Costa Rica’s Ministry of Public Works and Transportation (MOPT) has announced that it is considering an unsolicited prefeasibility study for the San José metro system.

The Federated Association of Engineers and Architects (Colegio Federado de Ingenieros y Arquitectos, CFIA) submitted the proposal last month. The group proposed four lines for a total of 48.8km: the San Rafael Abajo-Tibás line (US$1.27 billion), the Desamparados-Uruca line (US$1.52 billion), the Alajuelita-Pavas line (US$1.4 billion) and the Pavas-Curridabat line (US$1.65 billion).

The system would include a large terminal for transfers at Plaza González Víquez, plus other stations along the lines.

The total project cost of the project would amount to US$5.8 billion and it would involve a 10-year construction period.

The document recommends the development of a complementary study on a public-private consortium to finance the project. As the proposal focused on technical feasibility, details on potential financing arrangements were not included.

CFIA said such a project would require the commitment of consecutive governments, the implementation of complementary projects, and the participation of the private sector due to the high cost of the proposed project.

Olman Vargas, CFIA executive director, stated:

“There must be political will, two or three administrations following the same line and following a well planned process; that is why we are asking to include it in the National Development Plan and the National Public Transport Plan.”

Since 2012, the CFIA has made several efforts to push forward plans for the construction of a metro in the country.