Bogotá Metro Line 1 Nears Testing Phase, Forcing Choices on Network Integration

Bogotá’s first metro line reached 73.75 percent completion by February 2026, with test runs now scheduled for July 2026 ahead of commercial service in March 2028.

The timing matters because the city already logs drivers losing more than 10 days a year to rush-hour gridlock and sees average peak speeds fall to 11 mph. Any delay in coordinating the metro with existing systems risks worsening those conditions on corridors that currently carry millions of daily riders.

Current network pressures

TransMilenio operates 12 lines at a flat COP 2,950 fare while the SITP zonal buses fill gaps across the city. More than 650 kilometres of bike paths and the Tembici shared-bike scheme already move commuters who avoid both cars and buses. Pico y Placa restrictions continue to limit private vehicles by plate number on weekdays, yet congestion remains severe on major arteries feeding the planned metro stations.

These layers create immediate coordination tasks. Officials must decide whether metro fares will match the TransMilenio rate or require new transfer rules, how bike-path connections at stations will be funded, and whether Pico y Placa zones will shift once the line opens.

Decisions required before March 2028

With test runs imminent, transport authorities need to finalise station access points that protect the 650-kilometre cycling network and set clear integration protocols between the metro, SITP buses and TransMilenio. Without those steps, the 11 mph peak speeds and 10-day annual delay figures are unlikely to improve once the first trains run.

Planners are also weighing how the new line will affect existing Pico y Placa enforcement zones and whether additional bike-sharing stations near metro stops can be added before commercial service begins. Those choices will determine whether the metro reduces pressure on the city’s busiest corridors or simply adds another layer to an already complex system.