Mexico Moves Toward More Sustainable Mobility

The evolution of cable transportation systems has been remarkable in recent years. Once mainly associated with mountainous areas or areas with difficult access, they have now come to play a crucial role in improving urban mobility in metropolitan environments. Their ability to efficiently and rapidly transport large volumes of passengers makes them a viable and innovative option for reducing traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions in urban areas with big populations.

In addition, the Cablebús have become a tourist attraction in their own right, offering visitors a unique experience with panoramic views of the city from above. Undoubtedly, it is a combination of functionality and practicality that positions them as a versatile tool to promote a better quality of life for all residents.

Mexico continues to position itself as a reference in the investment and implementation of this system, thanks to the vision and development plans of regions like the state of Michoacan, which will not only improve user mobility but also act as an economic engine around stations, promoting local development and sustainability.

With an investment of over MX$3.2 billion (US$188 million), the Michoacan project stands out as one of the largest infrastructure projects in the history of the state, financed through a multifunctional financial model, without public debt, using 100% state resources to demonstrate the strong commitment of state authorities to community development.

It will have a length of 8km and an estimated travel time of just 27 minutes for the entire route, becoming the country's most extensive connected system to date. It will offer a quick, efficient, and environmentally friendly solution. By operating on clean energy, it will help to reduce the ecological footprint in the city and promote more sustainable mobility.

The system will feature 91 cabins and six stops along the route. The Cablebús will play a fundamental role in the urban connectivity of Uruapan by facilitating the daily transportation of thousands of people and improving accessibility to various points within the municipality. Projections estimate that more than 19,000 people will use the system daily, amounting to around 7.1 million trips per year, demonstrating its direct influence on the daily routine of residents.

In addition to its primary function as a means of transportation, this project has the potential to boost the economic and tourist development of the region. The arrival of a modern and efficient transportation system will attract investments, stimulate commercial activity, and generate employment, benefiting the entire community.

Although the cable car as an urban transportation system is not new in the country, this project will serve as a model for other cities in Mexico and Latin America facing similar challenges in terms of urban mobility. By demonstrating and verifying the feasibility and effectiveness of this innovative transportation, reliable precedents are set for the adoption of sustainable technologies throughout the region, undoubtedly indicating the potential for transformation of medium and small cities.

Mexico has great potential to develop a cable transportation network due to its diverse topography in densely populated urban areas. In addition to helping reduce traffic congestion by providing a fast alternative, its construction cost and time are lower compared to other transportation infrastructure projects.

Furthermore, Doppelmayr has completed numerous similar projects, such as the world's largest urban cable car network linking the cities of La Paz and El Alto in Bolivia, benefiting nearly 600,000 citizens who use this convenient and easy connection. The global leader in the sector continues on the path of success with five new urban installations in Bogota, Mexico City, Uruapan, and Santiago de Chile.

These achievements are not only testimonies of technical capability but also of commitment to sustainable mobility. For them to fulfill their function as integral parts of public transportation, it is crucial that they become feeder systems connecting to other mass transportation modes, such as the metro or the metrobus, promoting connectivity and reducing travel times.

Doppelmayr has established itself as a benchmark in the cable transportation construction sector, standing out for its quality, cutting-edge technology, and market leadership for over 130 years. 

With extensive proven experience worldwide, it has made its mark in Mexico through the development, design, and production of iconic projects, such as Line 1 of the Cablebús in Mexico City, and Line 3, the third line of the urban cable car system in Mexico City, contributing to the transformation of the public transportation system towards greater sustainability.