Quito Approves $800M Metro Expansion Adding 3 New Lines by 2030
Chip Moreno
Quito is betting big on underground transit. The city's municipal council has approved an $800 million plan to build three new metro lines over the next four years, dramatically expanding a system that has already reshaped how residents move through the capital.
The Three New Lines
- Line 2 (North-South): A major spine connecting Carapungo in the north to Quitumbe in the south, with 18 stations along the route
- Line 3 (East-West): Linking the Tumbaco valley on the city's eastern fringe to the colonial historic center, with 12 stations
- Line 4 (Airport Connector): A direct rail link from Mariscal Sucre International Airport to downtown Quito, with 8 stations
Construction Timeline
- Line 2: Groundbreaking expected mid-2026, with service beginning in late 2028
- Line 3: Construction starts in 2027, operational by 2030
- Line 4: Construction starts in 2027, trains running by 2029
What This Means for Expats
The airport connector alone could be a game-changer. Right now, getting between Mariscal Sucre airport and central Quito means a 45-to-90-minute taxi or bus ride, depending on traffic. Line 4 would cut that to roughly 25 minutes on a reliable, fixed schedule -- a massive quality-of-life improvement for anyone who travels frequently.
Line 3 is equally significant for the expat community. The Tumbaco valley -- including the popular neighborhoods of Cumbaya and Tumbaco -- is home to a large concentration of foreign residents who currently depend on cars and buses to reach the city center. A metro connection would open up new possibilities for commuting, dining, and socializing without fighting Quito's notorious traffic.
Building on Proven Success
The expansion builds on the strong performance of Line 1, which opened in late 2023 and now carries an average of 280,000 passengers per day. City officials credit the first line with reducing downtown traffic congestion by an estimated 15%, a tangible improvement that helped build the political will for this much larger investment.
