Playa del Carmen, Q.R. — A request to change the Playa del Carmen Maya Train route has been sent to President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. The letter, which requests the change of the peripheral ring, was sent by Riviera Maya businesses.
The head of the National Tourism Fund, Rogelio Jiménez Pons, was also sent a copy, being included in the request to modify the Maya Train section that will go through Playa del Carmen.
In their letter, the group of businessmen offered four alternative routes and highlighted the reduction in construction costs and impact on the mobility of tourists, if modified.
CCE Riviera Maya, Hotel Association, Canaco, AMPI, Amexme, Canirac, Sindemex, College of Engineers, College of Accounting Professionals, College of Architects, and councilors participated in the formal request. The group says if the project goes ahead as planned, construction will cause significant road damage and an increase of up to 3 hours for transfer times one way.
“This proposal has the least negative economic and social impact during the construction and operation of the Maya Train. The modifications will generate savings in federal funds during planning and construction, and will bring economic and social benefits to marginalized areas of the city,” they pointed out in their written request.
They said that the Urban Development Plan already contemplates the outline of the Peripheral Ring and the width necessary to integrate the Maya Train. Currently, Villas del Sol is the only housing development that crosses this peripheral ring that has the necessary width to integrate the railway project.
The business sector said that the modification of the CFE voltage lines and the purchase of land to meet the requirements for the right of way of the Maya Train will also exponentially increase the total cost of construction.
“The purchase and expropriation of private property will result in long, expensive lawsuits with little probability of success for the federal government,” they added.
A copy of the letter was also sent to Governor Carlos Joaquín González and Playa del Carmen mayor, Lili Campos Miranda.
