KM 4

Existing Conditions

The Km 4 viaduct sits at the intersection of Ruta 2 (east-west) and the Supercarretera (north-south). The viaduct was built in 2016 by Itaipu Binacional to replace a congested and unsafe roundabout. Despite its infrastructural heft, it is a major activity hub for residents of Ciudad del Este, many of whom consider it the “true center of town”. Because of this locus of activity, many intercity and regional buses detour here to pick up and drop off passengers as they travel along Ruta 2 to Asunción or Foz do Iguaçu. Unfortunately, pedestrian infrastructure is considerably lacking. Crosswalks are faded, and pedestrians have to go under the cavernous overpasses. Additionally, only one side of the Supercarretera has sidewalks. Yet it remains an important pedestrian connection, as it is one of the few places where one can cross Ruta 2.

Intervention Overview

In our transit plan, Km 4 sits at the intersection of the Águila BRT and the Búho Frecuente route. This intersection provides an important opportunity to elaborate how three transit services: the Águila, the Búho, and intercity buses, will articulate with each other amidst extensive highway infrastructure. It must create environments that offer comfortable places for transit users to board or transfer services while also offering an inviting place for pedestrians to cross Ruta 2. Central to our plan is the construction of a BRT and intercity bus station on Ruta 2, immediately west of the intersection.

The transfer station includes platforms for BRT and intercity buses, connected by an overhead pedestrian bridge. At each of the side platforms there are waiting rooms for intercity bus passengers. And at the eastern end, there will be ramps leading down to the Supercarretera, the lower level of our transfer station. The ramps arrive at a building containing a ticketing office and small commercial center located under the viaduct, which is meant to activate this space and make people feel safer using an under-bridge area at night. On the opposite side of the viaduct is a mototaxi stop and in the middle of the Supercarretera is a bus stop for the Búho bus route.

The upper level of transfer station contains a middle island platform and dedicated bus lanes for the BRT, in addition to two side platforms for the intercity buses and their waiting room structures. Above these platforms is the pedestrian cross-over bridge, which will be open to all, not just BRT or intercity bus customers, serving as a north-south pedestrian connection. The lots to the north and south of the station, currently undeveloped land, and a grocery store parking lot respectively, could be reserved for future transit-oriented development.

Upper Level Lower Level

Section across Ruta 2 at intermodal station

As a major transfer station, it is important to visualize how people can connect between the different transit services, in addition to how people can access the station from the street. For this purpose, the following sections visually describe the station from multiple angles.

The section spanning the entire two pages of this spread is the station as viewed from the Supercarretera (essentially a view along Ruta 2 moving east as one moves right and west as one moves left).

The two callout sections cut across the station, looking down Ruta 2 (north as one goes right and south as one moves left). The left callout cuts across the station at the upper level, where the island platforms of the BRT and side platforms (and associated waiting rooms) of the intercity buses can be seen.

Section across Ruta 2 at bridge over Ruta 7

The section spanning the entire two pages of this spread is the station as viewed from the Supercarretera (essentially a view along Ruta 2 moving east as one moves right and west as one moves left). BRT in Quito

Key Objectives Fulfilled