TUCSA Cuts Playa del Carmen Public Transit Fleet to 56 Buses

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Transportes Unidos del Carmen (TUCSA) is operating just 56 buses on Playa del Carmen’s public transit routes even though its authorized registry lists nearly 100 vehicles, according to the results of the municipal government’s second vehicle inspection.

Nayeli Molina Rosado, head of the Municipal Transport Department, said the figure also marks a decline from the first review, when the company presented 64 buses. She said some of the vehicles that stopped operating were deregistered for various reasons, and that for now TUCSA is maintaining the fleet it presented during the second inspection.

Nine Buses Still Need to Fix Violations

Of the 56 buses inspected, nine drew observations and remain within the deadline given to correct them. Molina Rosado said the issues were mainly cosmetic — windows, lighting, paint and interior conditions — and that, under the municipal review, they do not currently pose a risk to passenger safety.

The smaller fleet leaves open the question of how TUCSA will replace the units that are no longer in service. Molina Rosado said the municipality is still working with the company on whether it will bring in different vehicles through additions and removals within the authorized registry, since the number of registered units cannot be increased that way.

Any bus added later will have to complete the corresponding process and, if applicable, pass the 2027 mechanical inspection before it can operate. For now, the Municipal Transport Department has not said how many additional units TUCSA might present, while the company runs its Playa del Carmen routes with the 56 buses that passed review.