Works to extend Quito metro line likely to be contracted in 2023

Local and national authorities in Ecuador could give the go-ahead for the start of construction on the extension of Quito metro line No. 1 next year, the operations manager of state-run company Metro de Quito, Roberto Custode, told BNamericas.

“The studies are complete, the designs are too. The decision by the local and national governments government is lacking because, since it involves such significant financing committed with multilateral banks the sovereign guarantee of the State is required,” said Custode.

The IDB, World Bank and Latin American Development Bank CAF are the multilateral organizations that financed the US$2bn metro project, which is the most important transport infrastructure initiative yet carried out in the South American country.

The first metro line, due to go into operation at the end of this year, was designed with the extension and the government agreed with multilateral financiers that stage 1 would be built first.

Stage 1 of the line runs from Quitumbe to Labrador, while stage 2 will link Labrador to Ophelia via a 5.4km extension, which involves an estimated investment of around US$500mn.

The decisions by the local and national governments to extend the line were postponed until stage 1 begins operating.

On September 5, the selection committee of Metro de Quito chose the consortium formed by French firm Transdev and Metro de Medellín as the operator of the line.

The contract with the operator is expected to be signed in October, which would guarantee that the metro will start operating in December, as planned, although passenger transport will initially be restricted for a period of between three and five weeks.

At the beginning of next year, it should be operating at full capacity, transporting an estimated 450,000 passengers per day.