Quito Plans 42 km of Dedicated Bus Lanes to Cut Peak Commutes by 30 Minutes

Quito's transit authority EPMTPQ announced on February 7 a plan to implement 42 km of dedicated bus lanes across three major north-south corridors, with completion targeted for Q4 2026.

The system is projected to reduce peak-hour commute times by up to 30 minutes on affected routes.

The Three Corridors

| Corridor | Length | Projected time savings | |---|---|---| | Av. 10 de Agosto (La Y to El Recreo) | 16 km | 22-28 min | | Av. de la Prensa (Carapungo to La Ofelia) | 14 km | 18-25 min | | Av. Mariscal Sucre (Quitumbe to Mena 2) | 12 km | 15-20 min |

How It Works

Unlike the existing Trolebus and Ecovia BRT systems, these new lanes will:

• Use the rightmost traffic lane, separated by flexible bollards
• Be enforced by automated cameras ($120 fines for unauthorised lane use)
• Feature signal priority at 68 intersections using GPS-based bus detection
• Include 32 improved bus stops with real-time arrival displays

Total investment: $28 million ($18M from IDB financing, $10M municipal budget).

Metro Integration

The bus lanes are designed to feed into Metro stations at:

• La Ofelia (northern terminus)
• El Ejido and La Alameda (central)
• Quitumbe (southern terminus)

"The Metro cannot solve Quito's transit challenges alone," said EPMTPQ general manager Ing. Sofia Espinoza. "65% of transit trips require a surface bus connection."

What Expats Should Know

If you live in Quito or visit frequently:

• If you use buses: This is great news -- dedicated lanes mean faster, more reliable service
• If you drive: You're losing a traffic lane on three major avenues. Expect congestion to get worse before it gets better on these corridors, especially during the transition period
• The big picture: Combined with the Metro, Quito is making a serious investment in public transit. If you're choosing where to live in Quito, proximity to a Metro station or these bus corridors is increasingly valuable

Source: El Telegrafo