EMBASSY OF THE BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA & URBAN THINK TANK PROJECTS
The Metro Cable San Agustin, an unconventional system, is the first of its kind in Venezuela, allowing a daily mobilization of more than 3, 000 people. People can travel from the top of the popular community of San Agustin to the center of the capital city in just nine minutes.
Cable cars run along 1, 800 meters of wire with five stops: Parque Central, Hornos de Cal, La Ceiba, el Manguito, and San Agustin. They travel through 51 booths that carry different names on the cars embodying the principles upon which the Bolivarian revolution is based: social advances, love and participation. The names of the cars also celebrate the names of some Venezuelan states, such as Miranda, Anzoategui and Aragua.
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Carvajal said that a year ago, traveling to Central Park required the use of three vehicles in a journey that could last more than two hours. Now the simple route takes less than nine minutes. This user of Metro Cable said he no longer has to climb over a thousand steps to reach his home, which has saved time.
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PHOTO/Iwan Baan
The first part of this project involved a new and revolutionary approach to urban planning. Our extensive past experience working in the barrios and with their community leaders has taught us that far from being naïve, they are well-informed and knowledgeable, if untutored, in the principles of planning and development. Indeed, residents possess a firm understanding of what their communities need most.
We therefore took an approach that included:
A public symposium and presentation at the UCV (Central University of Venezuela in Caracas), attended by architects, planners, other experts, university activists, and barrio leaders to question the government plan and to put forth alternatives.
Creating a task force to investigate alternatives: U-TT together with San Agustin barrio residents and volunteers.p>
Selection by the task force of a cable-car system. It was decided this had the greatest potential: ideally suited to the terrain, minimally invasive of the existing fabric, highly sustainable and flexible.
A one-day intensive charrette, conducted by the task force, to refine the concept. Analysis, planning, a media campaign and presentation was also needed to build support and funding for the project.
Analysis, planning, a media campaign and presentation was also needed to build support and funding for the project.
The cable car system, which is integrated with the Metro System of Caracas, is 2.1 km in length and employs gondolas holding 8 passengers each. Metro Cable’s capacity allows for the movement of 1,200 people per hour in each direction. Two stations will be to be in the valley and connect directly to the Caracas public transportation system. Three additional stations are located along the mountain ridge, on sites that meet the demands of community access, established pedestrian circulation patterns, and also spatial availability for construction, ensuring minimal demolition of existing housing.
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