CUBATRANSPORTATION

INFRASTRUCTURE ASSESSMENT

PRESENTATION TO:ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF THE CUBAN ECONOMY (ASCE)

NINETEENTH ANNUAL MEETINGAugust 1, 2009

CUBA

Transportation Infrastructure

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Sergio Alfonso, Jr., PE, CHAIR, Marlin Engineering, Inc.Carlos A. Penin, PE ,CO-CHAIR, CAP Engineering, Inc

Armando I. Perez, PhD, PE, CDMMaria F. Porrata, Member CAACE

Michael B. Acosta, PE, Member ACEAndrés Garganta, PE, Member CAACE

Pedro Giralt, PE, Member CAACE

CUBATransportation Infrastructure

Disclaimer and Objective

The findings, views, opinions and conclusions presented are those of the committee and do not necessarily represent the views of their employers or sponsoring engineering societies.

Authors’ knowledge of Cuba is personal and augmented by information available mostly on the Internet and personal communication with Cubans now living in Cuba and USA.

The purpose is to assess the necessary resources to reconstruct the transportation infrastructure in Cuba, without field inspection or review.

CUBA

Transportation Infrastructure

 ASSESSMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NEEDS

PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE HIGHWAY SYSTEM RAILWAY SYSTEM AIRPORTS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Transportation Infrastructure

1958 CONDITIONS - HISTORICAL DATA

Highway SystemIn 1903 – 250 km mainly in HavanaBy 1958 – 20,000 km of which 6,100 were pavedCuba had one of the most efficient highway systems in Latin America

Carretera CentralTwo lanes two way highway completed in 1931Runs about 1,150 km (715 miles) Mostly paralleling Central RailwayConnecting Province Capitals and all major cities except Cienfuegos

Via BlancaFour lanes divided highway, from Havana thru Matanzas to Varadero 135

kmRides over the Bacunayagua Bridge, highest bridge in Cuba

  Secondary RoadwaysThere were approximately 4,000 kilometers connecting all cities and townswith population exceeding 5,000 to Carretera Central

Local Roads (Caminos Vecinales)There were 15,000 km (1,500 km paved) connecting farms to small towns

1958 Highway System

1958 CONDITIONS - HISTORICAL DATA

Transportation Infrastructure

Transportation InfrastructureRailway Network 1958

1 km per 8.08 km²

1958 Conditions - Historical Data

Transportation Infrastructure

AirportsCubana de Aviacion had 19

airplanesOthers Cuban airlines had 8

airplanes International Domestic

Private

Public TransportationBuses

City of Havana had outstanding local service (4,000 buses in 40 routes)Service from Havana to Santiago de Cuba by Santiago-Habana (10 trips daily)Service between major cities along Carretera Central with other cities and towns.

TaxisCuba had organized “Chapa Gris” taxi system (20,000 cars)

RailBy 1860 Havana had its first streetcarService from Havana to Santiago de Cuba since 1920’s

AirportsDomestic flight service between major cities and Havana

TrucksTransportation of freight and goods

1958 Conditions - Historical Data

Transportation Infrastructure

Presently there is 60,000 km of roadway which 20,000 km are paved

According to a November 2007 EFECOM report, nearly 3,000 km of major roadways are in poor or substandard condition. The same report goes on to indicate that planned repairs would not even

amount to even 400 km per year

A March 16, 2009 report in the Latin American Herald Tribune, quotes the director of the Havana Government’s Business Construction Group for the city’s streets and roadways, as indicating that over 75% of paved roadways in the Havana area are in poor condition and need “big & complex” repairs. The Cuban capital, has approximately 21 million square meters (about

222 million square feet or 8 square miles) of paved area and the job of repaving the existing damage will require 1.5 million tons of asphalt

PRESENT ROADWAY SYSTEM CONDITION

MAJOR ROADS & HIGHWAYS

PRESENT SYSTEM CONDITION According to an international travel guide: “…there are very, very,

few road signs and directional aids.” AND “even rarer still are protective crossbars or warning lights.” (at railroad crossings).

Another international travelers guide states: “They (roads) are pretty similar in construction to US freeways, however pretty much in decaying state. Lane markings are mostly nonexistent, that's true also for any type of signs. This means no signs for cities on exits and interchanges, only signs counting km's to Havana are pretty common. Potholes on otherwise wide freeways are common.”

Trains on the railway system are slow, not punctual, and on routes aside from the main routes, are not reliable.

Commonly encountered: Lack of lane markings, signage, guard rails, fences and other essential components.

