International experts and the Mexican Association of Metropolitan Transport (AMTM) met in Mexico City this April to analyze structural challenges facing public transit.
The gathering, known as the 17th International Transport Congress, highlights the urgent need to modernize a system that serves as the primary mobility tool for millions. Improving transit is linked directly to urban health and air quality, particularly as the event coincided with World Health Day on April 7.
Public transportation in Mexico mobilizes more than 90 million people [1]. Despite this scale, the sector faces severe operational hurdles. One of the most critical issues identified during the congress is the high rate of vehicle damage, with 90% of buses reported as vandalized [2].
Participants analyzed international practices to address the scarcity of operators and the lack of structural investment. The congress focused on creating a more sustainable model that prioritizes the user experience, and improves the overall availability of transit services.
"Public transport in Mexico is the main means of mobility for millions of people and, at the same time, one of the sectors facing the greatest structural challenges in the country," Nicolás Rosales Pallares said [3].
The recommendations from the congress emphasize a shift toward integrated mobility. This includes a stronger focus on the intersection of transportation and public health, aiming to reduce pollution and improve the quality of life for city dwellers through better-managed transit networks.
Organizers said that the evolution of the sector requires greater user participation and a commitment to implementing the international standards discussed during the sessions. The goal is to transform the current fragmented system into a cohesive network that can support the country's growing urban population.
“Public transportation in Mexico mobilizes more than 90 million people.”
The findings from the 17th International Transport Congress suggest that Mexico's transit crisis is not merely a matter of funding, but a systemic failure involving security and labor shortages. By linking mobility to public health, the AMTM is attempting to reframe transportation as a critical health infrastructure issue, which may be necessary to unlock higher levels of government investment and international cooperation.
