Santiago de Los Caballeros - Transportation

Transportation

Carros Públicos: Santiago has several efficient forms of transportation, among them “Carros Públicos” (conchos) and private and independent bus owners who form their own routes according to demands.

Inter-City Bus Transportation: The city has private bus transportation to other important cities. Bus companies include Dioni, Metro, Caribe Tours, Transporte Espinal, Aetra Bus.

Highways: The Autopista Juan Pablo Duarte Officially known as DR-1 passes by the city center and connects the city directly to Santo Domingo. Other minor highways connect the city to Puerto Plata, Samana, and the northwestern region of the country. Overall, Santiago has a fine connection through highways to the rest of the country.

Airports:

• The Cibao International Airport serves mostly Dominicans living in the United States and other Caribbean islands like Cuba, Turks and Caicos Islands, Puerto Rico and Panama.
• The former airport of the city was the Santiago Municipal Airport, a regional airport that has been closed since March 2002. It served destinations such as San Juan, Port-au-Prince, Miami and Santo Domingo with regular services. Service provided in Santiago to and from Port-au-Prince by Sunrise Airways.

Proposed Rail System: The construction of a light metro rail is in the planning stage. It is scheduled to be started by the summer of 2009. Financing is to be by a private firm, the State Rail System of Spain (FEVE). The Light rail system will connect the City center to the Airport and shorten the amount of time of trips.