The urban cable car project in Valparaíso, Chile, is currently on schedule, with preliminary feasibility studies being developed. This has been reported consistently by the media outlets Biobiochile, Soy Valparaíso and Infrastructura Publica.

According to the General Directorate of Concessions in the Chilean Ministry of Transportation, the project involves the construction, operation, and maintenance of a cable car system in Valparaíso that will connect the higher neighborhoods with the city center and the existing public transportation network, such as the Valparaíso subway.

The initiative aims to facilitate the transportation of residents from the hills who need to commute to the city center of Valparaíso for educational, work, or administrative reasons.

Additionally, the cable car system is expected to enhance the tourist appeal of Valparaíso by creating new attractions around the stations and providing an alternative transportation option to alleviate city traffic.

The official budget is set at $78 million, and the project is expected to be tendered in 2025.

Trams not feasible, according to researchers

Álvaro Peña Fritz, a lecturer at the Faculty of Civil and Transportation Engineering at the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso (PUCV), welcomed the announcement from the Ministry of Public Works (MOP) regarding the progress of the cable car project that will connect Placilla with the city center of Valparaíso.

Peña stated that it is good news that “progress is being made on this project,” as the complex geomorphology and topography of Valparaíso make the construction of trams impossible.

Public participation underway

Regional Minister of Public Works Yanino Riquelme confirmed the initiation of a public participation process related to the initiative. He emphasized that this is a strategic project and that the preliminary draft will begin in the second half of the year, which will soon need to be tendered.

The General Directorate of Concessions of the Ministry of Public Works (MOP) has already held meetings with municipal authorities.

Valparaíso’s mayor, Jorge Sharp, expressed high expectations, stating that approximately $160 million will be invested in the city’s public transport over the coming years.

Regarding public participation, the Ministry of Public Works announced that further meetings will take place with regional authorities, technical teams from various ministries, and the community, particularly from the Placilla area. The goal is for the cable car to enhance connectivity and sustainability while also improving the quality of life.