Interview with Gonzalo Garfiasm, CEO of Teleférico Bicentenario, Chile

22 Jul Interview with Gonzalo Garfiasm, CEO of Teleférico Bicentenario, Chile

How would you describe the Teleférico Bicentenario’s impact on urban mobility and the future of Santiago?

The Teleférico Bicentenario is Chile’s first urban public-transit cable car and represents a new way of understanding mobility. More than a piece of infrastructure, it is a project that connects opportunities. It links areas separated by a geographic barrier such as the Metropolitan Park, cutting trips of more than 45 minutes down to just 13 minutes. It will directly benefit more than 620,000 residents who travel between the northern and eastern sectors of Santiago for work, education or access to services. It is a public-transit project that complements the Metro and RED, improving people’s quality of life.

This project also shows that the cities of the future must take advantage of every mobility solution available. There is no single answer to urban challenges. Metro, buses, trains, bike lanes and cable cars are complementary systems that, properly integrated, make it possible to build more connected, inclusive and sustainable cities.

Can you give us an overview of the progress of the construction of the project, final milestones to be realized and the project’s delivery timeline?

Construction of the project, awarded to the firms Icafal Ingeniería y Construcción S.A. and Doppelmayr Seilbahnen GmbH, began in October 2024 and to date has reached roughly 85% completion. In late June 2026, all 121 cabins were installed, marking the start of the commissioning process, which brings the cable car into operation in order to carry out dynamic testing that guarantees the highest standards of safety and reliability. Public operation is scheduled for the first quarter of 2027, once all safety certifications and authorization from the Ministry of Public Works (MOP) have been completed.

During the development of the Teleférico Bicentenario, we visited various countries in the region to gather experience and lessons learned for both the construction and operation phases. However, one of the main lessons we concluded is that there is no single model for carrying out this type of project; rather, each country and geographic location has its own particularities that make every cable car a challenge in itself.

One important point is to approach these projects from the user’s perspective. The design must address the experience of the passenger who will use this mode of transport every day. Along these lines, one of the aspects we observed in the region is how much users value this type of infrastructure when its main goal is to deliver a concrete benefit to the public, such as connectivity. By requirement of the MOP under its Concession Contract, the Teleférico Bicentenario project must be built in accordance with the latest applicable regulations, both national and international, bringing in the best practices and learnings from around the world.

How will the Teleférico Bicentenario contribute to economic development, investment, tourism and opportunities for the real estate sector?

The project involves an investment of close to $130 million. Beyond the investment, we believe the main impact will be in the urban development it can generate. Better connectivity tends to translate into new opportunities for people, for commerce, services, employment and real estate development. In particular, the Ciudad Empresarial district is shifting from an area intended mainly for offices into a comprehensive urban hub that incorporates residential buildings, offices, universities and more.

Although the cable car was conceived as Chile’s first urban public-transit cable car, it will surely also become a new tourist attraction for those who visit Santiago. As happens in many cities around the world, the two dimensions are complementary and add value to the city.

The Teleférico Bicentenario is a fully electric transit system, accessible to people with reduced mobility, older adults, bicycles and strollers. Its small land footprint and the reduction in travel times contribute to a more sustainable city, with the aim of providing public-transit solutions for people through a clean and sustainable alternative. This new mode makes it possible to replace trips that today are made by polluting modes, such as buses and private vehicles, with a mode that delivers a new level of transport in an environmentally friendly way.

What innovation, digital technologies and smart transportation solutions have you incorporated into the design and how will these improve the user experience as they ride in the cable car?

The Teleférico Bicentenario incorporates state-of-the-art technology. The 121 “Omega V” cabins feature high-efficiency supercap technology that allows their batteries to charge electrically as they pass through the stations. These cabins are also smart, equipped with the Cabin Connect system, which lets them connect to the control center for two-way communication, continuous recording, Wi-Fi and more.

The innovation is aimed at simplifying the user experience. The cable car will feature next-generation validators and digital payment methods via contactless cards and QR-code apps, allowing greater operational flexibility, real-time monitoring and efficient administration. In addition, we are working with the Ministry of Transport and the MOP to advance fare integration with RED through the Bip! card, reinforcing a simple, integrated travel experience. The Teleférico Bicentenario incorporates state-of-the-art operation, monitoring and control systems, designed to ensure high levels of safety, availability and operational efficiency.

Miami is a strategic hub for infrastructure investment and international partnerships. How does this project and others like it reinforce the strategic connectivity between Chile and Miami for business and tourism?

It is well known that Miami has established itself as a meeting point for investors, developers and infrastructure-related companies across the Americas. In that context, projects like the Teleférico Bicentenario show that Chile remains a country capable of developing complex infrastructure under clear rules and with a long-term vision. The country has successfully demonstrated that public-private partnerships make it possible to develop high-standard infrastructure.

The Teleférico Bicentenario is an example of the successful concessions model driven by the General Directorate of Concessions of the MOP. Collaboration between the State and the private sector has made it possible to develop innovative infrastructure with a long-term vision, positioning Chile as a regional benchmark.

The portfolio of concession projects that the MOP has planned for the next four years is on the order of $15 billion, incorporating high-standard, sustainable and innovative infrastructure. In addition to continuing transport, prison and hospital infrastructure projects, desalination was recently added through the concession of the Coquimbo Desalination Plant.

This concession model is a cornerstone of the country’s development, driving new projects not only to solve a specific need that improves people’s quality of life, but also to be carried out using the latest technology in an innovative and sustainable way.

What is your closing message for the readers of the Miami Herald?

The cities of the future require infrastructure that brings people and opportunities closer together. The Teleférico Bicentenario shows that when the public and private sectors work collaboratively, it is possible to develop innovative, sustainable and people-centered solutions. We hope the Teleférico Bicentenario will be the first of many cable cars in the region and the country, as they offer an efficient urban mobility alternative to provide connectivity solutions to places that, even in 2026, still face connection problems.