Tram emergency declaration extension is likely, mayor says; decision comes tomorrow

Cuenca Mayor Marcelo Cabrera says he will probably order an extension of the emergency declaration that allows the city to assume project management of the tram project from CCRC, the Spanish consortium contracted to manage construction.

Cuenca Mayor Marcelo Cabrera

The original 60-day declaration expires tomorrow. Cabrera issued the declaration when negotiations in a contract dispute with CCRC reached an impasse in October and work on the tram came to a standsill. Negotiations continue between the city and CCRC, moderated by the national office of attorney general.

“The Mayor will have to decide tomorrow, most likely to continue with the measure,” the city’s tram project coordinator Romeo Moncayo said Sunday. “This declaration will probably be for longer than 60 days, given the lack of progress at the negotiations.”

Moncayo said the declaration, which applies to work only in the historic district, was justified. “Without it, nothing would have happened since October 14,” he said. “As it is, we’ve been able to finish work and reopen 28 intersections in El Centro and open eight blocks of roadway.”

Work outside the historic district remains stalled. The city says that overall, 80% of the tram tracks for the project have been laid. All rolling stock and computer equipment are in Cuenca.