Canary Islands Establish Oversight Committees to Advance Rail Projects in Tenerife and Gran Canaria
Government officials have established new monitoring committees to coordinate the legal and technical development of high-capacity rail projects in Tenerife and Gran Canaria aimed at alleviating traffic congestion.
New monitoring committees have been launched for railway projects in Tenerife and Gran Canaria, marking a significant shift in how the Canary Islands plan for future travel. Following a meeting at the regional government headquarters in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, local, regional, and national officials have officially established the oversight needed to move forward with high-capacity rail systems.
This collaboration—involving the Ministry of Public Works, the Ministry of Transport, and local island councils—aims to provide the legal and technical foundation for these long-discussed projects. The main goal is to secure a multi-year funding agreement, which is essential for ensuring a stable budget and a realistic construction timeline.
María Fernández, the regional Director General of Transport and Mobility, stated that the focus is currently on finalizing the necessary technical and legal documentation. Meanwhile, Sara Hernández, Secretary General for Sustainable Mobility, emphasized that coordination between different levels of government is vital to fixing the islands' transport issues.
The projects are at different stages of development. Gran Canaria has already completed its environmental impact assessment, while work in Tenerife is currently focused on coordinating the rail route with airport operations. This move toward closer institutional cooperation signals a more rigorous approach to managing public funds, as both islands look to rail travel as a priority solution to the growing congestion on their roads.