Santo Domingo launches electric bus route in Colonial City

The Dominican Republic has launched a new electric mobility pilot project in Santo Domingo’s historic Colonial City. The initiative features a fleet of five electric minibuses operating on a 12.4-kilometer route with 31 stops, connecting the Plaza de la Cultura to the historic center. The project aims to reduce urban emissions, improve air quality, and decrease noise pollution while enhancing accessibility for residents and tourists.

The project was funded through a combination of a RD$71 million grant from the European Union and RD$98 million from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The service is operated by the Operadora Metropolitana de Servicios de Autobuses (OMSA) and regulated by the National Institute for Transit and Ground Transport (Intrant). Notably, 90% of the bus drivers hired for this route are women. The buses are equipped with universal accessibility features, including wheelchair ramps and preferential seating.

In conjunction with the new transit route, the government also reopened the renovated Alcázar de Colón Museum. The museum’s restoration, supported by the IDB, includes updated museum graphics, audiovisual resources, and a more inclusive historical narrative. These efforts are part of a broader urban and tourism development program intended to revitalize the UNESCO World Heritage site.