Metro de Panama by Business Excellence Magazine

Metro de Panama MAKING THE METRO

www.elmetrodepanama.com

[ MAR 18 ] BUSINESS EXCELLENCE

THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN CENTRAL AMERICA Metro de Panama Panamanians had been dealing with bad transportation for many years. So, in 2009, the Martinelli government sets as one of its main priorities, the improvement of public transportation WORDS BY

Michael Minihan

ď ľ RESEARCH BY

Maria Cobano

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he city of Panama may only have around 1.2 million inhabitants, but this doesn’t stop it from being one of the most lively cities in Latin America. The city expanded rapidly in the 20th century thanks to its prominent position on the Panama canal, and is now home to over a third of its country’s population. Inevitably, this rapid shift towards urbanization brought infrastructure challenges, leading to inner city congestion, longer traffic jams and haphazard sprawling development: all of the signs we’ve come to expect from quickly growing cities. As a result, in 2009, the country’s Martinelli government put public transport at the top of its agenda. We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Roberto Roy, President of Metro de Panama, about how the project moved beyond a concept to being a reality, the impact it will have on the lives of the city’s 1.2 million inhabitants, and how, like almost all the most successful transport projects, the total impact on the city is more than the sum of its parts.

A Journey beginning in 2009 Mr. Robert Roy notes: “We started in 2009 as the Metro Secretariat, which was the entity created to take charge of the development and implementation of the metro system; a process that was very challenging, especially

“We started in 2009 as the Metro Secretariat, which was the entity created to take charge of the development and implementation of the metro system”

[ MAR 18 ] BUSINESS EXCELLENCE

METRO DE PANAMA

BUSINESS EXCELLENCE [ MAR 18 ]

METRO DE PANAMA

because it was to be the first metro built in Central America.” Panama City’s crowded inner made planning for a dual bus and metro system even more of a challenge. As Mr. Roy explains: “Back in 2009 were the hectic early days of 12 hour days of planning. We put together the right team and specs, listed the prequalified contractors for Line one, and finally the winning bidder for construction; which began in March 2011.” The line of the Panama City Metro, running from north to south through the city’s heart, is its busiest area. The city’s main avenues

already had little or no space for works, necessitating the need for an underground component - resulting in a more complex and costly project - but ultimately one that worked much better for the city. As Mr. Roy explains, literally every aspect of the project was planned down to the last detail - even the method of tunneling: “We decided on a tunneling solution that called for two TBMs of the EPB type (Earth Pressure Balance) both for safety and environmental reasons. This also allowed us to work without disturbing people on the surface.”

“Today, we have the first metro line operating in Central America, which works magnificently, and the second line with construction at 55% advance to date”

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METRO DE PANAMA

“Initially, line 1 had 20 trains of 3 cars each, for a total of 60 wagons. It is being strengthened with brand new trains, to increase its daily capacity.”

Project Scope and Socioeconomic Impact To say that the metro has changed the fabric of the city would be an understatement. Mr. Roy says: “Today it has an average daily demand of about 260,000 passengers, the record being 295,000. It seems that every day more and more people want to use the Metro. Its construction represented a US$2bn

investment with a further 2.5km phase at the planning stage.” As line 1 continues to expand, line 2 is well underway. Mr. Roy estimates that it is around 55% complete at the time of writing, and should finish faster than line 1 given that it is completely overground. It is 21km in length, will cost US$2bn to construct and connects with Line 1 in the east of the city and lays the

BUSINESS EXCELLENCE [ MAR 18 ]

[ MAR 18 ] BUSINESS EXCELLENCE

METRO DE PANAMA

groundwork for Line 2A, a future connection to line 1, and one to a future line 5, which will begin in April 2019. Right now, line 3 is nearing the construction phase. Mr. Roy says: “Construction of Line 3 hasn’t started as of this date, nonetheless, Project Managers have advanced in all the

designs and are now working on the tender documents. This line will extend from the City of Panama all the way to the western towns and will cross the Panama Canal at a newly constructed bridge.” 634 Line 3 is also interesting for another reason: it offers a different transportation solution, in

“Construction of Line 3 hasn’t started as of this date, nonetheless, Project Managers have advanced in all the designs and are now working on the tender documents”

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GRUPO ITM

If you can imagine it, we can create it! Founded more than 55 years ago, Grupo ITM has developed in many specialist markets in Central America, Panamá and the Caribbean. Our leadership manufacturing quality steel structures for Electrical & Communication Companies is solid, as well as warehouses, bus stations, civil works and any other custom steel construction such as the huge and modern Panama Metro Stations project. Our annual production capacity is 30,000,000 pounds of steel and we currently have 54,000 mts2 of installed capacity around the region. WHY YOU CAN TRUST US Experience Our people and systems are critical for excellent service delivery to our clients, that is why we have a professional, experienced and dedicated team focused on achieving a successful project. Quality Control Our Quality Control ensures that each of our products are manufactures correctly, efficiently and with minimal waste that translates into satisfaction for our customers Delivery We understand the needs of our customers so we commit to being ready to ship their products as promised. Our products are exported to Central America, Panama and the Caribbean

with the best delivery times in the market. Grupo ITM offers a wide range of turn-key solutions for your projects. ANY PRODUCT ANY SIZE Conventional and 3D Our engineers have a diverse background with design and calculations, which ensures the most cost-effective and optimized Structural Design. The bus and metro stations, warehouses, hangars, sports centers and parking are some of our most common products in the metal structures division, however our factory is qualified to create projects of any size and design, from small projects to big ones as Panama Metro Stations. Panama Metro Stations This project is being one of our most challenging and rewarding projects; in joint-venture with Onddi from Spain we are manufacturing and installing the spatial structure for each station. The continuous development of lightweight structural systems has made it possible for structures to carry a much greater load than their own weight. In this project, the spatial structures are at the forefront of this advance in the efficient use of materials, aesthetics and functionality. All our team is committed to the success of this project which greatly contributes to the development of the country.

