Transport in Panama

Transport in Panama is fairly well developed. The majority of the trips are done by car while a great part in public transport. The public transportation system is in need of modernization and other improvements.

Railways

mules for the ship handling tracks along the Panama Canal locks

See also Panama Metro

Road system

Highways are well developed for Central American standards. In Panama there are 4 expressways working, all of them requiring toll payment:

Furthermore, the Pan-American highway, has been upgraded to a 4-lane, dual carriageway highway on its stretch from Panama City to Santiago de Veraguas, counting for 248 km of freeway. Also, a small section of the Pan-American highway from Tocumen to Pacora, counting for 18 km has been upgraded to freeway. The same accounts for the Pan-American stretch between David and Capacho, on the border with Costa Rica, adding 55 km of freeway, and for the newly built freeway between David and Bajo Boquete, that extends for 38 km, and for the Chitré - Las Tablas freeway that extends for 30 km.

Panama's roads, traffic and transportation systems are generally safe, but traffic lights often do not exist, even at busy intersections. Driving is often hazardous and demanding due to dense traffic, undisciplined driving habits, poorly maintained streets, and a lack of effective signs and traffic signals. On roads where poor lighting and driving conditions prevail, night driving is difficult. Night driving is particularly hazardous on the old Panama City – Colon highway.[2]

Buses and taxis are not always maintained in a safe operating condition due to lack of regulatory enforcement. Since 2007, auto insurance is mandatory in Panama.[3] Traffic in Panama moves on the right, and Panamanian law requires that drivers and passengers wear seat belts.[2]

Flooding during the April to December rainy season occasionally makes city streets impassable and washes out some roads in the interior of the country. In addition, rural areas are often poorly maintained and lack illumination at night. Such roads are generally less traveled and the availability of emergency roadside assistance is very limited. Road travel is more dangerous during the rainy season and in the interior from Carnival through Good Friday. Carnival starts the Saturday prior to Ash Wednesday and goes on for four days.[2]

Waterways

Mules maneuvering a ship through the Miraflores locks in the Panama Canal.

800 km navigable by shallow draft vessels; 82 km Panama Canal

Pipelines

crude oil 130 km

Ports and harbors

Atlantic Ocean

Pacific Ocean

Other

Merchant marine

total: 5,005 ships (1,000 gross register tons (GRT) or over) totaling 122,960,929 GRT/183,615,337 tonnes deadweight (DWT)
ships by type: (June 2005 Update est.)


note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 71 countries among which are (2005 update)


Foreign Owned Ships: 4,388

  • Andorra 1
  • Argentina 9
  • Australia 3
  • Bahamas 1
  • Belgium 14
  • Brazil 1
  • Canada 1
  • Chile 14
  • China 310
  • Colombia 5
  • Croatia 1
  • Cuba 9
  • Cyprus 7
  • Denmark 13
  • Egypt 15
  • France 7
  • Germany 23
  • Greece 546
  • Hong Kong 159
  • India 8
  • Indonesia 46
  • Ireland 1
  • Isle of Man 2
  • Israel 3
  • Italy 8
  • Japan 1814
  • Jordan 9
  • Latvia 2
  • Lithuania 5
  • Malaysia 11
  • Maldives 1
  • Malta 1
  • Mexico 4
  • Monaco 8
  • Netherlands 22
  • New Zealand 1
  • Nigeria 6
  • Norway 66
  • Pakistan 1
  • Peru 13
  • Philippines 15
  • Poland 19
  • Portugal 8
  • Romania 13
  • Russia 4
  • Saudi Arabia 4
  • Singapore 54
  • South Africa 3
  • South Korea 292
  • Spain 41
  • Sri Lanka 1
  • Sudan 1
  • Sweden 4
  • Switzerland 188
  • Syria 7
  • Taiwan 301
  • Thailand 10
  • Trinidad & Tobago 1
  • Tunisia 1
  • Turkey 18
  • Ukraine 9
  • UAE 83
  • United Kingdom 29
  • United States 88
  • Venezuela 20
  • Vietnam 2
  • Yemen 1

Airports

117 (2006 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 53

over 3,047 m: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 5

914 to 1,523 m: 18

under 914 m: 28 (2006 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways


total: 64
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 53 (2006 est.)

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://ediciones.prensa.com/mensual/contenido/2003/02/21/hoy/nacionales/884959.html
  2. 1 2 3 "Panama: Country-specific information". U.S. Department of State (March 18, 2009).  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ↑ http://mensual.prensa.com/mensual/contenido/2007/02/27/hoy/panorama/903035.html
  4. ↑ http://www.copaair.com/

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