Mexico City details plans for cable car system

Cablebús, the first cable car system for public transport to be developed in Mexico City, will be comprised of four lines, linking the outskirts of the capital to the central area, according to city mayor Claudia Sheinbaum.

At her daily press conference on Wednesday, Sheinbaum and members of the local public transport ministry, said that the system will be 34km long and its construction will require combined investments of 18bn pesos (US$940mn).

The first two lines of the system will require total investments of 3bn pesos. Construction on both of them will be carried out this year, with the system expected to open in 2020.

All the lines will serve hilly areas of the city, where residents experience long commutes to other mass transport systems, particularly the metro.

The decision to implement the system was based on international best practices, such as in the cities of Medellín, Colombia, and La Paz, Bolivia, where cable car systems have contributed to reduce crime and violence, Sheinbaum said.

The system will also help to significantly reduce carbon emissions, according to authorities.

To date, there is only one cable car line serving as a public transport option in the country, the Mexicable, which is located in the Ecatepec municipality of Mexico state.

LINE 1

The first line, which at 9.4km is expected to be the system's longest, will link the hilly neighborhood of Cuautepec to Indios Verdes, both areas in the city's northern Gustavo A. Madero district.

One of the line's terminals will be located near the Indios Verdes clinic. The other stations will be located at the IPN's ESIME campus, La Pastora – which will also serve as a multimodal transfer station and service garage – Campos Revolución and Cuautepec.

A smaller branch will link Campos Revolución to the Chiquihuite hill, which is famous for being home to several radio and TV transmitters, as well as other telecommunications equipment.

The project is expected to benefit some 326,000 area residents, who are expected to see their commuting times cut from 77 to 46 minutes. Although authorities are still defining how much they will charge for the service, it is expected to be significantly lower than current transportation costs.

All the cars will feature WiFi and a CCTV security system. The line is scheduled to operate from 5:30am to midnight.

The international tender for the construction of the line will be launched on March 4, with April 15 as the tentative opening date for bids. The contract winner is expected to be announced on May 2, so that works can begin 10 days later.

In addition to the cable car line, Cuautepec will also see the construction of Pilares community centers and the implementation of programs to improve safety and reorganize other public transport options.

OTHER LINES

The second line of the system will serve to connect the hilly area of Santa Catarina to Constitución de 1917 metro station, both in the Iztapalapa district.

The third line will be built in the Tlalpan district and will link the neighborhoods near the Ajusco volcano to the UNAM campus. A fourth will be built in the Álvaro Obregón district.

TRANSPARENCY

Although the tender requirements for the construction of the first line are still being drafted, the government already signed an agreement with the United Nations Office for Project Services (Unops) so that the organization can provide technical advice and oversee the pre-tender and tender phase of the project.