BRIEFS. politics

Candidates promise a better mass transit system

Almost every candidate for next year's presidential has an idea about how to transform the city's notoriously inefficient and deadly mass transportation system, something that the current and previous administrations have failed to do, despite the urgent need.

Yesterday, Cambio Democrático candidate Ricardo Martinelli promised to build a light rail system. Partido Panameñista candidate Alberto Vallarino and Vanguardia Moral de la Patria candidate Guillermo Endara

are leaning toward building an elevated mass transit system.

Panameñismo candidate Marco Ameglio promised a "modern and efficient" transportation system that would run on electricity. Juan Carlos Varela, another Panameñista, proposes replacing the infamous "diablos rojos," compensating the operators, and opening up the design and construction of a new mass transit system to bidding.

Panama City mayor Juan Carlos Navarro, a Partido Revolucionario Democrático candidate, promises an urban metro system based on a public-private administrative model. His colleague Balbina Herrera says she'll wait until President Martín Torrijos reveals his transportation plan before detailing her own.