Permits For Transisthmic Corridor, Extensions For Mayan Train

SEMARNAT has decided to take markedly different approaches with two of this administration’s flagship rail infrastructure projects. On one hand, it approved the environmental impact report of the Transisthmic Corridor’s development for the rehabilitation of almost 133km of rail lines between the ports of Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, and Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz. El Universal reported that SEMARNAT included a number of special instructions in its authorization calling for the formation of municipal surveillance committees to address concerns of local communities worried about the ecological and socioeconomic impacts of the project. 

On the other hand, FONATUR claimed this week that SEMARNAT granted it a special extension so that they could deliver their own environmental impact report for the Mayan Train after work on it had begun, even though the law clearly stipulates that the report must be submitted and approved before any infrastructure project can be launched.  

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Industrial Parks to Be Built Around Transisthmic Corridor

During one of his last stops in his tour around Mexico’s southeastern states, President López Obrador delivered a speech at the Medias Aguas train station in the town of Sayula de Aleman, Veracruz. This train station was originally built in 1910 and will now be one of the stations rehabilitated as part of the Transisthmic Corridor project, which the president says will now also include the construction of 10 industrial parks along the route of the corridor’s rail lines. 

These industrial parks will operate under special fiscal conditions similar to those of other industrial facilities in cities near the US-Mexico border to maximize their job creation capabilities. The president also announced that the project will receive a total investment of US$925.69 million. 

Mayan Train to Run On Diesel Instead Of Electricity

A report released this week by El Universal described FONATUR’s decision to power the Mayan Train through diesel fuel instead of electricity. According to the report, a cost-benefit analysis revealed this to be the less expensive option. However, El Univeral’s analysis reveals that, based on SENER figures, Mexico will not produce enough diesel by the time the train is ready to start operations to satisfy its demand, which means the Mayan Train might have to run on imported fuels. 

Tropical Storms Damage Interstate Highways

The landfall of tropical storms Cristóbal and Amanda made SCT initiate its emergency protocols after serious damage was reported on the interstate highways connecting the states of Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche and Quintana Roo. SCT redirected traffic as it refilled the base terrain for segments of the Escarcega-Chetumal highway after excessive water damage created landslides under the highway’s concrete. 

Mexico Now A Part of Global Port Authority Roundtable

Singapore’s Maritime Port Authority has invited Mexico to join its global Port Authority Roundtable, an initiative meant to make a select group of countries commit to maintaining global supply chains running by taking special measures to keep their ports open. They also make a commitment to remain in contact and coordination with each other through a constant schedule of meetings and communications.