FONATUR Will Minimize Mayan Train’s Carbon Footprint

In an interview published yesterday with La Jornada Maya, Mayan Train and FONATUR Environmental Coordinator Luis Miguel del Villar Ponce explained that studies are currently being performed to guarantee the project’s minimal impact on nature and indigenous communities. The project is set to cross two national biosphere reserves: Calakmul and Balamku. Villar Ponce made it clear that endemic flora and fauna would be sheltered and that the additional problems of archeological ruins and legally protected communities in Calakmul would be addressed appropriately.

Meanwhile, another interview given this week to El Economista by FONATUR Director Rogelio Jiménez Pons, guaranteed that leaving the construction of the sixth and seventh segments of the Mayan Train to military engineers and builders from SEDENA would generate savings of up to 25 percent. 

Ready for more? Here’s the Week in Infrastructure!

Mayan Train Accumulates Suspensions, Bad Press

Yet another judge has ordered a limited suspension of work surrounding the Mayan train project. In this case, a Chiapas judge has issued legal protections from the project to the Mayan Ch’ol community who reside in and around the city of Palenque. FONATUR responded to the suspension by highlighting the fact the they were not planning on building new rail lines on that area but rehabilitating old ones. 

Meanwhile, FONATUR headlined yet another public argument over press mediums concerning a piece critical of the Mayan Train published in Proceso. The article in question highlighted the proximity between Mayan Train contractor Mota Engil and notorious Mexican political players. 

Military Aircraft Depart From Santa Lucia

A total of 22 planes falling under military use have left what remains of the Santa Lucia military base to make more room for the new airport’s ongoing construction. They include 14 heavy military transport aircraft that will be moved to the Toluca International Airport: eight CASA C-295s, four Alenia C-27J Spartan and two Lockheed C-130 Hercules. The remaining eight planes are four Boeing 737s that will be moved to the Mexico City International Airport and four Northrop F-5s that will go to a base in Ixtepec, Oaxaca. All helicopters and other rotorcraft will remain in Santa Lucia for the time being. Additionally, eight Beechcraft King Air 350s that make up the Aerial Vigilance Squadron will be moved to Queretaro. 

Seven Development Projects For Tuxpan Port

A total of seven development investments were announced for the Tuxpan port. Funds come from a variety of private companies. These projects are expected to increase the port’s oil storage capacity almost four to five-fold, from between 2.1MMb and 2.7MMb to 10.1MMb, representing a total of over US$936.64 million in investments. 

Cushman & Wakefield Suggest New Paths for Housing Market

Renowned real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield published a report this week analyzing the best possible options for real estate investment in a post-COVID-19 world. The five types of investment selected as the most optimal were those surrounding projects in self-storage, data centers, laboratories and office space for medical companies, residential complexes for the elderly and student housing.