Panama leads in economic growth and traveling time

While Panama has led economic growth in Latin America for the last five years, its citizens have not benefitted in terms of urban mobility and spend over two hours a day getting two and from work.

A report  on urban growth prepared by the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) on urban growth reveals that Panamanians who use public transport spend 72 minutes moving from their homes to work and another 72 minutes getting home.

That translates into over two hours a day compared to the average in Latin America of 40 minutes each way.

Juan Vargas, the chief economist of the Directorate of Socioeconomic Research of the CAF, said that Panama’s challenge, like its Latin American counterparts, is to improve mobility to take cope with the growth of urban areas.

In Panama, the average journey of a public transport user is 17 kilometers, while in the region it is less than 12 kilometers.

The report highlights the progress that has been made with the construction of Metro Line 1  and plans to build new extensions.

To enhance the development of the urban areas, the CAF suggests promoting the use of mixed zones where the centers of production and business are close to homes.