Mexico City Government to Renew 5,800 Microbuses

The Mexico City Government aims to improve the city’s mobility and public transportation infrastructure through renewal programs to change all microbuses by 2024 to reduce gas emissions and improve transportation efficiency. The government will replace 5,800 microbuses in the metropolitan area between 2023 and 2024, collaborating with concessionaires, explained the administration via a press release. 

"With this, we have everything to be able to replace the microbuses in Mexico City between 2023 and 2024, doing a very important job with the carriers so that they come closer and can enter this very important program that allows us to have these modern buses," said Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico City’s Governor. 

The state government explained that the program will be operated by the Ministry of Mobility (SEMOVI) through its “Modernization Program for Concessionary Transport.” SEMOVI, headed by Andrés Lajous, aims to “regulate, schedule, guide, organize, control, approve and, when appropriate, modify the presentation of public, commercial and private passenger and cargo transport services in Mexico City. The ministry works to improve the capital’s mobility needs, preserve its environment and the safety of transportation users.  

Nacional Financiera (NAFIN) will collaborate with the government for concessionaires to obtain a 12.60% interest rate in case they request a renewal loan. Sheinbaum highlighted that the rate is one of the lowest available and that the administration has already delivered 2,485 scrap bonds.

The Mexico City government has also invested in connecting the Chalco municipality with Mexico City via Iztapalapa with the construction of the Chalco-Santa Marta Trolleybus, which is forecasted to be completed in July 2023. The project seeks to improve connectivity in the East region of Mexico City’s metropolitan area and is set to benefit over 120,000 users in the initial phase and 230,000 users when concluded, as reported by MBN.