TransMilenio and Metro de Bogotá have permanently closed the Calle 76 station on Avenida Caracas to accommodate city rail construction [1, 2].
This reconfiguration is a critical step in the development of the first line of the Metro de Bogotá. The shift alters how thousands of daily commuters navigate the Caracas corridor, forcing a transition to new infrastructure to make room for the rail system [1, 2].
To mitigate the loss of the Calle 76 stop, the city opened the new Calle 72 station on Saturday, Aug. 22 [1]. This reopening follows a period where the Calle 72 station had been closed for more than one year [5].
The new facility is designed to handle high volumes of traffic as the city transitions its transit layout. Officials said the Calle 72 station now provides access to 18 different services [4].
Commuters who previously relied on the Calle 76 station must now use alternative routes. The permanent closure of the site is necessary because the Metro de Bogotá construction requires the specific land and corridor space previously occupied by the BRT station [1, 2].
TransMilenio and Metro de Bogotá officials said the changes are part of a broader effort to integrate the Bus Rapid Transit system with the upcoming rail line. The new mobility plan in the zone includes adjusted routes to ensure that the closure of the Calle 76 stop does not leave gaps in public transportation coverage [2, 3].
City transit authorities said the new station is now fully operational and available to the public as of this past Saturday [1].
“The permanent closure of the site is necessary because the Metro de Bogotá construction requires the specific land.”
The permanent removal of established BRT stations in favor of Metro infrastructure signals a fundamental shift in Bogotá's urban planning. By prioritizing the rail line over the existing Caracas trunk layout, the city is moving toward a multi-modal transit system, though the transition creates short-term disruptions for commuters accustomed to specific stop locations.
