The Ministry of Public Works and Transportation (MOPT) is moving forward with a project that will improve road safety at 91 railroad crossings along the three San José metropolitan train lines of Pavas-San José-Curridabat, Heredia-San José, and San José-Cartago, said the agency this week.

Carlos Villalta, Transportation Minister, explained that three offers were received from different companies interested in carrying out the installation of safety infrastructure at these junctions.

The bid was issued through the Integrated System of Public Procurement (SICOP, in Spanish) by the MOPT’s General Directorate of Traffic Engineering.

“We have received offers for this tender that will allow us to cover practically all the railroad crossings in the three aforementioned corridors. The works include the installation of traffic lights, safety barriers (needles), vertical signage, and the removal of existing signs at intersections,” continued Villalta.

Executive Director of the Costa Rican Road Safety Council (Cosevi), Cindy Coto, said, “Just in January there have been 13 accidents involving trains and vehicles, in 2016 there were 120 mishaps… we wish to make an investment in railway safety rather than continue lamenting deaths and injuries due to this situation,” said the official.

The over US$8 million dollar investment will include the installation of 42 traffic lights in the corridors of Pavas-Curridabat and San José-Heredia, and 49 other devices along the San José – Cartago train route.

The MOPT said they expect these safety systems will help drivers be more respectful of the right of way of the train, thus improving road safety by reducing the risk of traffic accidents.

The General Directorate of Traffic Engineering now has 90 days to evaluate the offers, and the MOPT estimates that no later than June, one of the companies will be awarded the project.