Setting a new standard for BRT in Mexico, Line 5 of Mexico City’s Metrobus system officially opened November 5th with a ceremony presided over by Mayor Miguel Mancera. Line 5, first announced in June 2013, is the first Metrobus corridor featuring a “Calle Completa” (complete street) model, integrating bike lanes and pedestrian friendly features. The…
As part of the growing momentum for Transit Oriented Development in Mexico, yesterday ITDP Mexico premiered a new video, “Mejores Calles, Mejores Ciudades” (Better Streets, Better Cities), advocating for the implementation of TOD strategies throughout the country. Although some cities have made great progress demonstrating the successes of sustainable urban development, many urban centers across…
Estación Constitución and its adjacent plaza in Buenos Aires host more than a million pedestrians a day. As the city’s busiest transportation hub, the station connects 34 bus lines, 7 commuter trains and the Subte Metro, Line C. Along with Estación Retiro, another major transportation hub, Estación Constitución recently underwent a series of renovations to…
In recognition of the system’s excellence, on September 22nd ITDP awarded the Guangzhou BRT corridor Gold Standard status at the BRT Standard Award Ceremony in Guangzhou, China. Lloyd Wright, a member of the BRT Standard Committee, presented the award, praising the system as a best practice for China and the world. Wright highlighted the Guangzhou BRT’s…
Last week, academics, city officials, civil society organizations, state officials and international guests packed a standing room only auditorium at the Solar da Imperatriz within Rio’s Tropical Botanical Gardens to discuss how TransBrasil, the last of the four major BRT legacy projects to be built in preparation for the Olympics in 2016, can catalyze new…
Densification, mixed use, and parking are finally on the City of São Paulo policy agenda. São Paulo’s Master Plan, recently proposed by Mayor Fernando Haddad, promotes land development along metro, train and bus corridors, and incorporates many components of transit oriented development. By embracing sustainable, pedestrian-friendly development, the movement is a bold step forward for…
As part of the Our Cities Ourselves visioning program, ITDP organized a recent design charrette with City of Rio officials to discuss transit-oriented development (TOD) around a yet-to-be-built TransBrasil BRT station in Bonsucesso, a neighborhood in the city’s North Zone. Participants included about 12 representatives from the Secretary of Planning, Transport, Public Works, the State…
Best known as the international capital of salsa, Cali – the third largest city in Colombia and officially called Santiago de Cali – may soon gain acclaim for more than a showcase of world class dance moves. The election of Rodrigo Guerrero in 2012 and passionate leadership at the helm of many agencies seems…
By Michael Kodransky Once upon a time, Almaty was the capital of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic. While it still remains the largest city in the independent Republic of Kazakhstan following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, capital status was ceded to Astana in 1998 to create a new center of government power along…