2023.12.07
On December 4, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a Record of Discussions with the Panama Metro and the Ministry of Housing and Territorial Planning of the Republic of Panama in Panama City for the Project for Capacity Strengthening on Planning of Transit Oriented Development* along the Metro Line 3, a technical cooperation project.
*Transit Oriented Development (TOD) integrates land use and transportation centered on transportation nodes, and improves land use for various purposes in medium to high-density areas, including residential areas.
Signing Ceremony
West Panama province in the western metropolitan area has a rapidly increasing population (currently approximately 0.52 million), which is expected to reach 1 million people by 2040. Several single-family (low-rise and low-density) housing developments have been constructed in the province’s Arraijan City—the project's main target area—in a sprawling manner, but the development of urban transportation systems is not progressing.
A lot of residents cross the Panama Canal to travel to Panama City for work and to access public administration and commercial services. Due to the population growth that came as a result of rapid housing development, in combination with the lack of public transportation that has driven a reliance on private vehicles, the crossing experiences serious traffic congestion, and the establishment of an urban transport system and improvements to land use in West Panama have become urgent issues.
JICA is currently supporting the construction of an urban monorail transport system (Metro Line 3), connecting the western metropolitan area and the center of Panama City, through the ODA loan “Panama Metropolitan Area Urban Transportation Line-3 Development Project,” helping to significantly improve both access to the western part of Panama and public transportation functions in the metropolitan area.
This new technical cooperation project aims to contribute to the promotion of TOD project implementation. It will do so by strengthening the implementation and institutional capacities to promote TOD projects through the transfer of technology related to the formulation of TOD plans for two model stations of Metro Line 3, the clarification of the legal status and approval process of the plans, and the establishment of a coordination mechanism.
This project will contribute to the achievement of SDGs Goals 11 (Sustainable cities and communities) and 13 (Climate action).
Details for the project are provided below.
| Country | Republic of Panama |
|---|---|
| Project title | Project for Capacity Strengthening on Planning of Transit Oriented Development along the Metro Line 3 |
| Planned implementation period | 48 months |
| Executing agency | Panama Metro, Ministry of Housing and Territorial Planning |
| Target region | Arraijan City |
| Specific project details (provisional) | - Strengthen the capacity to formulate TOD plans and to coordinate with relevant authorities through planning at two model stations (Nuevo Chorrillo station, Vista Alegre station). - Clarification of the legal status and approval process of TOD plans. - Establishment of a coordination mechanism among relevant organizations to promote the implementation of TOD projects. |
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