Puerto Rico Urban Train Extension | New Lines & Stations
The Puerto Rico Integrated Transportation Authority (ATI/PRITA) is leading the Tren Urbano Northwest Extension Alternatives Analysis — the official study assessing an expansion of the system from Sagrado Corazón station northwest towards Minillas, Miramar, the Convention Center and Old San Juan.
In July 2026 the project took a significant step forward: the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded Puerto Rico a $10 million grant to commission the study, which now expands to also evaluate a connection to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport.
This page summarises the current status, the alternatives on the table and the expected timeline, based on official ATI sources.
Current status (2026)
ATI launched the Tren Urbano Northwest Extension Alternatives Analysis in 2024 — a roughly 20-month process to assess feasibility. The study includes:
Analysis of existing transit conditions in the study area.
Design and evaluation of route and mode alternatives.
Community meetings and public surveys.
Selection of the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA).
In February 2026, at a public meeting held at the Teatro Arriví in Santurce, ATI presented four specific scenarios. ATI executive director Josué Menéndez Agosto said at the time that the analysis was still at a preliminary stage.
In July 2026, the Federal Transit Administration awarded a $10 million grant to commission a high-capacity transit study. Puerto Rico ranked third among more than 1,200 proposals submitted nationally. The analysis will take 12 to 18 months and will assess both the Old San Juan corridor and a new airport connection.
Once a preferred model is identified, ATI will present the results to the Federal Transit Administration to begin applying for construction funding.
Alternatives under evaluation
At the public meeting in February 2026, held at the Teatro Arriví in Santurce, ATI presented four specific scenarios for the extension:
1. Two complementary bus rapid transit (BRT) services. One would run from Sagrado Corazón station to the Covadonga terminal in Old San Juan; the other from Sagrado Corazón to the Convention Center District in Miramar. Both would use dedicated lanes along Avenida Ponce de León.
2. Light rail transit (LRT). It would run from Sagrado Corazón to Covadonga via the Convention Center District, along Avenida Fernández Juncos.
3. An elevated extension of the existing train from Sagrado Corazón to a new underground station at Minillas, where the service would continue to Covadonga by light rail.
4. A fourth alternative presented at the same session, subject to the outcome of the analysis.
The federal grant awarded in July 2026 will allow this analysis to be expanded to also evaluate the airport corridor.
Proposed new stations
| Proposed stop | Area | Interest |
|---|---|---|
| Minillas | North Santurce | Hiram Bithorn Stadium, Roberto Clemente Coliseum |
| Miramar | Miramar | Hotel zone, Escambrón, Sheraton |
| Convention Center | Isla Grande | PRCC, Distrito T-Mobile, congress tourism |
| Old San Juan | Historic district | Tourism, cruise ships, UNESCO heritage |
*Proposed stops only. Final selection depends on the alternatives analysis report.
Timeline and federal funding
| Phase | Period | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Alternatives analysis launch | 2024 | ✅ Complete |
| Community engagement | 2024–2025 | ✅ Complete |
| Public presentation of alternatives | February 2026 | ✅ Complete |
| $10 million federal grant | July 2026 | ✅ Awarded |
| High-capacity study (Old San Juan and airport) | 12–18 months from start | ⏳ Under way |
| Construction funding application | After the study | ⏳ Pending |
| Design and engineering | TBD | 🔲 No date |
| Construction | TBD | 🔲 No date |
*The July 2026 grant funds the study, not the works. Construction will require a further federal funding application.
Frequently asked questions about the extension
When will the Urban Train be extended?
No confirmed date. The study funded by the July 2026 federal grant will take 12 to 18 months. After that, federal FTA funding must be secured, engineering completed, and construction contracted. Similar US transit projects typically take 8–15 years from study approval to opening.
Will the Urban Train reach Old San Juan?
It's one of the options under study, but not guaranteed. The Old San Juan segment is the most technically complex due to the historic district's urban density and heritage restrictions. ATI confirmed in July 2026 that the FTA-funded study assesses both the Old San Juan corridor and the airport corridor.
Will there be a station at the Convention Center?
The Puerto Rico Convention Center and Distrito T-Mobile are among the most supported proposed stops in the study. Currently it can only be reached by bus from Sagrado Corazón, on route 35 (the direct connection, Monday to Friday) or route 21.
Where can I follow project updates?
ATI publishes official updates at tuextension.pr.gov, the dedicated study portal.