La Paz Adds to Extensive High-Altitude Cable Car System

President Evo Morales is ramping up the La Paz cable car with $US77.7 million in federal money.

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The cable car, inaugurated only four years ago, connects La Paz at 3,600 meters above sea level, and its neighboring city of El Alto at 4,150 meters. This next phase of the high-altitude transportation system, which will require $US750 million in total, adds an additional five lines to the existing six, making it the most extensive urban gondola project in the world. The latest route in the skyline cab system, the White line, was inaugurated weeks ago.

President Morales introduced the idea of connecting the two sprawling cities by cable car in 2012 and since its installation in 2014, these skyline cabs have provided transportation to some 1 billion locals and tourists.

The Austrian company, Doppelmayr, is responsible for the upcoming construction of the Sky Blue, Brown, Gold, Purple and Silver lines.

The Bolivian government will host a conference on cable car transportation in Latin America on April 3 called, "Experiences and Perspectives on Cable Car Transportation in Latin American Cities." Cesar Dockweiler of the state institution that manages the La Paz cable car system, "My Cable Car", will present Bolivia’s experience of their sky tram system.