Metro station designers forgot Panama rains

THE DESIGNERS of the elevated stations of Metro Line 1 did not take into account that Panama is a tropical country where it rains half the year.

San Miguelito, Pan de Azucar and Los Andes are the most exposed to heavy rains and winds and  users exiting trains have to use umbrellas to move to the escalators  as water falls on the platforms and mezzanines of the stations. Cleaning staff are kept busy  drying floors to avoid accidents.

Experts say that the structures should be improved, starting with the roofs which do  not cover the whole area.

Adriano Ferrer, engineer and former director of Inspection of the Ministry of Public Works said a ceilings need to be  extended  and channels introduced to carry water away reports La Prensa

At the same time, he suggested the construction of roofed sidewalks that connect the Metro stations with bus stops

Honorio Quezada, user representative to the board of the Transit Authority (ATTT) said that, indeed, the problem needs be corrected and asked the authorities to respond.

The president of the Panamanian Society of Engineers and Architects (SPIA) Nicholas Real concluded that the situation is due to a “bad design”, which did not take into account the rainfall in the country and the eaves of the roof need to be extended.

Agustín Arias, director of Engineering of Metro de Panama said that designs are being tendered to include structural improvements at stations.

He said that work will begin in 2016 in San Isidro, Los Andes and San Miguelito stations.

In  2017 it is planned to include improvements  Pan de Azucar, Pueblo Nuevo and Octobre 12.

Regarding Metro Line 2, the Director of Engineering confirmed that the design was changed to allow 16 more stations to be  protected against the rain.

Line 1 of the Panama Metro was designed to handle up to 15,000 people an hour sense in its infancy and up to 40,000 people per hour by  2035.