A “Public Transportation Revolution” is Happening in CDMX

Sixty-five busses in Mexico City are now accepting the Integrated Mobility Card as a form of payment to facilitate unit control, quality service, provide drivers with a first-time fixed salary and users more transport options with contactless paying. 

Mexico City’s Integrated Mobility Card (MI) is now available for the city’s transportation with a cost of MX$7 with a four-route coverage in the Legaria Corridor that can potentially attend over 65,000 users. All of the routes depart from Metro Tacuba and travel to Especialidades Médicas, San Isidro, Tecamachalco or ESIA, allowing 72 stops in between.

The new units substitute 173 busses from Route 17 and 28, which were over 30 years-old. The renewed busses contain diesel particulate filters, illuminated signs, turnstiles, video surveillance cameras, GPS systems, passenger count sensors and card validators.

With this solution, these busses become the first mobility option to allow a contactless payment method through the MI card after the Metro, Cablebús and Metrobús. This decision also grants more articulation between the diverse transportation options in Mexico City, said its Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum.

“From its departure until its destination, users will have a more integrated and safer mobility service whether it is on a bus, Metrobus, or Metro through a card-contained payment scheme," said Sheinbaum.

One of the greatest benefits is that drivers will be guaranteed a monthly fixed salary, allowing their wages to not depend on the number of daily passengers. This also facilitates better unit control and maintenance.

“The distribution of resources will stop depending on the number of passengers, giving drivers a wage certainty. It is a public transportation revolution in Mexico City,” said the mayor.

The project gives continuity to the current administration’s objective of creating innovative and tech-driven mobility solutions, according to Jesús Senteno, President, MOVA. It also follows up the implementation of new payment schemes that emerged in the city by 4Q21. 

“Mexico City’s government has been developing a new payment method for the Ecobici to benefit students through a preferential rate while offering a pay-as-you-go rate to the general public. In addition, lines one through three of the Metrobús have now a zero-contact payment option,” reported MBN.