Santa Cruz Halts Anaga Bus Restructuring Amid Resident Demands for Increased Service
The Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council has halted plans to restructure the 916 bus line in the Anaga massif, opting instead to prioritize increased service frequency for local residents over schedule adjustments.
Public transport in the Anaga massif has reached a turning point. The Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council has decided to halt plans to restructure the 916 bus line, a proposal originally put forward by the Titsa Works Council. The decision follows a clash between the need for operational punctuality and the demands of local residents, who are calling for more frequent services rather than just a reshuffling of existing timetables.
The conflict highlights the difficulty of balancing efficiency with the need to serve remote areas. While employee representatives wanted to adjust schedules to reduce delays, the city’s Mobility department has chosen to honor commitments made to residents last November, refusing to cancel any current trips. The council is now focusing on increasing the number of buses, particularly on weekends and holidays when demand is highest.
The 916 line is the primary link between the capital’s main interchange and the communities of María Jiménez and Los Valles. It serves key stops including Plaza de España, Avenida Anaga, Valleseco, and El Bufadero, with occasional extensions to Cueva Bermeja. Service currently begins at 6:00 a.m. from the city center and 6:25 a.m. from the opposite end.
On weekdays, there are ten departures in each direction, with the final buses running around 9:00 p.m. Weekend service is more limited, with seven trips running between 7:05 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Managing transport in this rugged landscape remains a complex challenge. The local government must now find a way to increase service frequency to meet the needs of residents in these outlying neighborhoods, ensuring that public transport is both reliable and frequent enough to serve the community effectively.