Costa Rican transportation officials are looking for European funding to study a public transit connection between Juan Santamaría International Airport and the planned electric train network. The proposal would connect the airport terminal with the railway line near Río Segundo, removing one of the main barriers facing travelers who want to use public transportation between the San Jose airport and the Greater Metropolitan Area.
Officials are considering several possible systems, including a monorail or light rail service. The technical studies would determine which option is best suited to the short connection, as well as its cost, design and possible construction timeline. The Costa Rican Railway Institute (Incofer), is developing the plan with the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation and Aeris, the company that manages Juan Santamaría International Airport.
The agencies hope to finance the studies through non-repayable cooperation funds from the European Union. However, the funding has not yet been confirmed, and authorities have not established how much the studies or eventual construction would cost. Transportation officials expect to get approval to begin the studies in December 2026.
The airport connection would link to the planned TIBI electric train project. From Río Segundo, passengers could continue by rail toward Alajuela, Heredia, San José and Cartago. Officials also want the transit system coordinated with the planned expansion of the highway between San José and San Ramón. That road project includes a new interchange in front of the airport designed to bring together cars, buses, trains and other forms of transportation.
A survey conducted among Costa Rican and international travelers found that 82 percent of respondents would be willing to use a public transportation connection at the airport if one were available. Juan Santamaría currently has public buses serving San José, Alajuela and other destinations, but the terminal does not have a direct rail connection. Many arriving passengers instead depend on taxis, ride-hailing services, rental cars or private hotel transfers.
The gap is particularly noticeable for visitors traveling into San José, where congestion along the General Cañas Highway can make travel times unpredictable. A rail connection has been discussed previously, but the latest proposal remains at an early stage. No technology has been selected, no construction funding has been approved and no opening date has been announced.
The studies will determine whether the project is technically and financially practical before the government decides whether to move ahead.
