Cuba’s Public Transit System Collapses to Record Low Amid Fuel Shortages
Cuba's transport minister reports a record decline in public transit as US fuel sanctions slash bus routes and passenger capacity across the island.
POLICY WIRE — Havana, Cuba — Transportation Minister Eduardo Rodriguez Davila is grappling with a severe national crisis as the country’s transit infrastructure reaches an all-time low. The minister described the daily challenge of moving millions of citizens across the 1,250-kilometer island as a near-impossible task due to a critical lack of fuel.
The ongoing energy crisis, exacerbated by a nine-month-long fuel blockade and intensified sanctions imposed by the United States, has crippled the nation’s mobility. Officials estimate that total passenger trips will plummet by 75% throughout 2026 compared to the previous year.
The impact on daily operations is stark, with bus services from Havana to the provinces falling from 419 daily trips in 2025 to a mere 11 this year. Furthermore, the total number of bus routes operating across the island has been drastically reduced from over 100 down to just 21.
While the U.S. government maintains that these sanctions are necessary to challenge the current administration, both Cuban officials and the United Nations have condemned the blockade as illegal. The restrictions are viewed by Havana as a direct violation of the human rights of the Cuban population.
In response to the scarcity, the Ministry of Transport has implemented optimization measures to prioritize essential travel. These efforts include the restructuring of train schedules, ferry allocations, and bus routes to maximize the utility of the limited fuel resources currently available.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
