1. CUBA TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE ASSESSMENT  
CUBA
TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE ASSESSMENT
PRESENTATION TO:
ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF THE CUBAN ECONOMY (ASCE)
NINETEENTH ANNUAL MEETING
August 1, 2009

2. Transportation Infrastructure
CUBA
Transportation Infrastructure
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Sergio Alfonso, Jr., PE, CHAIR, Marlin Engineering, Inc.
Carlos A. Penin, PE ,CO-CHAIR, CAP Engineering, Inc
Armando I. Perez, PhD, PE, CDM
Maria F. Porrata, Member CAACE
Michael B. Acosta, PE, Member ACE
Andrés Garganta, PE, Member CAACE
Pedro Giralt, PE, Member CAACE

3. Disclaimer and Objective
CUBA
Transportation Infrastructure
Disclaimer and Objective
The findings, views, opinions and conclusions presented are those of the committee and do not necessarily represent the views of their employers or sponsoring engineering societies.
Authors’ knowledge of Cuba is personal and augmented by information available mostly on the Internet and personal communication with Cubans now living in Cuba and USA.
The purpose is to assess the necessary resources to reconstruct the transportation infrastructure in Cuba, without field inspection or review.

4. Past, Present and Future
CUBA
Transportation Infrastructure
 Assessment of Transportation Needs
Past, Present and Future
Highway System
Railway System
Airports
Public Transportation

5. Transportation Infrastructure 1958 Conditions - Historical Data
Highway System
In 1903 – 250 km mainly in Havana
By 1958 – 20,000 km of which 6,100 were paved
Cuba had one of the most efficient highway systems in Latin America
Carretera Central
Two lanes two way highway completed in 1931
Runs about 1,150 km (715 miles) Mostly paralleling Central Railway
Connecting Province Capitals and all major cities except Cienfuegos
Via Blanca
Four lanes divided highway, from Havana thru Matanzas to Varadero 135 km
Rides over the Bacunayagua Bridge, highest bridge in Cuba
  Secondary Roadways
There were approximately 4,000 kilometers connecting all cities and towns
with population exceeding 5,000 to Carretera Central
Local Roads (Caminos Vecinales)
There were 15,000 km (1,500 km paved) connecting farms to small towns

6. 1958 Highway System

7. 1958 Conditions - Historical Data
Transportation Infrastructure
1958 Conditions - Historical Data
 Railway System (15,000 km)
Cuba's railway history began in 1830, in Havana
Central Rail System (Standard Gauge 1.435 m (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in))
Extends from Pinar del Río to Guantánamo
Used for passengers and freight services
Narrow Rail System (Narrow Gage 1.067m (3ft 6in))
Mainly for transport of sugar cane to the mills
Intercity passenger and freight service
64% is for industrial use, Mainly sugarcane industry and
36% Passenger and freight

8. Transportation Infrastructure
Railway Network 1958
1 km per 8.08 km²

9. 1958 Conditions - Historical Data
Transportation Infrastructure
1958 Conditions - Historical Data
Airports
Cubana de Aviacion had 19 airplanes
Others Cuban airlines had 8 airplanes
International
Domestic
Private

10. 1958 Conditions - Historical Data
Transportation Infrastructure
1958 Conditions - Historical Data
Public Transportation
Buses
City of Havana had outstanding local service (4,000 buses in 40 routes)
Service from Havana to Santiago de Cuba by Santiago-Habana (10 trips daily)
Service between major cities along Carretera Central with other cities and towns.
Taxis
Cuba had organized “Chapa Gris” taxi system (20,000 cars)
Rail
By 1860 Havana had its first streetcar
Service from Havana to Santiago de Cuba since 1920’s
Airports
Domestic flight service between major cities and Havana
Trucks
Transportation of freight and goods

11. PRESENT ROADWAY SYSTEM CONDITION
Presently there is 60,000 km of roadway which 20,000 km are paved
According to a November 2007 EFECOM report, nearly 3,000 km of major roadways are in poor or substandard condition.
The same report goes on to indicate that planned repairs would not even amount to even 400 km per year
A March 16, 2009 report in the Latin American Herald Tribune, quotes the director of the Havana Government’s Business Construction Group for the city’s streets and roadways, as indicating that over 75% of paved roadways in the Havana area are in poor condition and need “big & complex” repairs.
The Cuban capital, has approximately 21 million square meters (about 222 million square feet or 8 square miles) of paved area and the job of repaving the existing damage will require 1.5 million tons of asphalt

12. MAJOR ROADS & HIGHWAYS

13. PRESENT SYSTEM CONDITION
According to an international travel guide: “…there are very, very, few road signs and directional aids.” AND “even rarer still are protective crossbars or warning lights.” (at railroad crossings).
Another international travelers guide states: “They (roads) are pretty similar in construction to US freeways, however pretty much in decaying state. Lane markings are mostly nonexistent, that's true also for any type of signs. This means no signs for cities on exits and interchanges, only signs counting km's to Havana are pretty common. Potholes on otherwise wide freeways are common.”
Trains on the railway system are slow, not punctual, and on routes aside from the main routes, are not reliable.