“Make joint-ventures is one of our success strategy to create amazing projects”

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Poles – Towers and Substations Grupo ITM is the leading manufacturer and supplier of street light poles, masts, transmission line poles, traffic signal poles, lightning conductor poles, flag pole and decorative poles in measures ranging from 6mts to 100mts in height. Energy Transmission and Distribution poles have been a primary business for us along these years. Engineered for long-life, design flexibility and excellent value, the Grupo ITM telecom and transmission towers employs a variety of components to provide a reliable structure that exceeds our customer’s expectations. “Like you, we are experts at what we do. We are passionate about exceeding your expectations, solving your toughest construction challenges and nurturing our successful business relationship.” Hot Dip Galvanized Our factory is one of the largest and most environmentally-friendly full services in Central America. We utilize some of the latest

technology in Hot Dip Galvanizing to guarantee the life or your steel structures. Electrostatic Painting Our experts match any paint color guarantee excellent quality finishes and greater resistance to corrosion and durability on all types of metal surfaces (ferrous and non-ferrous). Expansion Plans In the medium term ITM Group plans to increase its participation in foreign markets, such as South America, as well as expand the company’s business opportunities to embark on JOINT-VENTURE with key companies in the United States, which we trust will be a complete success since we have the experience, an excellent cost, technology efficiency, export facilities and many other positive factors. 502 6644 0000 infor@grupoitm.net www.grupoitm.net

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Mexico, Central America, Panama and Colombia

“Contributing to the Panama Canal expansion” Complete retrofits and repowering of Panama Canal marine equipment: Pilot & crew boats, landing craft, drill boats. • Marine Engines, Gears, MCD Clutches • Electronic Controls & Propulsion Systems • Heavy equipment for Construction, Mining & Agriculture - Sales & Rental • Generators - 5kw to 2000 kw Automotive Division: • Trucks, Vans, Pick-ups • Passenger Vehicles, Motorcycles

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METRO DE PANAMA

“Lines 1 and 2 currently each employ about 4,000 people, most of them locals. In addition, all concrete construction, including stations, piles, columns and beams were manufactured with local components, including locallyproduced high quality cement and stone”

that it will be a monorail. It will have a longitude of 26km, 14 stations and a capacity of 30,000 p/h/s. Construction start is expected for the end of 2018. It’s easy to see how the nexus of these lines makes Mr. Roy state: “Metro de Panama is more than a huge asset to our city and economy: it offers quality of life and more time for families to be together.”

Continuing Panama’s mix of Local and International Lines 1 and 2 currently each employ about 4,000 people, most of them locals. In addition, all concrete construction, including stations, piles, columns and beams were manufactured with local components, including locallyproduced high quality cement and stone. The

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PANAMANIAN COMPANY COMMITTED TO AN ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRATION. Hydroseeding, erosion control, revegetation, sediment control, dust control, gabions, geosynthetics.

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METRO DE PANAMA

local component also extends to service and maintenance contracts. The list of local firms is a who’s who of the best companies that Panama has to offer. These include Grupo Argos, Luis Berger, Grupo Flotec S.A., TKL Import Export S.A., Cardoze and Lindo S.A., and FCC Constuccion de Centroamerica, S.A., among others. However, nobody could ever accuse Panama - home to the one of the world’s largest trade routes - of not being outward looking.

International construction firms were prominent in the development of lines 1 and 2, among them Odebrecht of Brazil and FCC of Spain, who were the general contractors chosen by tender. There has also considerable cooperation and knowledge transfer from Metro de Barcelona, while Alstom - a world leader in rail transport - is the train and signalling control (CBTC) supplier, as well as the maintenance contractor. Other French firms involved were Thales, responsible for communications, and

“The local component also extends to service andmaintenance contracts.”

BUSINESS EXCELLENCE [ MAR 18 ]

[ MAR 18 ] BUSINESS EXCELLENCE

METRO DE PANAMA

“It will come as little surprise to anyone having read the above that Metro de Panama has an 85% acceptance rate among inhabitants of its city” TCP Rail, focusing on the rail systems.

A project on the move It will come as little surprise to anyone having read the above that Metro de Panama has an 85% acceptance rate among inhabitants of its city. Indeed, the expression, “Metrocultura” has entered the local lexicon. Its meaning according to Mr. Roy is “good manners, cleanliness and developing a sense of property in the citizens.” However, nobody is sitting on their laurels. Lines 2 and 3 will extend the breadth of the long city of Greater Panama, a city that is basically forced to grow linearly. Extra lines will also follow, bringing a world class transportation network to a city that not long ago could barely have claimed to possess one fit for purpose. In 2019, the city of Panama will celebrate 500 years since it was founded. In that period, the country has has its fair share of turbulent times, but perhaps there is no better indication of the progress it is making than Metro de Panama. METRO DE PANAMA

 504-7200  info@metrodepanama.com.pa @elmetrodepanama www.elmetrodepanama.com

BUSINESS EXCELLENCE [ MAR 18 ]

Metro de Panama

ď&#x20AC;Š 504-7200 ď&#x20AC;Ş info@metrodepanama.com.pa @elmetrodepanama www.elmetrodepanama.com

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