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La Voz Canaria

Guaguas Municipales: Key Challenges After Leadership Change in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

The public transport company of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria faces significant challenges under the new presidency of Pedro Quevedo, one year before elections.

Generic image of a city bus in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
IA

Generic image of a city bus in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Guaguas Municipales, the public transport company of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, is entering a period of significant changes with Pedro Quevedo taking over the presidency, succeeding José Eduardo Ramírez after a decade.

The appointment of Pedro Quevedo as president of Guaguas Municipales marks a milestone, being the first change in the company's leadership in eleven years. This decision, driven by Mayor Carolina Darias, grants greater power to Nueva Canarias (NC) in urban mobility management, an area that has been key in government agreements since 2015.
The company, which transported 56.5 million passengers last year, has experienced exponential growth, doubling its figures since 2015. This increase, largely driven by free public transport in the Canary Islands since 2023, has generated management tensions and the need for significant investment. For the current year, Guaguas Municipales has a budget of 73 million euros and a workforce of 850 employees.
Among the immediate challenges is the renewal of the fleet, with a planned investment of 16.2 million euros to acquire 22 new vehicles and hire staff to cover absences and retirements. Additionally, the company aims to strengthen high-traffic routes and those connecting to peripheral neighborhoods, as well as improve the intermodal areas of Siete Palmas and La Ballena.
Another crucial point is the relationship with the company Global, especially with the end of its concession in 2027 approaching. Guaguas Municipales, now representing the City Council in the Single Transport Authority, aspires to take over routes currently operated by Global, such as those to Ciudad del Campo, Los Giles, or Las Mesas. This negotiation will be fundamental for the future of interurban transport on the island.
The Metroguagua project, conceived a decade ago, remains a priority. Although the underground section beneath Santa Catalina has been paralyzed since 2023, the current budget includes complementary works such as equipping the 36 planned stops and developing the traffic light priority system. Finally, the acquisition of land for new depots, with a budget of 5.2 million euros, is essential to alleviate the saturation of the El Sebadal headquarters and complement the future Metroguagua station in Hoya de la Plata.

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