14. Commonly encountered: Lack of lane markings, signage, guard rails, fences and other essential components.

15. Total railway system 8,193 km
RAILWAY NETWORK - PRESENT SYSTEM (ONE 2007)
Total railway system 8,193 km
7,952 km of standard gauge track, 150 km of which is electrified
241 km of narrow gage track
3,117 use for sugar industry and passengers
5,076 km of public use

16. RAIL NETWORK – MAJOR LINES

17. PRESENT SYSTEM CONDITION
In general, since 1959 there has been insufficient capital investments made in the networks.
The lack of investment has only accelerated since the collapse of the Soviet Union and the loss of its multi-billion dollar annual subsidies.
This lack of investment and maintenance are reflected in the deteriorated condition of many of the transportation system components.

18. The Future – Short and Long Term Solutions
Transportation Infrastructure
 Assessment of Transportation Needs
The Future – Short and Long Term Solutions
Highway System
Railway System
Airports
Public Transportation

19. Short Term Solutions - Highway System
Safety Improvements are imperative component of all short term solutions
Pavement Restoration including pot holes and milling and resurfacing
Striping of edge and centerlines
Regulatory, advisory and warning traffic signs and signals
Guardrails
Based on current roadway maintenance prices in the State of Florida we estimate that the cost of performing these improvements on the MAJOR highway system in Cuba is $1 billion.
Using the TOTAL number of existing lane kilometers of 65,000 the total investment would be $10 billion

20. Short Term Solutions - Railway System
Safety Improvements are imperative component of all short term solutions
Base and Sub-base stabilization
Signs and Signals
Reestablishment of Railroad Crossings
Based on current prices in the State of Florida it is estimated that the cost of performing these improvements on the total number of standard gauge and narrow gauge rails of 12,000 km the total investment would be $500 million

21. Short Term Solutions - Airports
Safety Improvements are imperative component of all short term solutions
Restoration of the landing strips and taxiways including pot holes and milling and resurfacing
Striping of directional signage
Landing & Takeoff lighting
Landside & Airside repairs
Based on current prices in the State of Florida we estimate that the cost of performing these improvements at the estimated number of 12 Airport Facilities the total investment would be $600 million.

22. Short Term Solutions - Public Transportation
Additional rolling stock (buses, taxis and work trucks)
The establishment of a Maintenance Facility including spare parts and mechanical tools for these vehicles
Consideration of alternate means i.e. Jitneys, Mini Vans and Shuttles
Study Bus Rapid transit routes for future implementation
It is estimated that 400 new buses would be needed initially at a cost of $250,000 per bus for a total investment of $100 Million

23. Long Term Solutions – Public Transportation
Provide safe, efficient, reliable mobility
Provide high-speed, high-capacity connections
Balance mobility and economic competitiveness with community livability and environmental stewardship
Employ Innovative financing techniques and private/public partnerships

24. Long Term Solutions – Public Transportation
The future includes the combination of all four modes of transportation i.e. Highways, Railways, Airports and Public Transportation. This Multimodal transportation system, should inter-connect people and goods to the various points of interest. It leads to economic vitality and becomes the infrastructure backbone of the Island.
Multimodal Components
Rail
Airplanes
Automobiles
Bus Rapid Transit
Local Bus Routes
Trucking
Bicycles
Pedestrian
Various Points of Interest
Seaports
Airports
Train Stations
Government Centers
Business Districts
Entertainment Venues
Recreational Centers 24

25. Long Term Solutions – Public Transportation
Preliminary Transportation Hubs and Sub-Hubs were identified by studying the existing data from the following:
Census to determine the population of the Cities
The alignment of the Central Highway (Carretera Central) y Ocho Via
The route of the standard gauge railway system
The locations of all major airports
Main Hubs:
Pinar del Rio
Ciudad de la Habana
Matanzas
Santa Clara
Camaguey
Holguin
Santiago de Cuba
Nueva Gerona (Isla de la Juventud)
Sub-Hubs:
Artemisa
Cienfuegos
Sancti Spiritus
Ciego de Avila
Las Tunas
Bayamo
Guantanamo

26. Main Hubs and Sub-Hubs Locations

27. Hubs Concept

28. Conclusion
In 1959 Cuba had one of the best road and rail system in Latin America.
The lack of investment since 1959 on the roadway railway systems has created the requirement of major investment to bring the system up to standard and a point where will assist in the restoring Cuba:
The need is estimated in billions at:
SHORT TERM LONG TERM
$1 $10 Roadways
$0.1 $0.25 Streets in Havana
$0.5 $2 Railways
$0.6 $6 Airports
$0.1 $5 Public Transportation
TOTAL $2.3 $23.25