are supposed to consider the routes that operate on that stretch of road,” said Alfonso Villa, a permit holder and representative of the green taxi route.
On Saturday, April 25, IMOS announced the start of operations for two new routes this week: from Santa Fe to Playas de Rosarito; and from Santa Fe to Playas de Tijuana.
The white and yellow taxi route from Santa Fe to Playas de Rosarito will begin on Benito Juárez Street in La Gloria, traveling along part of the Tijuana-Playas de Rosarito highway, through Santa Fe, along Popocatépetl Street, and along Benito Juárez Boulevard to the Morelos neighborhood.
For the Santa Fe to Playas de Tijuana route, blue and white mass transit vehicles will be used. The route will begin on Real del Mar Street, continuing along Benito Juárez Avenue, Francisco Zarco Street, Xicoténcatl Leyva Street, and Salvatierra Boulevard.
It will then reach the second entrance to Playas de Tijuana, travel along Paseo Playas de Tijuana, and end near Azteca Park.
Because of this announcement, protesters gathered on Popocatépetl Street in the Aztlán neighborhood starting at 5:00 a.m. on Monday, waiting for the new Santa Fe-Playas de Rosarito route buses to block their passage. However, the buses did not begin operating.
“We cannot allow them to enter, I’m saying it clearly, if they come, we will block them. This is the border between Rosarito and Tijuana, that’s why we’re here, we’re waiting to see if they come through,” said Jaime Ibarra of Eco Taxis Verdes, Playas de Rosarito.
“We can’t allow them to enter, I’m saying it clearly, if they come, we’re going to block them. This is the border between Rosarito and Tijuana, that’s why we’re here, we’re waiting to see if they come through,” said Jaime Ibarra of Eco Taxis Verdes, Playas de Rosarito. The transportation operator also stated, without offering evidence, that both routes were awarded to a unionized employee of the Playas de Rosarito City Hall.
“There’s a conflict of interest there. It seems the Institute is granting concessions, routes, and permits to groups that are aligned with them. It shouldn’t be like that; there should be a public bidding process,” he added.
Alfonso Villa mentioned that they are not opposed to the creation of these new routes, but pointed out that the Institute should have considered them.
“We could operate that route ourselves with the vehicles we have resting so that we can have 100% of our vehicles working,” he said.
As of 4:00 p.m. this Monday, the transportation operators were still on Popocatepetl Street, and according to Alfonso Villa, they will remain there until the new route begins operations.
Source: oem
