The Voice of Nosara


home	regional	community	sports	entertainment	surf	nature	health		en Espa�ol	English


Archives

	December 09
	January 2010
	February 2010
	Water Edition
	March 2010
	April 2010
	May 2010
	June 2010
	July 2010
	August 2010
	September 10
	October 10
	November 10
	December 10
	January 2011
	February 2011
	March 2011
	April 2011
	May 2011
	June 2011
	July 2011
	August 2011
	September 11
	October 11
	November 11
	December 11
	January 2012
	February 2012
	March 2012
	April 2012
	May 2012
	June 2012
	July 2012
	August 2012
	September 12
	October 12
	November 12
	December 12
	January 13
	February 13
	March 13
	April 13
	May 13


Media Partners

	El Pais

	Inside Costa Rica

	Costa Spirit

	Q Costa Rica

	Today Costa Rica

	El Sabanero


connect


	FaceBook

	Twitter

CLASSIFIEDS

community

	Nosara Animal Care

	Nosara Info

	Esquelita de Nosara

	Friends of Nosara

	Nosara Civic Association

	Nosara Wildlife

Danger at Samara Intersection
Bus Stop Locations Create Hazard for Drivers and Pedestrians

By Arianna McKinney

If someone isn't paying attention and using the proper caution, an accident could easily occur at the main intersection entering Samara, especially when buses are present, reducing visibility of oncoming traffic.

"This is dangerous," affirmed Public Force officer Rafael Castillo Sandi, especially when people don't take the time to look both ways before turning or crossing the intersection, although no major accident has happened up until now.

The bus companies, Alfaro and TRAROC, are aware of the potential dangers but so far an alternative location to load and unload the buses has not been identified.

TRAROC's buses travel through Samara en route to and from Nicoya and Carrillo 12 times per day. TRAROC's administrator, Yorleny Gutierrez Arias, said the company is requesting an observational study of their bus stops from the Council of Public Transportation (CTP-Consejo de Transporte Publico).

Traffic backs up behind a TRAROC bus stopped in front of the Alfaro office
along the main road through Samara in route to Carrillo.

Cars turn right around a bus stopped at the corner of the main intersection in
Samara although it is hard to see if cars are coming from the other direction.

Gutierrez related that some of TRAROC's drivers have reported cars passing the buses when the buses are collecting people, endangering the people in the bus, the people waiting as well as the people coming in the car. Some of the drivers have tried stopping the bus before or after the bus stop to minimize the danger, but the people who ride the bus complain when they don't stop exactly where the bus stop is located. "There is a lack of knowledge about the law or the danger," she lamented regarding the bad location of the bus stops. "People don't really know the danger that exists. The current bus stops are too dangerous."

She indicated that buses should not stop where there is a curve or where the car behind them doesn't have visibility.

Ramón Angulo Angulo, in charge of the regional CTP office for Guanacaste, stated that the buses must stop where the bus stops authorized by the CTP are located. He added that a study must be performed to see where it is feasible to locate a bus stop and he promised to be in touch with TRAROC about the issue.

On the other hand, Alfaro's buses run once or twice a day to and from San Jose, stopping in front of the Alfaro office to load and unload passengers and packages.

"There has never been an accident," commented Lidieth Lopez Fajardo, who works in Super San Rafael, next to where the buses stop. "Alfaro stops here but it's once a day. It's not a problem. At this hour the traffic is very slow."

Emilce Ramirez Steller, who oversees the Alfaro depot in Samara, indicated that about a year ago Alfaro installed a little ramp to load when the buses come from Carrillo, but when the buses go toward Carrillo they stop in the road directly in front of the office. "Neither there nor here is correct, but we don't have another place," she said.

Ramirez observed that when a lot of cars are coming and going while the bus is there, it sometimes creates some small problems, but in general they haven't received complaints. "The people are very laid back," she noted.

More Regional News

Mayor of Nicoya Takes a Rest For Health Problems

The mayor of Nicoya, Marco Antonio Jimenez, presented a disability notice on Monday, February 20th, before the Municipal Council because health problems impede him from exercising his labor for 22 days.

ASADA Nosara elects New Board of Directors
Old meter prices and water taps could return

At the Feb. 22 annual meeting of the water board (Asada) for the American Project, a new president was elected and outgoing President Rick Walker revealed some news for returning the ASADA to a sound financial structure.

Fire in the Nosara River Mouth Was Controlled by Firefighters

On Wednesday, February 22, residents of the Nosara river mouth were surprised when they saw a fire coming between the bank of the river and the bushes. The fire was the result of a bonfire left the night before, and it took Nosara’s volunteer fire brigade two hours to extinguish it.

Water Outages in the American Project to Continue through February

Periodic extended water outages may last another ten days throughout the American Project while the Asada, or water system, struggles with sputtering wells, budgetary, maintenance and personnel issues.

Motorcyclist Taken to Hospital after Accident in Barco Quebrado

William Garita Jimenez of Barco Quebrado was taken by ambulance to the hospital in Nicoya on Wednesday morning, February 15th after being hit by a truck.

OIJ Investigate Cause of Tuanis Fire

On Tuesday February 7, agents of the OIJ (Judicial Police) from San Jose were at “Tuanis” furniture manufacturer, which was burnt to the ground last Sunday, looking for evidence to determine if the fire had been intentionally set.

Fire Destroyed Furniture Manufacturer "Tuanis" in Guiones

On Sunday February 5th, around 7 AM, the furniture manufacturer "Tuanis", located on route 160 in Playa Nosara, went completely up in flames. Nosara volunteer firefighters were the first to reach the fire, using water from the pool at The Village Foods.

New Law Looks to Organize Market in Liquor Licenses
• Municipalities Will Benefit

When it comes to profits from the sale of liquor, both the owner of the bar and the owner of the liquor license that the bar utilizes can take a big slice of the pie. But only 300 colones per year of the liquor license use tax goes to the municipality Why? Because the law that regulates these licenses dates back to 1936.

Better Late Than Never: The Montaña River Will Finally Have a Bridge

After Nosara and Ostional residents endlessly requested that the Government build a bridge over the Montaña River, it has finally become a reality. Since January 9th, machinery has been hard at work with breaking ground and opening the space needed to access the Bailey bridge.

Nicoya, Nosara and Samara Plan Projects for 2012 National Budget

Two motorcycles for the Public Force of Nosara, computers for schools in the district of Samara and new sidewalks for the park in Nicoya are the projects that have been selected for investing funds from the National Budget of Specific Items for 2012.

Municipal Power Struggle Hinders Budget for 2012

The Municipality will likely have to work with an adjusted version of the 2011 budget this year, according to Municipal Code article 98, since the 2012 budget was not approved by the General Controller of the Republic (CGR) due to issues with the proper approval procedure.