The city of Cádiz now has a new contract for its municipal bus service. The approval in the City Council plenary represents a significant advance towards renewing the fleet, expanding the service, and improving frequencies and routes in the capital.
Mayor Bruno García described the approval as an 'essential' first step, acknowledging it is merely the beginning of a process that will conclude with the service contract being awarded to a company meeting the new requirements. The bidding process starts now and is expected to take several months before the improvements are fully implemented.
The extraordinary plenary session, held at San Juan de Dios, validated the bidding process. The People's Party and the Socialist Party voted in favor, while Adelante Cádiz abstained. Mayor Bruno García emphasized that they are 'moving forward to have a bus service the city deserves,' highlighting that this is the first time in the city's history such a contract has been presented, and he thanked his team, municipal technicians, and residents for their efforts.
The Councilor for Mobility, José Manuel Verdulla, and the spokesperson for the PP Municipal Group, Maite González, defended the contract as a 'necessary and fundamental step for the city.' It was recalled that the previous service expired in 2015, maintaining the same frequencies and routes for eleven years, with an aging fleet and frequent breakdowns. Bruno García criticized the opposition's inaction during the previous 'eight years' regarding improvements to this service.
On behalf of Adelante, David de la Cruz pointed out the unsustainability of the current fleet and expressed doubts about the compliance of the new contract's conditions, mentioning recent breakdowns and violations of workers' rights. He questioned whether there would be real improvements in the current bus service.
The PSOE spokesperson, Óscar Torres, criticized the delay in presenting the contract by the mayor, who had committed to it three years ago. He questioned the improvements proposed by the company and the city council's response, describing the procedure as 'complex and the most expensive this city has ever had.'
The new contract introduces significant innovations, including the creation of a circular line around the historic center with a frequency of 5 minutes during peak hours, facilitating access to the university campus. A summer circular line will also be implemented, lines 2 and 3 will be merged, and overall frequencies will be improved, reducing waiting times on line 2 from 10-15 minutes to 6-10 minutes during peak hours.
The fleet will increase from 48 to 60 buses, with a complete renewal of all vehicles to hybrid models within a maximum of four years. The new buses will feature systems adapted for card payments, ticket and card validation in the central area of the vehicle, and GPS tracking.
Staff numbers are expected to increase, with all personnel assigned to the Cádiz line. A control post will be established at the mobility delegation, and a mobile application will be developed to provide real-time service information. New payment methods, such as credit cards and a digital bus pass app, will also be introduced.
Neighborhoods will benefit from improved service frequencies, particularly in underserved areas. A night bus service will be introduced on Fridays and Saturdays for lines 1 and 5, with provisions for extraordinary services during major city events. Total service hours will increase by 25%, from the current 160,000 to 207,000 annually.
The total economic investment for this service over the next 12 years amounts to 215 million euros, aimed at providing a better, more modern, and sustainable bus service.
