Mexico Officials Have Big Plans for Playa del Carmen

---

Long-range planning discussions for Mexico resort areas are always part fun and fantasy, a chance to talk of grand schemes knowing few will happen in our lifetime.

For example, when government officials in Playa del Carmen last week revealed plans calling for a train route connecting Cancun and Tulum, it was easy to let out a little chuckle. Great idea, Mexico industry veterans might agree, but nobody was rushing out to make seat reservations.

Yet, other aspects of the plans certainly offer welcome news for the fast-growing resort and second home industry in the region. In addition to the train, a new toll road west of the Riviera Maya coastline and a replacement for the over-worked 307 highway from Cancun are also on the agenda, reports Thomas Lloyd of Top Mexico Real Estate, who attended the meeting.

The meeting on Friday included a wide range of top government officials, planning executives and architects, Lloyd reports. They have been working on the urban development plan for Playa del Carmen, including the vacation home centers of Akumal and Puerto Aventuras.

Once known primarily as the port for the ferry to Cozumel, Playa del Carmen exploded in the last decade. One in five residents have lived in the area for more than five years, Lloyd notes.

The streets around Fifth Avenue, the main drag, are now home to a wide variety of Euro-style restaurants, boutique hotels and small condo projects, a sharp contrast to the all-inclusive resorts that dominate the Riviera Maya.

But there have been more than a few growing pains. Congestions and spotty services are among the typical complains, especially as constructions moves down the coast toward Tulum.

A replacement for 307 would certainly help the traffic issues, especially for travelers eager to bypass Cancun. In similar fashion, the proposed toll road would link to the existing Merida toll road, offering Riviera Maya residents easier access to the wonders of the Yucatan.

The new roads would also provide a connection to the long-discussed airport proposed for west of Tulum, which now appears close to becoming a reality.

---