RAILWAY NETWORK - PRESENT SYSTEM (ONE 2007)

• Total railway system 8,193 km

• 7,952 km of standard gauge track, 150 km of which is electrified• 241 km of narrow gage track• 3,117 use for sugar industry and passengers• 5,076 km of public use

RAIL NETWORK – MAJOR LINES

In general, since 1959 there has been insufficient capital investments made in the networks.

The lack of investment has only accelerated since the collapse of the Soviet Union and the loss of its multi-billion dollar annual subsidies.

This lack of investment and maintenance are reflected in the deteriorated condition of many of the transportation system components.

PRESENT SYSTEM CONDITION

Transportation Infrastructure ASSESSMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NEEDS

THE FUTURE – SHORT AND LONG TERM SOLUTIONS

HIGHWAY SYSTEM RAILWAY SYSTEM AIRPORTS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Short Term Solutions - Highway System

Safety Improvements are imperative component of all short term solutions Pavement Restoration including pot holes and milling and resurfacing Striping of edge and centerlines Regulatory, advisory and warning traffic signs and signals Guardrails

Based on current roadway maintenance prices in the State of Florida we estimate that the cost of performing these improvements on the MAJOR highway system in Cuba is $1 billion.

Using the TOTAL number of existing lane kilometers of 65,000 the total investment would be $10 billion

Short Term Solutions - Railway System

Safety Improvements are imperative component of all short term solutions Base and Sub-base stabilization Signs and Signals Reestablishment of Railroad Crossings

Based on current prices in the State of Florida it is estimated that the cost of performing these improvements on the total number of standard gauge and narrow gauge rails of 12,000 km the total investment would be $500 million

Short Term Solutions - Airports

Based on current prices in the State of Florida we estimate that the cost of performing these improvements at the estimated number of 12 Airport Facilities the total investment would be $600 million.

Safety Improvements are imperative component of all short term solutionsRestoration of the landing strips and taxiways including pot holes and milling and resurfacing Striping of directional signage Landing & Takeoff lighting Landside & Airside repairs

Short Term Solutions - Public Transportation

Additional rolling stock (buses, taxis and work trucks)The establishment of a Maintenance Facility including spare parts and mechanical tools for these vehicles Consideration of alternate means i.e. Jitneys, Mini Vans and ShuttlesStudy Bus Rapid transit routes for future implementation

It is estimated that 400 new buses would be needed initially at a cost of $250,000 per bus for a total investment of $100 Million

Long Term Solutions – Public Transportation

Provide safe, efficient, reliable mobility

Provide high-speed, high-capacity connections

Balance mobility and economic competitiveness with community livability and environmental stewardship

Employ Innovative financing techniques and private/public partnerships

The future includes the combination of all four modes of transportation i.e. Highways, Railways, Airports and Public Transportation. This Multimodal transportation system, should inter-connect people and goods to the various points of interest. It leads to economic vitality and becomes the infrastructure backbone of the Island.

Various Points of InterestSeaports

AirportsTrain StationsGovernment CentersBusiness DistrictsEntertainment VenuesRecreational Centers

Multimodal Components RailAirplanesAutomobilesBus Rapid TransitLocal Bus RoutesTrucking BicyclesPedestrian

Long Term Solutions – Public Transportation

Long Term Solutions – Public Transportation

Main Hubs:

1.Pinar del Rio2.Ciudad de la Habana3.Matanzas4.Santa Clara5.Camaguey6.Holguin7.Santiago de Cuba8.Nueva Gerona (Isla de la Juventud)

Sub-Hubs:

1.Artemisa2.Cienfuegos3.Sancti Spiritus4.Ciego de Avila5.Las Tunas6.Bayamo7.Guantanamo

Preliminary Transportation Hubs and Sub-Hubs were identified by studying the existing data from the following:

Census to determine the population of the Cities The alignment of the Central Highway (Carretera Central) y Ocho Via The route of the standard gauge railway system The locations of all major airports

Main Hubs and Sub-Hubs Locations

Hubs Concept

Conclusion

In 1959 Cuba had one of the best road and rail system in Latin America. The lack of investment since 1959 on the roadway railway systems has

created the requirement of major investment to bring the system up to standard and a point where will assist in the restoring Cuba:

The need is estimated in billions at:SHORT TERM LONG TERM

$1 $10 Roadways

$0.1 $0.25 Streets in Havana

$0.5 $2 Railways

$0.6 $6 Airports

$0.1 $5 Public TransportationTOTAL $2.3 $23.25