The government is in talks with the concessionaire of Teleférico Bicentenario to assess integrating its fares into Red Movilidad, Santiago's public transport system. Undersecretary of the Interior Máximo Pavez confirmed this on Saturday.
According to BioBioChile, the negotiations follow criticism from Huechuraba Mayor Maximiliano Luksic over the cost the service would entail for residents of his municipality.
Pavez said government and company representatives met on Friday to review alternatives. "It is a private concession and, therefore, there is a discussion aimed at finding mechanisms for possible integration," he said.
The undersecretary said the government wants the cable car to be affordable for as many people as possible. However, he pointed to a specific obstacle: fare integration was not part of the awarded concession contract.
What would change for users? Currently, according to Luksic's letter, each leg would cost more than $1,000, with no reduced fares for students or older adults. In addition, anyone combining the cable car with buses in the system would have to pay separately. Integration would allow passengers to use Red Movilidad's existing payment and transfer scheme, although the sources have yet to specify what the final fare would be.
The mayor also alleged that, despite previous commitments, his discussions with the government indicated that the project would operate outside the integrated system.
The cable car will connect Huechuraba with Providencia in about 13 minutes. According to Luksic, that journey can currently take up to an hour.
Following Pavez's remarks, the mayor welcomed the government's openness on X. However, he insisted that the service must be for everyday use, rather than only for those who can spend around 50 thousand additional pesos per month on travel.
For now, there is no final agreement between the government and the concessionaire. Integration remains under consideration.
