Transport in the Dominican Republic

Transportation in the Dominican Republic is composed of a system of roads, airports, ports, harbours and an urban railway:

Roadways

There are five main highways (DR-1, DR-2, DR-3, DR-4, DR-5) they are in good condition in the Dominican Republic connecting its biggest cities and tourist centers. There are nearly 19,705 km (12,244 mi) of highways and roads, 9,872 being paved and 9,833 km (6,110 mi) (2002 est.) unpaved. Like any underdeveloped nation, the Dominican Republic suffers from lack of good paved roads to connect smaller towns and less populated areas though they are working on it, however major town roads are kept in good condition.

Public transport

Mass transit
Main article: Santo Domingo Metro

The Santo Domingo Metro is the first mass transit system in the country, and second in the Caribbean & Central American nations after the Tren Urbano in San Juan, Puerto Rico. On February 27, 2008 the incumbent president Leonel Fernández test rode the system for the first time and free service was offered thereafter several times. Commercial service started on January 30, 2009. Several additional lines are currently being planned.

The Santiago light rail system is a planned light rail system in the Dominican Republic's second largest city, still in developing stages it was said to start on mid-2008 but right now is currently on hold due to lack of approval and of central government funds.

Buses

The Dominican Republic has a bus system that is rather reliable, and most of these public transportation vehicles are fairly comfortable. The fare is generally inexpensive, and there are bus terminals and stops in most of the island's major cities.

Public Cars (Carros Públicos)

The Public Cars (Carros Públicos–Conchos) are privately owned passenger cars that transit a specific route daily and passengers pay a certain fee with the convenience of stopping anywhere. This comprises one of the main ways of transportation inside the capital city of Santo Domingo, as well as other major cities. This system though, is not very reliable and lacks discipline. The high number of public cars that travel the roads, and the fact that they do not lend themselves to regulation or central control, causes frequent transit problems among city roads. They may also be somewhat uncomfortable, since they try to fit as many people as possible inside them. As a standard, a 4-person sedan (driver included) usually carries 6 passengers, twice the amount for which they were designed.

Railways
Rail map as of 1925
Main article: Rail transport in the Dominican Republic

Rail operations are provided by one state owned operator and several private operators (mainly for sugar mills):

  • Central Romana Railroad was established in 1911 in the sugarcane fields. The total length of the line is 757 km (470 mi), 375 km (233 mi) being the 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge.
  • The Dominican Republic Government Railway is a 142 km (88 mi) 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) narrow gauge railway.
  • There are 240 km (149 mi) operated by other sugarcane companies in various gauges: 557 mm (21 15⁄16 in), 762 mm (2 ft 6 in), 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauges (1995).
  • There are no connections with Haiti.
  • A rapid transit system, Santo Domingo Metro, opened in 2008 in the capital. The Santiago Light Rail has been planned to serve the city of Santiago de los Caballeros.

Ports and harbors

Major ports and harbours in the Dominican Republic:

Ports
  • The Port of Santo Domingo, with its location in the Caribbean, is well suited for flexible itinerary planning and has excellent support, road, and airport infrastructure within the Santo Domingo region, which facilitate access and transfers. The port is suitable for both turnaround and transit calls.
  • Haina Occidental Port, located just 20 km west of Santo Domingo, is one of the most important ports in the Dominican Republic. About 70% of all cargo, excluding Caucedo and free zone exports/imports, is moved through this port.
  • DP World's terminal Multimodal Caucedo Port maritime terminal and logistic center operates under the Free Zone Regime. Actually 85% of Free Zone exports to United States is shipped from Caucedo terminal. Multimodal Caucedo port is also able to act as a trans-shipment hub to the Caribbean and Latin America for Asia specifically Japan as a door to the American market.
  • Port of Puerto Plata is the main commercial port on the north coast of the Dominican Republic.
  • Port of Boca Chica is located about 20 miles east of the capital city and 5 miles of the International airport Las Americas. Currently the port is almost exclusively used for containers and some lumber, newsprint and homogeneous cargoes.
  • Port of San Pedro de Macoris is located on the Higuamo river. This port is mainly used to discharge bulk fertilizer. Cement clinker, coal, wheat, diesel and LPG. It is also used to export sugar and molasses produced by several sugar cane mills in the region.
  • Central Romana Port, located in La Romana, belong to Central Romana Corporation which is a private company established in 1911 and has the largest sugar mill in the country.

The following six local ports are a single pier with berth facility:

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A local ferry service runs daily between the Samaná and Sabana del Mar ports.

Merchant marine
  • Total:
    • 1 ship (1,000 GT or over) totaling 1,587 GT/1,165 tonnes deadweight (DWT)
  • Ships by type:
    • cargo 1 (1999 est.)

Entering the ports

Boaters and sailors who wish to dock in any of DR's ports must follow certain entry requirements:

  • Upon approaching the port, ships must display a quarantine flag, which has the letter 'Q' on it, and wait for admittance into the port.
  • The passengers of the vessel must pay a fee, get a tourist card, and show proper identification including a valid passport.
  • Military officials must sometimes grant the passengers clearance to come ashore.

Airports
Boeing 737-800 at Cibao International Airport in Santiago, DR
See also: List of airports in the Dominican Republic

There are 7 major and 31 minor airports in the DR (2009):

Airports - with paved runways
  • Total: 10 (1999 est.)
    • Over 3,047 m: 3
    • 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
    • 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
    • 914 to 1,523 m: 3
    • under 913 m: 2

Airports - with unpaved runways
  • Total: 15 (1999 est.)
    • 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
    • 914 to 1,523 m: 4
    • under 914 m: 9

National airlines
  • Dominicana de Aviación used to be the country's national airline for a large period of time. Due to economic crisis, however, this title has been passed on to various other companies after Dominicana stopped flying.
  • PAWA Dominicana After Dominicana de Aviación ceased, PAWA Dominicana became the flag carrier of the country in 2015. However Flights were suspended in January 2018.

Flights

There are direct flights to and from Dominican Republic From United States, Cuba, Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Europe and the Caribbean.

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See also

References
  1. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-10-24. Retrieved 2009-08-07.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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